Restore Fresh as default admin color scheme for existing users in WordPress 7.0.1

[thiagovelx]

WordPress 7.0 changed the default admin color scheme from Fresh to Modern.

I understand the intention of introducing Modern as a refreshed admin color scheme, and I am not asking for it to be removed. However, automatically applying this visual change to existing users who never explicitly selected a color scheme creates a noticeable visual regression.

The new Modern palette uses a much more saturated blue for links, buttons, table headers and interface states. On standard wp-admin screens such as Dashboard widgets and Pages lists, the UI now feels visually aggressive compared to the previous Fresh/default appearance.

This is especially problematic for client-managed sites and agency-maintained WordPress installations, where the admin experience is expected to remain visually stable after a routine update. Users who never opted into a new admin palette are suddenly presented with a significantly different visual language.

Expected behavior:
Existing users who were effectively using the previous default Fresh scheme should remain on Fresh after updating.

Actual behavior:
Existing users who never manually changed their admin color scheme are now seeing Modern as the default/fallback.

Suggested fix for WordPress 7.0.1:

• Restore Fresh as the default/fallback admin color scheme for existing users.
• Keep Modern available as an option.
• Optionally use Modern only for new installations or users who explicitly opt in.
• Avoid automatically migrating existing users when WordPress cannot know whether they intentionally wanted the previous default appearance.

This would preserve backward compatibility and user trust while still allowing WordPress to evolve its visual design.

Related support topic:
​https://wordpress.org/support/topic/terrible-blue-font-in-wp-7-0-hurts-my-eyes-how-to-change/

[jorbin]

Hi @thiagovelx, welcome to WordPress Core Trac.

The new default is intentional. If a user desires to use one of the other themes, including fresh, they are welcome and invited to change it.

This is especially problematic for client-managed sites and agency-maintained WordPress installations, where the admin experience is expected to remain visually stable after a routine update.

The WordPress admin will always evolve. It's not a single static UI. If you want to set this expectations with your clients, I would encourage you to be testing and building out shims for every release.