Help talk:Preferences

Anyone interested in improving this page (I don't have time to do it myself) should consider copying some of my contributions from m:Help:Preferences, since I have [//meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User%3AThis%2C_that_and_the_other&diff=7553709&oldid=1249542 released my edits to the page into the public domain]. This, that and the other (talk) 11:21, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

Two email areas bad
Both have email items. They should be combined. Jidanni (talk) 11:06, 28 October 2015 (UTC)
 * https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-echo
 * https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-personal

Multiple account recovery options please
mediawiki is only recording ONE way of account recovery, which is an email address. This was OK in 1995. However in 2020 many sites offer to record email address AND mobile phone number AND postal (snail mail) address, and multiple of each.

In my case (not so rare I presume) the email service provider I have been using for ~22 years with great satisfaction, seems now getting unreliable. If ever it shuts down or fails, I have no recovery option at all on mediawiki!

So, please offer to record at least up to 2 email address, 2 mobile number, and one postal address. All of them being of course under ONE SINGLE section on this page, as Jidanni requested above. Michel Merlin (talk) 07:54, 25 August 2020 (UTC)

Prevent condensing the language list
I'm looking in the preferences for how to get rid of the function that only shows you some languages in the list of languages. It's annoying. It wouldn't be so bad if the window that opens showed you a nice list, but when you click on the option, it opens up a list with huge buttons, rather than a nice, neat list with small font sizes. Please make it easier to disable this option! --105.232.255.235 09:22, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

Two zones for internationalization, and use of the timezone in signature
Two issues, the first being similar to that mentioned in an earlier comment: (*) NB: I came here by clicking "Discussion" after clicking "Preferences" after editing a page on the French wikipedia, so my comments refer to that. - MFH(talk), 31 January 2017, 22:10 (UTC)
 * 1) I think it would be natural to put choice of country, language and timezone together. In the first "preferences" tab you're asked for your country, and can click a link to unfold a section with "more about localization", in which you can specify your language. But if you were looking for the timezone setting here, you'll be frustrated. Further research will eventually show the timezone setting in "appearance" (WTF!? ;-)).
 * 2) Actually, the timezone setting is not used in your signature(*). There's written your name, then the editing time in (CET), even if you live in the Americas and set your timezone accordingly.

Fixing the way usernames appear??
I was looking at my profile information and I noticed the my username is not right. When I signed up I typed "ZianaSue" but "Zianasue" is what is on basic information under user profile. How do I fix this??

My signature which I never set up was automatically "ZianaSue".

ZianaSue is the name I want to appear exactly as typed as my username.

Mobile view
Is there a way to have the desktop version appear on my mobile device by default when I am logged in? For example, when I type in en.wikipedia.org on my phone's browser, I am automatically redirected to the mobile site and have to manually select "desktop site". Is there some way to just go to the desktop version? --Khajidha (talk) 17:43, 6 February 2018 (UTC)

How to prefer no emails for watchlist?
I see no option to opt out of emails for changes to items in my watchlist, looking under Preferences/Notifications and Preferences/Watchlist. Am I missing something? Thanks. A145GI15I95 (talk) 20:04, 6 May 2019 (UTC)


 * i need to discuss some thing about my editing details so kindly Contact me on this 080437444599. 2401:4900:1F28:674F:C4E8:2C50:AC95:548 12:35, 9 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Nobody is going to contact you. See Communication. --Ciencia Al Poder (talk) 13:00, 9 January 2023 (UTC)

New mobile design for user preferences now live!
I’m pleased to announce that a new design for Special:Preferences on the mobile website is now live on all Wikimedia projects. The new design makes it easier to browse the different categories and settings at low screen widths. You can also now access the page via a link in the Settings menu in the mobile web sidebar. To read more and leave feedback, please see our project page. Samwalton9 (WMF) (talk) 10:37, 28 April 2023 (UTC)