topic Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon in Your Library

What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:31:23 GMT

When I open a playlist, there is an icon below the total listening time. It is a rectangle with an image of a song cover. When I click it, it opens a preview of the first song in the playlist. What is this for?

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Novy — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:58:16 GMT

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out here in the Community.

This rectangle is a new feature meant to give the users an option to explore the playlist before saving it or playing it. The idea is that if you're unsure about what kind of music a playlist has, you can explore previews of the songs to help you decide if you want to play/save it.

Note that this is not available for your own playlists.

Hope this sheds some light on the matter! If anything else comes up, the Community will be here.

Cheers!

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Mahana21 — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 06:04:05 GMT

It would seem that the feature is actually visible for my own playlists.

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Joan — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:30:58 GMT

Hi @Mahana21,

Thanks for the reply. So we can look into this, can you drop us some screenshots of what exactly you see? This will help us definitively tell if what you have is the expected behaviour or not.

Keep us posted.

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Mahana21 — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 07:44:08 GMT

Hello, it would seem something got updated, as the story-like square is no longer there. All good.

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Mahana21 — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:59:59 GMT

Aaand it's back. Here's the screenshot when I open my playlist from my library.

I am using Spotify on a Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, Spotify is at version 8.9.32.624.

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

peminators — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:29:24 GMT

i would also love to get rid of it, or at least make it square, not vertical rectangle, and add some eye/ear icon or something.. can it be moved before the 3dits? and added inside the 3dots menu? dowload is with icon AND alsom in that menu so this should be the same... i personall never intend to do it, i hate the idea of it playing only till i have focus on app so leaving avtually returns playback to what wa playing before... annoying a lot... let me hide it, and give it a proper name... noone know how to say wants it gone, if its name is not clear...

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Maria — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:09:03 GMT

Hey there folks,

Thanks for reaching out!

The preview feature you're seeing is part of the app functions and is meant to give a short glimpse of the playlist. This way, you can get a quick overview of the list, and for example decide if you'd like to save a newly discovered playlist to Your Library.

We're always working on improving the app and its feature, however, so we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback about being able to customize its layout.

Should anything else appear, we're just a post away.

Cheers!

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

Faranae — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 07:14:53 GMT

This preview rectangle in a playlist I created years ago is playing a very vivid flashing/strobing video that gives me a headache if in my line of sight for more than a few seconds. I can't imagine what it would do to someone photosensitive.

The rectangle briefly shows the song's album art when the playlist is opened, but then immediately switches to the strobing/flashing. If I tap into the preview, it loads a looping video of the artist under a strobe light effect that makes me outright nauseous instantly.

I have every video-related setting that I can find disabled in my settings for a reason. Is there anything else I can do to stop the preview button from loading video?! A few weeks ago it only showed the album art on the button for the same song in this playlist.

Re: What is the purpose of the rectangle that appears next to the download icon

wayne4948 — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:56:56 GMT

I don't like it either. Tell us how to make it go away.