Autocomplete stops after typing a single letter

[MissKitty614]

Plan 

Premium

Country

USA

Device

Latitude 5450

Operating System

Windows 11 Enterprise

My Question or Issue

After the most recent Spotify app update for Windows (desktop), the search bar seems to be broken. Whenever I try to type in the name of an artist, it stops working after I type in the first letter and pulls in some random artist that begins with that letter. To continue the search, I must put the cursor back into the search bar and type in the rest of the word(s). This happens every time I try to search for anything.

As you might imagine, this is quite frustrating. I have looked in the community help section and ongoing issues and do not see this issue being reported.

The glitch began after the most recent update. I’ve attached a screenshot of the search bar, which now includes the Ctrl+K feature. I am unsure if that is what is causing the problem. When I use Ctrl+K it opens a second search bar.

Edition               Windows 11 Enterprise

Version              23H2

Spotify AB | Update 2/13/2025

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.

[Novy]

Hey there @MissKitty614,

Thanks for reaching out!

Just to confirm, have you gone through these steps for a clean reinstall of the app? This could help remove any cache that might be causing trouble. 

If that doesn't do the trick, could you send over the exact Spotify version you're currently running? Also, let us know if you notice the same behavior when searching on the mobile app or the web player.

We'll be on the lookout for your reply.

[MissKitty614]

Hi, and thank you for responding so quickly. I tried the steps (uninstalling and reinstalling) and the problem persists. I am able to type more than one letter now, but it starts an automatic search before I have completed typing my query.

For instance, I tried to search "Japanese Breakfast" and I got as far as "Japan" and then it automatically started searching for the band Japan before I was finished typing. It wouldn't allow me to continue typing the rest of my query. Then I tried to search for "Mark Pritchard" and as soon as I typed "M-a-r" it automatically searched for and pulled up Marilyn Manson. 

The version I am using: 1.2.57.463.g4f748c64.

[Novy]

Hey @MissKitty614,

Thanks for getting back to us. 

Looks like the behavior you mention is expected. Keep in mind that when you start a search, the app will automatically start showing relevant results related to whatever you type. If you only tap A, for example, you'll get relevant results for you starting with A, but you should be able to continue typing your search without a problem.
 

However, if the search bar is not working properly, a video where we can take a better look at this behavior would be helpful. You can attach it to your next response or upload it to another platform like YouTube or Google Drive and send a link to it. Make sure to hide any personal or sensitive information, and to give it the relevant permissions if you decide to upload it somewhere else.

Keep us posted.

[MissKitty614]

Hi, and thank you for responding and for having the team look into this problem. It is greatly appreciated.

I've attached a zip file of what happens when I try to run searches. As I try to type the artist name into the search bar, it hangs/stops letting me type and finds something unrelated. Then I have to put my cursor back into the search box to continue typing the rest of the artist's name. Please let me know if you are unable to view the file and I'll try to figure out another way to send. 

[Novy]

Thanks for the video, @MissKitty614! We were able to watch it and it was very helpful 👌

We've forwarded your report to the relevant teams, as we were able to replicate the behavior from the video. 

We'll be sure to let you know once we hear from them. For now, make sure to keep your app up to date.

Cheers!

[MissKitty614]

Glad to hear that my issue was able to be replicated by others. I didn't mention that it also automatically starts streaming music while I am trying to search. It starts without any prompting or clicking the "play" button. It does it in the video I shared, and it does it at other times since the latest update. Normally it doesn't matter because I'm already streaming something, but it does happen whenever I am searching without anything playing. Usually it just picks up with the last thing I was streaming before I paused it. It's like the app decides for itself that I need to be listening to music. 😎

[ou812i81b4u]

This autocomplete feature is truly horrible!  I hope they find a fix soon!

[k1b1d1a4]

Actually broken, do you guys even test before pushing to prod?

[6bdrog-_nhzil]

When you type the first two or three letters, everything goes ok but as soon as he finds the first results he loses focus on the search bar and goes to the app itself.

So if for example you type fall and press space, on the search bar you'll only have fa and the music playing will stop because of the space pressed.

This started happening probably 6 weeks ago.

PC + Windows + Premium

[TanyaS]

Hey,

Thank you for reaching out to the Spotify community. Could you use once inapp feature for search 

In case the search is not returning and glitching, i would recommend you to first check is the application upto date, and clear cache to optimise the application.

Additionally did the same thing happened on mobile application?

[caturd]

Same bug happening here on PC win11 with spotify desktop app

[SLRT1]

"expected behaviour" my god 

[TracerMetula]

I'm having the same issue on macOS Sonoma 14.6.1. While typing into the search bar, the music will pause and focus shifts out of the search. Very frustrating.

[Ivelina]

Hey there folks,

Thanks for posting in the thread!

So we can look further into what's happening, would you mind sharing as many details as possible? It would be very helpful if you could let us know what troubleshooting steps you've performed already (clean reinstall for example which includes removing corrupted cache) and if anything made a difference.

Since you've all reported this happening on desktop, can you also test in the Web Player? Are you streaming onto an external device (speaker)?

Lastly, let us know if this behavior is happening with the main search bar, or even when you're searching within playlists. Here, it's worth mentioning that there's other users currently reporting issues with the search function within playlists in this thread which you could also check out.

Appreciate the cooperation and we'll be on the lookout.

[ksandr_d]

I'm experiencing the same behavior in the MacOS Spotify app. When I start typing the focus automatically shifts to the 1st result which requires clicking on the search field another time.
It happens in the main search bar. It's especially noticeable when the app is in full-screen mode, you don't visit it for a minute or two and then go back to it using the "Mission Control".

[iainx]

Same problem here - I can only type one letter, it finds me an act whose name begins with that letter, and I have to click back into the search box to continue typing the name. Really annoying.

[Novy]

Hey everyone, 

Thanks for the reports. 

We can confirm that our teams have been working on this issue. We'd suggest keeping your app up to date so you don't miss out on any developments. 

Cheers!

[ou812i81b4u]

Awesome!

Thanks,

[MihailY]

Hey @ksandr_d,

Thanks for reaching out.

Do you see the same behavior when searching in playlists and when using the web player?

Also, please send us your exact app version so we can forward this to our tech team.

Cheers,