Buttons in top right corner of windows desktop app have top margin

[WhoNeedsReasons]

Plan

Premium

Country

Germany

Device

different PCs

Operating System

Windows 10, Windows 11

My Question or Issue

The buttons in the top right corner are no longer at the top of the app. This is very annoying for me, as it makes it significantly more difficult to click. Previously I could just move my mouse all the way in the top right corner to close the app, now I have to pay attention and make sure I don't click in the empty space above the button.

As you can see in the screenshot, the red area is where I can click and above it is some empty black area that does nothing:

UX design-wise this seems like an awful choice because the corners of a desktop display offer essentially an endless clickable area because the user can just move their mouse in the general direction of the respective corner and always hit the element. Windows even specifically made it so that the mouse doesn't slide into a different monitor when you hit the corners (if multiple monitors are used). This way you can always hit the corners, without even looking at the screen.

This is used for the windows button (bottom left) or minimise all (bottom right) or commonly the close button (top right) in basically all windows applications (except full screen)

[Ash_Bandicoot]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to the original post.

However, changes that result in a negative user experience (UX), especially when feedback highlights issues after implementation, should be carefully evaluated—along with the responses to such feedback.

Over the past decade, we’ve seen a growing trend among developers (not just Spotify) to move away from standardised norms, such as consistent functionality and universal keyboard shortcuts. These are essential elements users expect from software, and it can be frustrating when one application requires a different approach compared to others. In cases like this, the issue persists because users are constantly reminded of the deviation every time they close the software.

This may be considered "expected behaviour" for the new layout, but it shouldn’t become "expected behaviour" for software updates.

This trend contributes to a growing sense of dread around updates (“What functionality will be broken this time?”), and the response to feedback, which seems to boil down to "it's not a bug, it's a feature," feels particularly disheartening coming from a respected company whose services I truly value.

Many of us use this service extensively (i'm in the top 4% of worldwide users apparently, see attached). I urge you to take our feedback a little more seriously.

Thank you for your time.
- Ash

P.S. Please don't ban me, i still love you (teehee)

[araszzkan]

Windows desktop application for Spotify is not designed in a convenient and intuitive way. The button to close the application on the right upper corner is not exactly at the right upper corner. It's located a little lower than that. So I cannot intuitively close the application. I have to be a little concious about where I'm clicking. I would kindly suggest you to replace it to the exact right upper corner to make it easier to manage the application.

[JohnLessing]

Same. I personally find it strange enough that the whole top bar takes up so much space to begin with, even when I'm not actively using the search field … But this is just maddening! Can you guys please make Spotify behave like every other program again and at least extend the clickable areas to the edge of the screen again?

[Theoretical]

This needs to be revisited and reverted. It's absolutely insane that this was an intentional change.

[xkx]

Reminder that Spotify breaks simply Windows apps design rules made by Microsoft.

https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/basics/titlebar-design#caption-controls-minimize-max...

[MarcoGuba]

Looks to me it's an intentional change to have the icons perfectly centered in the top bar. You could make the buttons as tall as the bar itself, but if you've seen that's not possible, bring them back on the top right. Having to move the cursor intentionally is far more frustrating than noticing the buttons are not centered!

[xkx]

They don't have to change anything in UI design and buttons can be centered - they can make invisible active area above these buttons (few weeks ago I've shown example with old Photoshop which does the same thing). They will keep weak design but old, good functionality will be there.

[Richard5A]

I mean, I also think that this is a very bad decision in UX perspective but I can understand the UI team as well. If you fill it up fully it is a lot too much red. If you don't it's not aligned with the rest of the buttons.

Another side effect Spotify may like: it is harder for the user to leave the app. I totally agree on reverting that change because UX is more important than UI in that case and you'll see the "ugly" high amount of red only the short period when trying to close.

[Tazhel]

Spotify is not a beauty contest, and I can imagine maybe 0.001% of users opens it on windows on one monitor and just looks at the Spotify application while listening to musc. While the rest of the world, actually opens it find a song/playlist and then close it while working, gaming, designing (or maybe not the spotify team) etc. And the fact that you need to be frustrated or start working on mouse precision training to be able to minimize it while working is insane to me. 

[Thornsprite]

This is a really annoying update! Definitely needs changing back. Been trying to find a workaround but it shouldn't be needed.

[Damaged_Goods]

hate this! need fix

[xkx]

Montly Reminder that Spotify breaks simply Windows apps design rules made by Microsoft. Still waiting for fix.

https://learn.microsoft.com/pl-pl/windows/apps/design/basics/titlebar-design#caption-controls-minimi...

[nicoaleramirez]

After SIX months this is still broken. PLEASE fix it.

[xkx]

Fun fact: Discord has similar design to Spotify  and looks like their designers know how to make correct top right buttons, even if everything else is centered.

[andythepandy93]

I had hope when I found a "Solved" issue. However the "solution" is that this is by design. This is one of the most crazy things ever, why on earth have you made your application different to literally every other piece of Windows software? It is a given that the red X is in the top right of the screen. 

Yet another terrible decision by Spotify

[NotAnillusion]

Premium individual

Device

Hp windows 10 & 11

This window alignment is just soo annoying its been a thing for years atp. Reinstalling doesn't work, even after I got a new computer, this didn't stop.

That little bit of gap above the close button always throws me off. When wanting to close spotify or any app, people usually move the mouse to the top right corner. But not here on spotify. You gotta align it a little below after going to the top right.

Its such a minor inconvenience but this has been a thing for years. Its time spotify fixes this

[yourUIisTRASH]

Daily reminder than UI/UX designers are the bottom of the barrel

[clemlanoe]

I think there is something more sinister at play here, perhaps Spotify do not want us to close the application so that we spend more time on it. This could also artificially boost "monthly active user" metrics etc. to help Spotify financially or against competition metrics. It could also boost impressions that ads get on the applications by keeping the application window open.

[Tazhel]

Maybe we should send a complaint to the EU parlament, we need spotify to get such a big hit that they are forced to sell or something. I will do everything in my power to get this back. This has to be illegal to trick their ad payers to think more people spend time in their app. Mark my words, the UX team of spotify will be the end of Spotify as a independent company.