Persistent Gray Screen on External Monitor (Clamshell Mode) Despite Animation Setting Enabled

[gyufa67]

I am experiencing a persistent and recurring "gray screen" bug with the Spotify desktop application on Windows 11. This issue renders the application completely unusable. The common community-suggested workaround, which is to enable the "Animate controls and elements inside windows" setting in Windows Performance Options, does not solve the problem in my case.

The bug occurs intermittently when I use my laptop in a "clamshell mode" setup (lid closed, connected to a docking station, using only an external monitor).

System Details:

• Operating System: Windows 11

• Spotify App Version: 1.266.447.0 

• Windows Build: 24H2 26100.4484

• Laptop: LENOVO ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5

• Docking Station: ThinkPad Thunderbolt 4 WorkStation Dock

• External Monitor: Samsung LS24E65KBWV/EN (1920x1200)

Steps to Reproduce:

The issue is intermittent, but the typical scenario is as follows:

1. Connect the laptop to the Thunderbolt 4 dock with the lid closed.

2. The system is configured to display only on the external monitor.

3. Launch the Spotify desktop application.

4. Result: Often, the application window will be a solid, unresponsive gray box from the start.

5. If it does load correctly, the gray screen bug can be triggered randomly by navigating the UI (e.g., clicking the "Home" button, switching between views, or simply bringing the Spotify window to the foreground).

Temporary Workaround:

I have found a temporary but cumbersome workaround that consistently restores the application's functionality for a short period:

1. When the gray screen appears, I disconnect the laptop from the docking station.

2. I open the laptop lid. The Spotify interface immediately appears and functions correctly on the laptop's built-in display.

3. I then reconnect the laptop to the dock and close the lid.

4. The Spotify interface correctly transfers to the external monitor and works as expected.

5. However, the bug can re-occur later during the same session after further navigation within the app.

Additional Analysis & Context:

I suspect the issue is related to how the Spotify application handles rendering, particularly with dynamic content. My observations suggest a possible link to video content or animated UI elements (like animated canvas backgrounds for albums/songs).

This is not a new issue for me. I have been experiencing this exact problem on and off for several years, and my memory suggests it first appeared around the time Spotify began integrating video content into the desktop client. The problem's frequency seems to be influenced by updates to both the Spotify app and my system's video drivers.

This detailed behavior, especially the workaround, strongly suggests a problem with how the application initializes or handles its display context when switching between or exclusively using an external display via a dock.

[Ivelina]

Hello @gyufa67,

Thank you for posting this thread in the Community and for the detailed explanation of what you're experiencing.

We will pass all the info you've provided on to the appropriate team so they can have a look, but we can't give you a timeline for a fix or a change. Your input, however, in the forum is appreciated.

In the meantime, as there's other users that have reported they're experiencing something similar to you here, I recommend checking out the thread and perhaps you could even test what the others have shared in case any of the steps are helpful to you.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us again if there's anything else we can assist you with. Take care!