[Desktop] Navigating backward and forward using mouse buttons no longer works

[miles_153]

In the latest version of Spotify you removed the ability to navigate back and forward using extra mouse buttons. I usually go back and forward with two thumb buttons on my mouse. This no longer works in Spotify (still works in other applications).

Plan: Premium

Country: Sweden

Device: PC

Operating System: Windows 10 x64 [Build 1909]

Spotiy: 1.1.22.633.g1bab253a

[MrRamzi]

I'm also experiencing the same issue

[_tobi]

Plan

Premium

Country

Germany

Operating System

Windows 7
Spotify Version:

1.1.22.633.g1bab253a

My Question or Issue

Since I guess the latest Spotify update, the keys for navigating back and forward on my mouse have changed behavior in the Spotify app. Navigating backwards always takes me back to the login screen.
If I try to login again, I get an error message ("service is temporarely unavailable"). Navigating forward again takes me to a blank screen only showing the Spotify background. However, I can still play/pause/etc. the music with the media keys on my keyboard.
I tried activating "stay logged in" and then restart the app so that I never visit the login screen and now the key for navigating backwards doesn't do anything at all. This is extremely annoying since this was a very intuitive way of navigating through the app.

EDIT1: this only changed in Spotify, in every other app like e.g. my browser, the keys still work fine

EDIT2: after I activated "stay logged in", pressing the backward navigation key makes the friend feed go completely blank, also it plays the click animation of the object the cursor is currently hovering over and for some objects, it even act's like a click, for example I can resize the right side-bar while holding down the back- or forward key.
EDIT3: ALT+LEFT and ALT+RIGHT key combinations still work for navigation.

[AbsolutelyNoFB]

"Spotify Update" hasn't improved anything in a long long time. I simply cannot understand why longstanding core UX functionality is getting removed. How does Spotify justify taking away basic mouse functionality from their users?

[yurisan]

same here after yesterdays update (1.1.22.633.g1bab253a). windows 10 (1909). side mouse navigation buttons dont work as they should and were before. instead now they work as ctrl+click - selecting multiple songs.

please bring back this functionality as it is ESSENTIAL in any hyperlink navigation driven application

[luxkstn]

Plan

Premium

Country

Bulgaria

Operating System

Windows 10

My Question or Issue

Before the newest update I was able to use the side buttons on my mouse to go back and forward between pages, but now it doesn't do that and it's uncomfortable to move my cursor up to the arrows at the top just to go back or forward a page

[Ollog10]

I am having the exact same issue. It's extremely annoying, and I would love if this change could be reverted.

edit: OS: Windows 10, Country: US, Spotify version: 1.1.22.633

[DR37]

Same issue here. Please address the problem Spotify. 

* I noticed that if you hover the mouse's cursor over the top portion of the desktop app's GUI (on the same parallel plane as where the " forward/back arrows" are displayed [see attached picture below]) and then try to use the side buttons on the mouse, they do function. Although this is not a complete solution to the problem, it's better than nothing. 

** A better solution is to just delete the most updated Spotify program (file version 1.1.22.633) from within "Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features" and then download the unaffected previous Spotify program (version 1.1.21.1654) from https://www.filehorse.com/download-spotify/old-versions/ , which does not have a compatibility issue regarding a mouse's side buttons. Please note that the setup file uploaded on FileHorse will ask you if you want to download Search Suite with WebDiscover and then
McAfee WebAdvisor. Make sure to click "Decline" for both offers in order to avoid these bloatware/spamware programs. 

Also, if you ever desire to turn off the desktop version of Spotify's ability to auto-update to a newer version, watch this YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84TT-deLQtU , which explains how to do so. If you get confused with any part of the directions (such as finding the Update folder), refer to the comment section below the video. I have not tested to see if the auto-update feature needs to be shut off, in order to prevent the stable version of Spotify (version 1.1.21.1654) from auto-updating to the newest problematic version, but disabling the update ability may be something you want to consider doing. 

Hope this helps!

[DR37]

I noticed that if you hover the mouse's cursor over the top portion of the desktop app's GUI (on the same parallel plane as where the " forward/back arrows" are displayed) and then try to use the side buttons on the mouse, they do function. Although this is not a complete solution to the problem, it's better than nothing.

Hope this helps.

[DR37]

I tried to delete the duplicate comment posted above, and could not find a delete option when editing, which in and of itself is an additional Spotify issue. Please tell me how to delete a comment one has posted, if you know how to. Thanks

[Joecalone]

just commenting so I get a notification if this ever gets addressed.