Desktop: New Your Library sidebar

[MattSuda]

Spotify is introducing a new Your Library sidebar in the desktop app and Web Player.

The new Your Library sidebar is rolling out to all desktop users now, so you will be seeing it soon if you haven't already.

The new Your Library sidebar improves navigation and makes it easier and faster to collect and retrieve all types of content, bringing new features to desktop that you're already familiar with in the mobile app. The new sidebar is also more customizable than before to meet different preferences.

This thread is your go-to destination for learning what's new, asking questions, getting help for issues you might have, as well as to share your feedback about the new Your Library sidebar for desktop. Also, do you have any tips for other users on how you are using the new Your Library sidebar? We'd love to hear them.

What's new in the Your Library sidebar?

• See your entire collection and all of the content types (not just playlists)
  
  
• Filters for your collection (Playlists, Artists, Albums, Podcasts) that can be combined with other filters (By you, By Spotify, Downloaded)
  
  
• Sort options for your collection (Recents, Recently Added, Alphabetical, Creator, Custom Order)
  
  
• Chosen filters and sort options will be remembered in the sidebar across restarts of the desktop app
  
  
• Search through your collection in the sidebar
  
  
• Pinned library items to find your favorites, faster – current limit is 4 (Playlists, Playlist Folders, Artists, Albums, Podcasts)
  
  
• Art covers are now shown in the sidebar
  
  
• Compact library layout (no art covers) is available as an option in Settings to increase content density
  
  
• Dedicated + (plus) button to create Playlists and Playlist Folders
  
  
• Flexible Sizing: A collapsed library view (with only art covers) to maximize the browsing area, a regular width view, and an expanded view for more focused library management and curation. (you can also drag to customize the size)
  
  
• In the expanded library view, you have options for either a list view, or a grid view. The list view shows you more details in 2 columns, Date Added and Last Played, and the grid view allows you to see larger art covers.
  
  
• Playlist Folders can still be expanded into the sidebar in a tree view, and now when you click on them, the sidebar only shows the Playlist Folder and what's inside for a more focused view.
  
  
• Menu option to move a playlist to a folder (with search)

Note: The Your Library sidebar experience will be the same for the most part in the Web Player. However, the Web Player does not support all of the features found in the desktop app. To be able to use all of the features, you can download the desktop app right here.

Tips to get started:

If you need a familiar experience to help you get started with the new Your Library sidebar, here's how to get it as close as possible to the old sidebar that previously only showed playlists:

• In the left "Your Library" sidebar, click on the "Playlists" filter at the top.

• Then, in the sort options drop down menu select "Custom Order". You will then see your previous playlist order and be able to move your playlists and folders like before.

• Your currently chosen filters and sort options will be remembered across restarts of the desktop app.

• If you would like to only see text in the Your Library sidebar (no art covers), go to the Spotify app Settings ➜ Library ➜ and turn on "Use compact library layout".

• Flexible Sizing: You can drag the Your Library sidebar to different sizes. Fully expand the sidebar by clicking the arrow button at the top, and fully collapse the sidebar by clicking on the "Your Library" heading to see only art covers.

• At the top, you can scroll through the different filters with your mouse scroll wheel for faster navigation when the sidebar is set to a smaller size. 

Walkthrough of the basics:

Sidebar List:

You can now see your entire collection and all of the content types (not just playlists) in the sidebar list. At the top, click on the filters to filter the content you want to see, and click on the sort options to change the sort order of the list. To create a new Playlist or Playlist Folder, click on the + (plus) button at the top right corner of the sidebar. To search through your collection, click on the search button. When the sidebar is expanded, there is a button to switch between list and grid views.

Filter Options:

At the top, click on the filters to filter the content you want to see. You can scroll through the different filters with your mouse scroll wheel for faster navigation when the sidebar is set to a smaller size. 

To remove the filter, click on the X or the currently selected filter and then choose another filter to see another type of content. Having no filter selected will show all types of content mixed in the list.

• Playlists
• Artists
• Albums
• Podcasts & Shows
• These can be combined with other filters: By you, By Spotify, Downloaded

Sort Options:

At the top, click on the sort options drop down menu to change the sort order of the list.

• Recents
• Recently Added
• Alphabetical
• Creator

When the "Playlists" filter is selected, you have the option to see your playlists in your own custom order.

• Custom Order

When the "Podcasts & Shows" filter is selected, you have the following option:

• Recently Updated

Flexible Sizing:

You can hover over and click on the right edge of the sidebar to drag it to your preferred width. You can also fully expand the sidebar by clicking the arrow button at the top, and fully collapse the sidebar by clicking on the "Your Library" heading to see only art covers.

In the expanded library view, you have options for either a list view, or a grid view. The list view shows you more details in 2 columns, Date Added and Last Played, and the grid view allows you to see larger art covers.

FAQ:

This section will answer your frequently asked questions and will be updated with the latest answers.

Related help articles on the support website:

• Your Library   • Sort and filter   • Keyboard Shortcuts

Can I view the Your Library page in the main browsing area like before?

• Unfortunately, the old Your Library page in the main browsing area is being discontinued with the release of the new Your Library sidebar. You can adjust the size of the Your Library sidebar to be bigger and you can also enable the "grid view" if you would like to see bigger art covers.

How do I see only my playlists in the sidebar like I used to be able to, I can't drag and move my playlists or folders anymore?

• In the left "Your Library" sidebar, click on the "Playlists" filter at the top.

  
  Then, in the sort options drop down menu select "Custom Order". You will then see your previous playlist order and be able to move your playlists and folders like before.

  
  Your currently chosen filters and sort options will be remembered across restarts of the desktop app.

I don't want to see art cover images in the sidebar, how do I turn them off?

• If you would like to only see text in the Your Library sidebar (no art covers), go to the Spotify app Settings ➜ Library ➜ and turn on "use compact library layout".

When I have the album art cover in the bottom left corner of the app expanded, the size no longer increases or decreases with the width of the sidebar. Why can I no longer change the size of the expanded album art cover?

• The desktop team is currently working on making the Now Playing album art experience better.

How do I play or shuffle play a Playlist Folder now? (I don't see dedicated pages with play / shuffle options anymore)

• Right click on a Playlist Folder and select the "Play" option. To shuffle play, make sure to turn on the shuffle mode first before selecting the "Play" option in the right click menu.

How do I get to my Local Files now?

• In the left "Your Library" sidebar, click on the "Playlists" filter at the top.

  
  Then, in the sort drop down select "Custom Order".
  
  The "Local Files" playlist will be near the top of the list under your pinned items (if any).

Feedback:

Where can I give my feedback about the new Your Library sidebar in the desktop app?

• We welcome your feedback about this change. The best way to share your feedback is to comment here in this thread.

[caleidoscopic]

I don't think Spotify cares about the community or even their app. The library organisation is a real mess. I don't think Spotify cares at all about improving the library organisation options. The management of favourite albums, favourite songs, etc. is insane. For me, as a daily listener for a number of years, it frustrates me immensely and makes me consider switching service.

And as far as I can see, the community and forums are of little use other than to entertain people.

Please, someone put some order in the library options.

[wasylm]

I came to the conclusion a long time ago that Spotify just isn't designed for people who like to collect music. It's great for someone who just wants to hit play and hear something they'll like, but if you're an aficionado who enjoys building an organized collection, browsing your favorite albums, etc., then apparently you're not Spotify's target customer. It's sad because they have an incredibly deep catalog, but there's just no good way to manage your own slice of it. And today it got even worse with the latest desktop update. We need some real competition here!

[48i_be_the_wubs]

I've had issues with the web player since around 2015, when they shifted the layout from being very PC friendly to a more mobile friendly version (My artists haven't been listed alphabetically since because spotify took that feature away!). This being said, I've been using it for a very long time now and, while it's had some very bad iterations, this is the worst it's ever been. This new layout seems like it was made by a child. Consolidating the entirety of your entire library to a single, small tab? Insane! Awful decision! Not to mention how it makes everything look worse than it did before, and forces you to minimize album art if you even want to look at your library. I really do wish there was any alternative to Spotify, something with as in depth and vast a catalogue, because I would use it in a heartbeat. Spotify is just awful

[Tomacawk]

Agree 100% I could cope with all the previous intrusive mobile changes and the home page garbage, but interfering with the core desktop experience is really hitting badly after nearly 10 years

It's likely very difficult to deliver these impressive UI redesigns between nappie and snackie time so I'll cut them some slack.

[MattSuda]

Updates:

This section is reserved to inform you of updates to the new Your Library sidebar such as changes and new features if any should happen.

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

Thanks for the detailed update @MattSuda!

Is there a timeline for when the new UI to be rolled out to all users? I got the change once (without the sidebar) in early February and it went away after an hour, never to be seen by my client again.

Also, another user noted that the meatball menu that used to be in the upper left corner is no longer there. Has this been relocated, or removed entirely?

[gimpboy76]

Any new folders I create are not showing up in my Windows Desktop App, they show up on my iPhone app but I can't move or change the folder name from New Folder on there.

[DanInTexas]

Listen I been a paying member of Spotify for years at this point. I am also in development. When you make changes to your app please consider current users. 

Over the years I have worked to cultivate my playlists in specific order. Those playlists apart from the great service is what keeps me here.

I get having to progress but at this point your updates are getting in the way of me just listening to music. Do not force me and others to move off this service. The last couple changes feel to me like they are getting in the way of just listening to music. 

[lizforster856]

I cannot sort by custom order on the desktop app (see photo). Also, why is there a four pin limit? This new UI is pretty awful (it was bad on the iOS app), and I'd like my desktop app to look as much like the old version as possible, which seems to be the consensus among people on Spotify forums.

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

Hey @lizforster856

Do you have a filter selected at the top of that section?

[lizforster856]

No, I hadn't. Thanks for clarifying that.

[natlovesalpacas]

please change it back. this is so cluttered and it's a much worse experience for me than before. there's so much going on, i dont know why this was changed from the straightforward and minimal desktop app. please give us an option to change it back to the normal one.

[Fuzziekiwi]

It's quite annoying that filters do not persist after closing and reopening the app. I don't like the floating album art, it is no longer resizeable and side scrolling depending on the zoom, resolution, and size of the left bar is quite annoying. I liked looking at my favorited albums full screen, the only workaround I have found is SHIFT+ALT+3. Using and doing certain things now requires MORE user intervention which is the absolute opposite of what you want. I always want my songs and playlists to be in CUSTOM order. I hope to see this improved, this very much feels like beta software. 

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

Hey @Fuzziekiwi

According to the post, your filters and sorting order should persist after closing the app, and the sidebar should be resizable. It's possible that your client is still on an experimental version. Please check for an update, or reinstall your client using these steps.

[xAMDx]

Thank you for the detailed explanation of the new interface. I'm really glad the custom order option is still possible.

[Fuzziekiwi]

Looks like this was fixed since a few days ago. I just tested it. No intervention from my end. The sidebar is resizable yes, but I don’t want that left bar to take up so much space and having to constantly resize it and not be able to view my playlist folder in full screen is absolutely annoying.

[Fuzziekiwi]

I like to view the album art of what I am playing while browsing through music/albums/playlist. This interface makes it much more annoying to navigate, even with the bar at it's full size. Just feels so cluttered. I don't want to be constantly resizing this and messing around with the UI to get to what I want to play and discover.

I like to view and navigate with album art up and this update makes it hard.

Much worse navigation as you can see here even with the bar fully extended.

[flpblc]

Please change it back! Why should I give up on half of my desktop size to have an overview of my albums and artists? I think it's a huge downgrade and makes my browsing experience much worse. 

[zaphorrigan]

I don't want to see art cover images in the sidebar, how do I turn them off?

• If you would like to only see text in the Your Library sidebar (no art covers), go to the Spotify app Settings ➜ Library ➜ and turn on "use compact library layout".
  
  
  
  Great, now add the same preference for songs listed inside playlists and I'll come back to premium.