What's up with this new desktop UI?

[tetre]

Device

PC

Operating System

Windows 10

I don't know where else to post this, but the new desktop UI is terrible. I'm running version 1.2.7.1277.g2b3ce637 and have tried the methods to revert the UI I've found elsewhere in the community (like changing prefs file, which I had to dig for), but none have worked.

The UI is just the complete opposite of what I'd want on desktop- very noncompact, difficult for no reason, and generally looks to be modeled more for phones than for a desktop.

If anyone knows a way to revert the update, please let me know.

[tetre]

Hey folks,

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. 

Hopefully this info helps!

Check out my help guide for more help:

Desktop: New Your Library sidebar

[Tomacawk]

There is a workaround

Select a filter button like 'Playlist'

At the top of your list next to the search, select custom order from the dropdown menu

Rearrange as you please, except for Liked songs, Your Episodes, or Local Files.

It's not smart

[assisted321]

I swear to god this update is so freaking dumb man I swear. Not only was this forced down pour throats as is usual with all their freaking feature updates, it pretty much bricked side-by-side windows. Not only do you not have the option to do compact you can't size it to any custom order their fix is bs. I can't have a compact library and friend activity, while the program is side by side with something. My patience with these people is running thin. 2023 and these people are not simply providing people with the option of signing up for the freaking beta test. Why do ya have to target me **bleep** constantly? I'm like 90% close to switching to youtube red.

[CeriElkanor]

Are you okay? Are you being held hostage? Blink twice if you are.

[scryren]

This is a desktop app, not a phone app--stop treating them as the same UX. Stop applying "mobile first" web design rules to desktop applications. The magical thing about desktops is that they have a lot horizontal real estate space; that means you don't have to design it for a single column vertical-only experience.  PUT. IT. BACK.

[maxmur]

its terrible, probably the worst update in the past couple years to any services i use, the library was the only tab i ever used and now ITS A SIDEBAR????????????? IT CANT BE LARGER THAN ONLY 40% OF MY SCREEN ??????????????? thanks for making more than half my screen useless awesome update is there a way i can downgrade cuz i can NOT use this app as it is its absolutely horrendous

[1formi]

how does a multi-millionaire company manage to make me so angry? the UI/layout of the Spotify app has changed around 3 times within a week and it's gotten worse each time. bring it back to its regular state, or at least stop changing it every. single. time. i open the app.

[TheDootinator]

I agree, the new UI update for the PC app has not only removed/limited features, but overall made it more bulky. I have lost the ability to change the album cover's size, and the side bar has been limited to specific points. The three dots at the top now takes up an unnecessary centimeter of space, when it could be taking up next to none like how it was a mere day ago. The addition of playlist images showing in the sidebar has made it more difficult to find a certain playlist if you have many like me, and there is no full sized library page anymore, which makes this even worse. On top of this, there is now black bars on the top and bottom of the lyrics.

[Timcanpy_]

I liked the new interface. I found it much less polluted, it's great.

[demangabriel]

Exactly i have been experiencing the same thing for the past few days now

[Fjellgeit]

In my opinion, some of the new UI changes are not smart and innovative, but rather a nuisance. Whoever approved this needs to reconsider some things. Sorry for my irritated tone. It just feels like there are so many frustrating decisions made recently that do not take people's considerations into account (enough, anyway).

1. I have a small enough screen as it is but now I have permanent deadspace on top of the app because everything had to be in boxes and because the "close, expand and minimize" buttons are in the way of the box on the left, they pushed the box on the right down to match their height.

The result is an abomination because I can't cover it up or use it for anything. There is just a black line running across the whole screen because of three buttons all the way in the corner. Who approved this??

Also, they have cluttered the space on the left above the playlists. Why??

2. There's a button for playlist controls (rename, delete, etc.), but there is already a button for this when you click into the playlist itself, and there are even more options there too. You can also just right click the playlist on the left side... Why have a third option where one is absolutely not needed?? 

3. There are two buttons - one for searching for playlists and one for sorting playlists - but they got their own, separate line in the UI. Again, why? You already have space next to the other buttons above them. Don't tell me it will make it more crammed to move them up there because i) you already have an "expand" button there so they can be stored in there, and ii) surely it cannot be more crammed than dedicating an entire, separate line of precious UI interface for only two buttons... Yes, they disappear when you scroll, but they shouldn't be there in the first place. 

4. The previous "Your library" button, next to "Home" and "Search" in the top left has been moved down into the box (or section of the screen) dedicated to playlists. This is not a problem until you click on a folder. Then the "Your library" text is replaced by a backspace button along with the name of the folder. Why?? It's visually claustrophobic and we already have a back button... I's right next to the forward button. They're always there... Why clutter the UI with another? Also, the "Your libray" text being replaced by the name of the folder serves no other function than to change the name of the playlist when you click on it, but guess what, YOU CAN EASILY DO THAT ELSEWHERE ALREADY... What is the point of making things so claustrophobic and visually displeasing on smaller screens? 

5. Why, why, WHY do you have to force people to click on a "playlist" button to get access to their playlists... And now there's a constant, annoying white blob on my left that is just out of place. I do not want this blob, or the line of UI it is connected to. Find a different space for it. Or at least make it disappear when I scroll like the other line mentioned above... When I load up Spotify on desktop I just want to get to my playlists on the left immediately, without distractions. I do not want to sort through artists, albums and podcasts in a constantly messy, always-changing freakshow of a list... If I want to check out an artist/album in my library, I can either search for it or you should give me the choice to go into a different section of the app dedicated to my albums, artists, etc. Like you had years ago. 

Again, what is the point of clogging up precious screen real estate with poorly thought-out "solutions" to problems that either didn't exist, or deserve a better solution somewhere else in the app? How did this get approved?? Did you cut costs and not hire actual UI designers?? This all feels so out of touch... 

I don't mind change when it makes sense, is actually useful and makes a process more efficient. But changes just to make changes is just annoying. Considering I can get podcasts for free elsewhere anyway, I am slowly inching towards trying either Apple Music or Tidal. My patience for these out of touch decisions is running out.

Thanks for coming to my TED-talk.

[Postdrummer]

I'm disappointed they are switching the desktop to a more mobile UI. I was stressed for a second thinking I was stuck seeing a list of artists I'd never click on (because I have playlists), and that I couldn't organize the order of my playlists. Luckily, I found that you can revert it to the original view. Go to Settings and enable "Use Compact Library Layout".  Next, sort the playlists to "Custom Order". This is pretty much the layout it had before. It removes the list of recent artists, and allows users to custom organize their playlists.

[luanabeepboop]

YESS!! I agree so much with the not being to rearrange playlists point - it used to be so convenient and customisable, but now it's clunky, de-personalised and doesn't allow you creative organising freedom :(( 

Also I have lost the ability to see what my friends are listening to - idk if anyone else is having the same issue 

[Prague]

Hey cuties

I've been running open.spotify.com instead of the app. I feel like its more of what i've always seen; very acceptable but minutely noticeable difference in audio quality though. 

I'm all ears, and my tail's a-waggin' for updates!

-Prague the Dog

[#16]

It adds empty space in the form of rounded borders that does nothing for any user. It takes away the simple and compact sidebar and give a giant clunky mess so that thumbnails can be shown. It adds a terrible side-scrolling category slider that is utterly useless and not even meant for mouse and keyboard controls. Just a bloated gross copy of the already lack-luster mobile app. The UX of spotify somehow gets worse and worse and for almost no reason. Stop auto-updating your programs just to add bugs and nothing useful.

[womp]

The new update has been added to the Spotify website and I hate it so much. It feels like I'm using my phone and I really do not like all the rounded corners. I'm especially mad about how hard it is to adjust the side panel, it jumps from super small to large and you can't put it in between like before. Luckily I still have the heart like button, but with all these awful updates coming It'll probably be changed to the plus button soon.

I also really don't like that they threw all your artists, albums, everything into the side panel and made it organized how it is on mobile. I had a very specific order that I had arranged my playlists, and this just screws everything up. Even when I press the playlist button to filter out everything else, the order of my playlists is still scrambled and I do not have an option to change it.

I have seen people say they can make it so the album/playlist cover is not showing in the side panel through settings, but I could not find where to do that. Maybe it's not available on the website?

I attached a screenshot of what it looks like for me, I don't know, maybe I am being dramatic but I feel like every update makes the service worse and worse. I wish we at least had an option to switch back to the old interface. This update especially is very hard to get used to, I may end up switching to another music streaming service.

[yahallo]

I really just got used to the UI they gave us with the tiny ass letters + being unable to enlarge the album picture on the left side of the screen. Now they've just **bleep**ed it up so so badly! I used to tolerate this app just because it's easier to discover new songs + the friend feature is great -- but really their inability to work on actual user criticism, and their persistence in rolling out trash UI updates no one asked for is making it hard to pay so much for this dumb music app.

[womp]

Petition to change the new updated interface design on desktop and web browser

https://chng.it/fgch92QSjx 

[IIKosmosII]

400,000 Minutes listened on Spotify in 2022. I have used this application day in and day out. I have seen changes to Spotify over the years and this....this...is absolutely horrific of a UI change. Please listen to your community here. We are begging and pleading. 

[IIKosmosII]

400,000 Minutes listened on Spotify in 2022. So I feel like I have some validity in how I feel about these changes.  I have used this application day in and day out. I have seen changes to Spotify over the years and....this...is absolutely horrific of a UI change. Please listen to your community here. We are begging and pleading. 

Edit: Jumping back to my reply here after using Spotify as I normally would for the past 2 days and with these new changes. (On Desktop version)

Once I learned the left side panel buttons/functionality of the UI changes, I was able to get used to it. It still feels a bit weird but I don't necessarily find it app-breaking for me not to continue using. My biggest issue (One that I've seen posted here several times as well) is that the customization of playlist orders on that side bar is impossible. Even after changing the sorting feature to "creator" I'm not able to drag/drop playlists in a specific order straight from the sidebar. The placement of my playlists and even the order of songs in each one is extremely important and that change is really whats turning me off to these changes as a whole. The left side panel still feels overwhelming to look at but I know that in time and by using Spotify with these changes, I'll get used to it. I just don't understand the need to change it to begin with. It was functioning and easy to use prior and I do not see how this has "Improved" anyones ability to navigate and listen to music.  

Some things I'd love to see added:
- A better sorting feature for playlists on the left sidebar. (Drag and drop/shift between playlists for organizing to preference)
- Color coded playlist folders and or the ability to upload an image for the playlist folder. 
- Ability to pin playlists/artists to the sidebar more than the amount that's there
- NOT have followed artists show up in the side panel. (This was chaotic and unorganized (Can't move them around) so I ended up actually UNFOLLOWING tons of the artists just so I can clean up my sidebar.)
- A rework of adding "friends" (I would love to see Spotify dabble into a social aspect on the application. An ability to message or comment on playlists, etc.)
- The ability to see who has liked your playlists. (Goes in-line with the above bullet point)

[sbtrct]

It's hysterical, they obviously don't even test anything before releasing it to us. We're the clowns who will beta test this rubbish. There's a massive blank space at the top of this terrible UI on macOS when in full screen mode, like the title bar should be there but it isn't because the app is in full screen. How long will this take to resolve? Six months? A year? Doesn't anyone at Spotify own an Apple machine? Apparently not...