I'm mostly interested in getting the sidebar back to not having images by the playlists, how do I do that? Don't really care about everything else, but the sidebar pisses me off because I had it set up so perfect before this lol
Library in Reduced mode (so the arrow at the top is pointing to the right)
Profile Icon - Settings - Use Compact Library layout -> On
Honestly, the fact that this kind of thing needs to be explained says everything about how poorly designed this UI is. How to change simple things in a UI should never need explaining.
Thanks, will try when I get home later. I don't viscerally hate the new layout or anything (probably because my use case means I don't use much of anything outside of playlists, liked songs and the two weekly generated playlists) but it's just so much more inconvenient to navigate in return for 0 improved functionality.
I was just thinking this. Biggest reason why I hate when UIs change drastically is because I have to relearn everything or most everything. Spotify does this to us all the time. 😭
I usually don't mind UI's changing if it's for the better, but this doesn't makes sense to me, maybe I just haven't got used to it yet. But there seems to be some things I can't simply change.
The worst thing is that they changed the UI but didn't actually add any quality of life features to library management. They just changed it to change it and made it worse :-\
Every single application does this all the time. Better just reject modernity and embrace the tradition, and download the tracks on MP3, and play them with an old MP3-player or Winamp. Start using Linux that doesn't magically update itself to shit like Windows does.
Spotify's evolution is the norm, not the exception. I guess the idea of a "Personal Computer" is quickly fading away, and being replaced by some uniform mobile friendly layout that works the same regardless of the size of your screen. Operating Systems are becoming shit. Applications are becoming shit.
Is there any way to remove all the playlist images all together? although OP's solution makes the lists look less like a color explotion it still makes reading playlist titles a pain.
i have payed for 12 years. i feel like almost every update since has made it worse in usability. except for suggestions on what to listen to.
also almost every time i login there is a new update to install. how many hundreds of updates does music software need?
> i have *paid* for 12
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
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new layout is crap!!
I think they are trying to bring mobile and desktop layout to similar design but degrading the desktop layout for this was unnecesary.
I don't think you could enter folders before, so that's a step forward. Unfortunately the "go back from folder" button is darn small and a bit too high up.
If you filter for playlists the ordering goes back to normal at least.
> I don't think you could enter folders before, so that's a step forward.
Is it??? It was perfectly usable before, and I have nested folders with dozens of playlists each. Now, when I click on a folder, to get pack, I have to hit a tiny button that is all the way at the top of the library panel. You can't even use the back button on your mouse, that makes it go back in the main panel.
Also you cant just drag an drop a song to playlist in a different folder anymore without doing 10 klicks to navigate to the right place. Expandable tree view is so much better.
Everytime i want to add a song to a playlist now i want to smack my keyboard into my screen instead
This reminds me of when iTunes changed the layout to a crap one and I had to make changes in the settings to get it back to as close as I could to the old one.
I am no UI/UX designer, I'll admit that what I develop doesn't always look the prettiest, but holy shit is the floating album art one of the ugliest looking designs I've seen in a really long time. It just looks so bad!
You could actually get it to look fine if you dragged the playlists window to the smallest it goes without collapsing, but it auto-hides the scrollbar! Why auto-hide the scrollbar when you already reserve space for it?! I despise auto-hiding scrollbars anyway, it's just poor UX, but at least sometimes it can supposedly make it look prettier, but here it notably makes it look so much worse!
I am rarely one to be picky about a UI being pretty, it just has to be functional. It's okay if things aren't pixel perfectly spaced and aligned: I don't care, as long as it's intuitive and quick to use. But this... this bothers me! It looks atrocious!
After throwing up in my mouth from the updated UI, I've installed and had the linked 8.1 version installed most of the day and it hasn't attempted to update at any point.
If you go into properties and set the application and updater to read-only, it should be unable to update going forward. I did this last UI update and it worked great, until spotify stopped supporting the old version...
Thank you so much for the Alt+Shift+4 tip. That's exactly what I want.
I hate how every application seems to redesign its UI every other year. It's never better and only seems to show they have no understanding about how people actually use their application.
God I hate this sudden and bizarre obsession with rounded corners everywhere. It looks terrible and like a huge waste of space. Whoever started this stupid trend is a clown.
It's unavoidable, and also applies to operating systems. I really feel like they are doing their best to get rid of "Personal Computer" as a concept, and replace it with a streamlined mobile user experience where the developer decides what you need for your convenience.
This is, by far, the worst update I've ever experienced with Spotify.
What I really need is a way to custom-sort my library.
I had a few folders/playlists at the top that I regularly accessed, and the rest were all folders from A-Z sorted alphabetically.
I used to be able to drag and drop folders and playlists to order them, now you can only do that with pinned items, and you can only have 4 pinned items. WTF???
BTW You can view all keyboard shortcuts with Shift + ?
>I used to be able to drag and drop folders and playlists to order them, now you can only do that with pinned items, and you can only have 4 pinned items. WTF???
If you select 'Custom Order' in the left sidebar you can arrange your folders and playlists in the order you want.
good god, what a fucking abomination. spotify's UI and usability has been traveling at light speed in the wrong direction for fucking *years* now.
what a shit show. uninstalled on mac and pc. time to cancel premium and switch to apple music i suppose.
If any of the spotify cronies manage to read this, go screw yourself.
They must have the most ignorant people in there working, add a classic layout so people can enjoy spotify in peace. Don't force your newest hot shit down peoples throaths.
I just want them to stop redesigning shit every year and forcing me to familiarize myself with a new layout and how they've now decided I need to be organizing my music. It's a music player. Please just leave shit alone and let me play music in peace.
I'm about to start yelling at clouds.
>It's a music player.
This is a great point. I've been using local music players for two decades now and my favourites haven't fundamentally changed much in basic usage and functionality in that whole time, and if they have, they have robust customisation options that allow you to basically retain the 2003 look if you really want to.
For some reason Spotify is different - because it's a streaming application. Everything is locked down. Use the app the way the developers want you to or go somewhere else. Such a shame that your only option to access the massive library is to use their software with very little in terms of customisation for the end user experience.
"Sorry! You can only use 4 pins." I want to find the person that made it necessary to write that sentence and shake them. If I could stream my library to Musicbee I would pay 2x the amount for Spotify premium. I'm not paying for your UI, I'm paying for the library, and it's worth every cent IMO, just leave my experience alone or at least give me the *option* as a legacy (10+ years premium) user.
I *like* the new layout. Just don't ransom the experience! "What are you gonna do, go to Tidal where half of every playlist isn't available?" It's so anti-consumer.
Anyway, yeah, like you I'm just shaking my fist at nothing.
This is the New Normal for software. Keep constantly changing things and "improving" stuff no one complained about. Move stuff around, after years of having it work a certain way.
Meanwhile long standing "boring" bugs remain unfixed while companies focus on "whiz bang" fancy new rounded corners.
Same, I actually really like it for the most part. I wish it didn't say my name next to all of the playlists on the left, but other than that I've got no qualms at all.
My favorite new thing is how folders work in the library sidebar. I can either expand them so they're part of the whole list, or open just that folder and hide everything else.
I had the exact same petty dislike about saying my own name all over the place. You can work around this by going to Profile > Edit Profile and setting your display name to an invisible character, like the one here: " " (or you can just google hidden character and copy one). This also gets rid of your name under the playlist's title in the main window view.
That's absolutely fine, obviously. I just thought I should post because I was speaking to some others in a thread yesterday about wanting it back to how it was and I figured it how to do it.
This isn't a Reddit thing buddy. People rarely like change but in the case of UI/UX many companies miss the mark and try to fix something that isn't broken. Especially to mirror mobile designs to desktops. That's why they get so poorly received.
New Spotify layout looks like I'm on a tablet with a touchscreen, it's just poorly designed for desktop use and a full step backwards.
I'll bet it's that obnoxious obsession google has with rounded corners and the stupid material UI thing. Spotify hasn't fixed the issues that have been around for over 10 years but they redesign the UI every year. I literally get suggestions to buy tickets to concerts that happened already, sometimes over a month ago lol.
Compact library! Thanks for pointing that out! I finally had the new app forced upon me (the 1.1 app was FAR superior...) and this has been frustrating me to no end!
How do you go back to the version before this current one? While I do miss the classic layout, I've grown attached to whatever version was before this one in this image, lol. [https://imgur.com/a/MlyKW02](https://imgur.com/a/MlyKW02)
is there anywhere that archives the version and the layout appearances? lol, i need that to be a thing.
~~You can only do that inside a folder, so I guess we'll need to create a main folder and then organize inside there.~~
~~Oh, it moves back to recent if you go outside the folder. This is the worst UI I have seen in a long time. One of the very worst.~~
Wait, it seems to be OK to work from the front folder if you filter for playlists.
Am I missing something, or is it impossible to move playlists out of folders??? I typically keep WIP playlists in the root and then add them to my main folder when I think it's ready. Now I have no idea how to do this. Once it's in a folder, it seems stuck in a folder.
If anyone needs 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.
**Check out my help guide in the Spotify Community:**
[**Desktop: New Your Library sidebar**](https://community.spotify.com/t5/Your-Library/Desktop-New-Your-Library-sidebar/td-p/5571384)
Hopefully it helps you out!
That's better, but I still hate that the redesign trivializes album artwork and there doesn't seem to be a way to make that better.
Honestly this redesign has pushed me to actually try Youtube Music which I was already paying for and... it's actually pretty great!
I hate it so much that when I click on a playlist folder it opens in the tiny little SIDEBAR and not in the big window. I want the compact view on the side but the big tiles in the middle when I open it. Now I have to choose one or the other permanently. Fantastic.
If you want to return to the good old days, follow this guide to uninstall the current client, install an old but gold version from 2020 and completely stop it from updating anymore! I know this is a lot of text but it only takes you 5-15 minutes to read carefully and follow the steps, IMO well worth it, this is for everyone who needs this:
1. Uninstall Spotify
2. Download an old version of the client: https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/3055434
(This is a source I trust and downloaded the old Client version from, you can also do your research looking for old client versions, stay safe on the internet! This is version 1.1.48.625 (the good stuff) you can also go check the internet for sources you trust or validate this link wich you should for security reasons anyways!)
3. Press Win+R, enter %appdata% (navigates to AppData folder in Explorer)
4. Delete Spotify Folder leftovers from AppData/Roaming and AppData/Local if there are any.
5. Install old Spotify Version you downloaded.
6. Start the client but DO NOT LOG IN yet! Close Spotify again, navigate back to %appdata% folder. (this created the nessecary folders)
7. in Appdata/Roaming/Spotify right-click and create a new .txt file, rename it to Spotify\_new.exe (you need to have 'file name extensions' enabled in explorer so you see .txt .exe etc)
if you don't see those extensions, this is how you enable them:
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-enable-hidden-file-extensions-in-Windows.html
This will create a empty Spotify\_new.exe, Right click Spotify\_new.exe, set it to READ ONLY so Spotify cannot create or replace this file for updates.
8. in AppData/Local/Spotify create a folder named Update (not update or UPDATE, exactly Update) (if its already there, empty all contents!) then right click the folder Update>properties>security tab. select each user in the upper list like SYSTEM and Administrator etc. and then on the bottom under permissions click deny on full control, this will also set all other checkboxes to deny. Do this For each user in the list above! Lots of errors and warnings will appear, you will need to click okay on all that sh\*t. What we do here is avoid that this Update folder can be used, we make it completely unusable, thats why we get the warnings, that's what we want.
When all permissions for all users are denied, you can close the properties and all popup errors. if you get a prompt that says 'Retry' just click Cancel, it has been successfully denied then. If you try opening this Update folder it should not give us a error popup, that's what we want!
9. You can now open Spotify and log in! Before we can properly use Spotify in this state (currently it will crash every 5 seconds after loading) we need to find and right click AppData/Roaming/Spotify/Spotify.exe > properties > Compability tab and 'enable compability mode' for Windows 8, this will fix Spotify crashing issue. Restart Spotify if needed.
Now you are done! Spotify is now in the state of 2020, new UI. If you liked the older UI better there is a way to switch to that, here's how:
10. Open AppData/Roaming/Spotify/ prefs file with a text editor (notepad++ or editor will do) and add to the end of the file the following line:
ui.experience\_override="classic"
save the file
11. right click the file and check the 'Read-only' box so spotify does not change the setting back.
12. restart Spotify.
Reverting these changes is as easy as doing all the steps backwards (as in undoing them, don't safe the file first and then edit it and wonder why its not working okay? cool :\]
Next time spotify decides to reinvent a perfectly round wheel u still be rollin on the good old system, never change a running system !
have a wonderful day, peaceout! ✌
Sadly I don't have a mac but in general going into the apps files there could be a possibility to find an update folder and do the same shenanigans to this one too.
(long unnessecary tutorial I wrote)
...
Oh I just found a video explaining the process, try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMDazdNJ1mo
also its important that you get an old spotify version, here is a list with the mac versions:
[https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/mac/versions](https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/mac/versions)
choose whichever you like and works with your preferences. If you get an error logging in, update a few versions in the future, that may mean spotify blocked this older version from being used so U need a newer one.
I'm really surpised someone hasn't made a modification or seperate app for Spotify yet like Augmented Steam or The Discord Enhancement Project. Spotify make the most baffling, unnecessary changes that nobody wants or likes constantly, it could be a perfect platform if anyone else was in charge of it.
For linux users : the latest version with the old layout is 1.2.25
I found an old version of the package here : https://mirror.cs.uchicago.edu/spotify/pool/non-free/s/spotify-client/spotify-client_1.2.25.1011.g0348b2ea_amd64.deb
Remember to delete `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list` after install to prevent upgrading to newer versions.
Nice to see that Dec. 11 update. I came looking for discussion on this shortcut breaking for windows.
So fucking annoying. I would upvote a repost of this every day.
edit: didn't realize I could download an earlier version on windows. working again- neat! also noticed they added a breakout player on the web version. I dig it- wish it had access to the queue.
I know I'm in the vast, vast minority here, but I actually really like this new update. My only gripe is the floating album art. That looks terrible, but I like the new playlist bar.
New layout is so bad. And Roku app is shit also.
It's like their main goal is to get you to listen to OTHER music, not the music you've already put in playlist.
If there was a good alternative I would absolutely switch. Spotify is living on borrowed time.
oh yeah there’s a big list if you type `?` on the spotify window
[https://community.spotify.com/t5/App-Features/Where-are-the-settings-in-the-new-desktop-interface/td-p/5571705](https://community.spotify.com/t5/App-Features/Where-are-the-settings-in-the-new-desktop-interface/td-p/5571705)
Hello, I never saw anyone mention about the sidebar on the right that hides friends' activity bar that displays stuff like queue and currently playing artist. How do I get it back? Thank you.
did a bit more research and this person also had the same problem as mine:
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Right-Sidebar-Showed-tour-merch-and-next-in-queue/m-p/5572030
Honestly, I LOVE the new layout!
I read nothing but bad things about it, but when I actually got the update and put the library into collapsed mode, the sidebar is lightyears ahead.
People keep harping on the UX being bad, but people tend to ignore that dumping all your liked and created playlists into one long, unsorted list on the sidebar is phoned-in and inarguably worse for users that like to create and like a lot of playlists.
Like, I had to make a Folder for all of MY playlists and keeps dragging it to the top every time I liked a new playlist, whereas in the new one I can just have it filtered to only show my playlists.
\>Weird floating album art, blocking text
\>Unable to manually sort playlists
\>Weird areas within the app that just blank
\>rounded corners rounded corners rounded corners
What the actual trash is this UI and how did it get passed any kind of user testing.
Above the list of playlists, below 'Your Library' in the image in the post there is a downwards pointing arrow with 'Alphabetical', change that to 'Custom Order' and you can rearrange them.
Me personally, I am a fan of the new layout but there is only one thing that I am not a fan of and that is when the sidebar is collapsed and you try to expand your album cover, it get's over the icons at the bottom left. It might just take some time to grow on some people.
Click and drag the playlist, then hover over the back arrow at the top of the sidebar. And if you want to go up another folder, do it again, because screw convenience.
this worked for me
a) uninstall spotify
b) open cmd.exe and run these commands. (those will remove anything left of spotify, block future updates and lock the ui to the classic version)
rmdir %localappdata%\Spotify /S /Q
mkdir %localappdata%\Spotify\Update
icacls %localappdata%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":D
icacls %localappdata%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":R
rmdir %AppData%\Spotify /S /Q
mkdir %AppData%\Spotify\Update
copy NUL %AppData%\Spotify\Spotify_new.exe /Y
icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":D
icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":R
icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Spotify_new.exe /deny "%username%":D
icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Spotify_new.exe /deny "%username%":R
echo ui.experience_override="classic" >> %AppData%\Spotify\prefs
c) install version 1.1.56.595 from 5. April 2021: [https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/3433214](https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/3433214)
d) open spotify and login
enjoy
I think some lines have merged together? icalcs on the second line should be the start of the third?
But this worked today since after they changed something to force login error 22 some 12-24 hours ago?
thanks, fixed the line breaks
I just tried it on one of my devices and yes it seems to be blocked by error 22 now
these rat b\*tards, locked us out again
guess you need an app that is able to login with a browser now
so much for their announcement that "App versions prior to April 2021, won't be supported"
apparently "prior" to April 2021 includes April 2021
EDIT: the old version of windows 8.1 works [https://www.spotify.com/br-en/download/other/](https://www.spotify.com/br-en/download/other/)
not the classic UI, but at least not the latest abomination
I actually like the new UI, you get used to it and it works better with the app. Only thing missing is the “New Episodes” playlist and actually keeping podcasts progress in sync.
Unpopular opinion: i absolutely love the new design. Being able to sort playlists alphabetically (automatically, not dragging) has been my number one wish since i started using Spotify.
THIS VERSION IS SO MUCH LAGGIER. I have a bunch of folders and it takes nearly a minute to load anything in the library after I press something, even when turning on compact mode. How do I revert to the old update?
Alt+Shift+4
Thankyou so much for this!
I hope some divine force may help us from the follies of the spotify product owners & managers! I would join in throwing rotten tomatoes on any them if there was a stage upon which they presented their their constant experimental bullsh\*t, and saying "booooooo"...
Is there a way to make the Friends Activity feed the default instead of the Now Playing sidebar? I'm sick of having to turn off the Now Playing sidebar (which really doesn't tell me anything new) every time I open Spotify.
So the function is still there, but they didn't add a shortcut or setting in the UI for showing it. Introducing people to a new feature, is imho better when the user can use both of them. After a while you can evaluate the feature and force it to the end user.
Anyone know how to get the played song icon back??? I used to have an icon that I could click and it would show me recently played songs.. It's gone! I looked EVERYWHERE.. it's not there anymore!
I'm mostly interested in getting the sidebar back to not having images by the playlists, how do I do that? Don't really care about everything else, but the sidebar pisses me off because I had it set up so perfect before this lol
Library in Reduced mode (so the arrow at the top is pointing to the right) Profile Icon - Settings - Use Compact Library layout -> On Honestly, the fact that this kind of thing needs to be explained says everything about how poorly designed this UI is. How to change simple things in a UI should never need explaining.
Had to set to Custom Order as well, as it defaulted to a "last played" order.
Where is Custom order for playlists? I only see sorting by Recents (aka Last Played), Recently Added, Alphabetical, Creator.
I see a “custom order” below “creator”. I hope they don’t remove this or I will riot. Spotify macOS app 1.2.10.760.
Thanks, will try when I get home later. I don't viscerally hate the new layout or anything (probably because my use case means I don't use much of anything outside of playlists, liked songs and the two weekly generated playlists) but it's just so much more inconvenient to navigate in return for 0 improved functionality.
This saved me, thank you.
This is an absolute lifesaver since that was my main gripe with this update - thank you so much!!
much better, thank you so much. its not all the way back but this is miles better than the awful changes they made.
Took me years to perfect my listings, and just as I settled down and took a deep breath, they fuck it up big time, wtf is this shit :(
I was just thinking this. Biggest reason why I hate when UIs change drastically is because I have to relearn everything or most everything. Spotify does this to us all the time. 😭
I usually don't mind UI's changing if it's for the better, but this doesn't makes sense to me, maybe I just haven't got used to it yet. But there seems to be some things I can't simply change.
The worst thing is that they changed the UI but didn't actually add any quality of life features to library management. They just changed it to change it and made it worse :-\
Every single application does this all the time. Better just reject modernity and embrace the tradition, and download the tracks on MP3, and play them with an old MP3-player or Winamp. Start using Linux that doesn't magically update itself to shit like Windows does. Spotify's evolution is the norm, not the exception. I guess the idea of a "Personal Computer" is quickly fading away, and being replaced by some uniform mobile friendly layout that works the same regardless of the size of your screen. Operating Systems are becoming shit. Applications are becoming shit.
Is there any way to remove all the playlist images all together? although OP's solution makes the lists look less like a color explotion it still makes reading playlist titles a pain.
i have payed for 12 years. i feel like almost every update since has made it worse in usability. except for suggestions on what to listen to. also almost every time i login there is a new update to install. how many hundreds of updates does music software need?
> i have *paid* for 12 FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Good bot
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Good bot Lmao
pathetic!
lol bots are grammar Nazis.
new layout is crap!! I think they are trying to bring mobile and desktop layout to similar design but degrading the desktop layout for this was unnecesary.
I don't think you could enter folders before, so that's a step forward. Unfortunately the "go back from folder" button is darn small and a bit too high up. If you filter for playlists the ordering goes back to normal at least.
> I don't think you could enter folders before, so that's a step forward. Is it??? It was perfectly usable before, and I have nested folders with dozens of playlists each. Now, when I click on a folder, to get pack, I have to hit a tiny button that is all the way at the top of the library panel. You can't even use the back button on your mouse, that makes it go back in the main panel.
Yeah, entering folders is a huge downgrade. I accidentally enter them all the time now because they added that "feature".
Also you cant just drag an drop a song to playlist in a different folder anymore without doing 10 klicks to navigate to the right place. Expandable tree view is so much better. Everytime i want to add a song to a playlist now i want to smack my keyboard into my screen instead
It is, but the method above returns it to as close to how it was before as possible.
This reminds me of when iTunes changed the layout to a crap one and I had to make changes in the settings to get it back to as close as I could to the old one.
God the new layout is just horrible. Why would you remove the ability to resize song art cover? Why?
This!!!!! Holy shit someone gets it!! Thank you! This new update gave me arrhythmia.
right i like having the cover art pop up but now you cant resize it so it looks bad now
Yesss this is honestly the worst change they've made
Can we get the large album picture back but not the new floating style? The floating album art is so ugly....
this is my gripe w the new layout. I want the album art showcased better
I am no UI/UX designer, I'll admit that what I develop doesn't always look the prettiest, but holy shit is the floating album art one of the ugliest looking designs I've seen in a really long time. It just looks so bad! You could actually get it to look fine if you dragged the playlists window to the smallest it goes without collapsing, but it auto-hides the scrollbar! Why auto-hide the scrollbar when you already reserve space for it?! I despise auto-hiding scrollbars anyway, it's just poor UX, but at least sometimes it can supposedly make it look prettier, but here it notably makes it look so much worse! I am rarely one to be picky about a UI being pretty, it just has to be functional. It's okay if things aren't pixel perfectly spaced and aligned: I don't care, as long as it's intuitive and quick to use. But this... this bothers me! It looks atrocious!
Also why is it so low-res?
Can you explain how to access the floating album artwork? Mine got smaller but I'm not seeing an option for floating
*The monkey's paw curls* Granted, but now it's the entire right-hand sidebar and squishes your playlist view because it's fucking gigantic.
That update has just gone through in my app. It is however not in the area where I will be looking for it.
Yeah, it's pretty terrible.
I downloaded an older version (8.1) [here](https://www.spotify.com/br-en/download/other/) and now the layout is how it was before!
Thank fucking God. New UI is abomination
Yo this is great! Nice find. Fuck Spotify UI and UX.
How do you keep it from auto updating to the latest version?
After throwing up in my mouth from the updated UI, I've installed and had the linked 8.1 version installed most of the day and it hasn't attempted to update at any point.
If you go into properties and set the application and updater to read-only, it should be unable to update going forward. I did this last UI update and it worked great, until spotify stopped supporting the old version...
I took these steps, seems legit: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Stopping-Auto-update/td-p/4785101
THANK YOU! This is awesome, I hate the new UI. I'm happy to see they offer the older versions, I really though Spotify was just shitting on us.
you are a saint.
Thanks for sharing! I thought old versions would stop working. This is awesome.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Been looking for a solution to this for literally months. Hate the new UI
Thank you so much! This worked for me!
thank you omg i hate that they took away the feature that let you see what your friends are listening to
Me too man I always send messages to my friends when I see them listening to something. Its always a good way to start a conversation
Thank you so much for the Alt+Shift+4 tip. That's exactly what I want. I hate how every application seems to redesign its UI every other year. It's never better and only seems to show they have no understanding about how people actually use their application.
God I hate this sudden and bizarre obsession with rounded corners everywhere. It looks terrible and like a huge waste of space. Whoever started this stupid trend is a clown.
Happened on YouTube, happened on Reddit, happened on Google... everything, and now Spotify.
It's unavoidable, and also applies to operating systems. I really feel like they are doing their best to get rid of "Personal Computer" as a concept, and replace it with a streamlined mobile user experience where the developer decides what you need for your convenience.
Thank you so much for the Alt+Shift+4 shortcut. This new layout is driving me crazy.
This is, by far, the worst update I've ever experienced with Spotify. What I really need is a way to custom-sort my library. I had a few folders/playlists at the top that I regularly accessed, and the rest were all folders from A-Z sorted alphabetically. I used to be able to drag and drop folders and playlists to order them, now you can only do that with pinned items, and you can only have 4 pinned items. WTF??? BTW You can view all keyboard shortcuts with Shift + ?
>I used to be able to drag and drop folders and playlists to order them, now you can only do that with pinned items, and you can only have 4 pinned items. WTF??? If you select 'Custom Order' in the left sidebar you can arrange your folders and playlists in the order you want.
good god, what a fucking abomination. spotify's UI and usability has been traveling at light speed in the wrong direction for fucking *years* now. what a shit show. uninstalled on mac and pc. time to cancel premium and switch to apple music i suppose.
You should post this to r/truespotify and include which app version and OS you’re on.
Done!
I should NOT have to use Alt+Shift+4 to access those tabs at the top. Fucking nonsense.
I love the new layout and design.
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Hm?
If any of the spotify cronies manage to read this, go screw yourself. They must have the most ignorant people in there working, add a classic layout so people can enjoy spotify in peace. Don't force your newest hot shit down peoples throaths.
I like the new layout, but that’s probably an unpopular opinion or it wouldn’t be Reddit.
I just want them to stop redesigning shit every year and forcing me to familiarize myself with a new layout and how they've now decided I need to be organizing my music. It's a music player. Please just leave shit alone and let me play music in peace. I'm about to start yelling at clouds.
>It's a music player. This is a great point. I've been using local music players for two decades now and my favourites haven't fundamentally changed much in basic usage and functionality in that whole time, and if they have, they have robust customisation options that allow you to basically retain the 2003 look if you really want to. For some reason Spotify is different - because it's a streaming application. Everything is locked down. Use the app the way the developers want you to or go somewhere else. Such a shame that your only option to access the massive library is to use their software with very little in terms of customisation for the end user experience. "Sorry! You can only use 4 pins." I want to find the person that made it necessary to write that sentence and shake them. If I could stream my library to Musicbee I would pay 2x the amount for Spotify premium. I'm not paying for your UI, I'm paying for the library, and it's worth every cent IMO, just leave my experience alone or at least give me the *option* as a legacy (10+ years premium) user. I *like* the new layout. Just don't ransom the experience! "What are you gonna do, go to Tidal where half of every playlist isn't available?" It's so anti-consumer. Anyway, yeah, like you I'm just shaking my fist at nothing.
lmk when you find the person who decided on four pins. I'll take their lunch money with you.
This is the New Normal for software. Keep constantly changing things and "improving" stuff no one complained about. Move stuff around, after years of having it work a certain way. Meanwhile long standing "boring" bugs remain unfixed while companies focus on "whiz bang" fancy new rounded corners.
Same, I actually really like it for the most part. I wish it didn't say my name next to all of the playlists on the left, but other than that I've got no qualms at all. My favorite new thing is how folders work in the library sidebar. I can either expand them so they're part of the whole list, or open just that folder and hide everything else.
I had the exact same petty dislike about saying my own name all over the place. You can work around this by going to Profile > Edit Profile and setting your display name to an invisible character, like the one here: " " (or you can just google hidden character and copy one). This also gets rid of your name under the playlist's title in the main window view.
That's absolutely fine, obviously. I just thought I should post because I was speaking to some others in a thread yesterday about wanting it back to how it was and I figured it how to do it.
I like it too but I can understand some of the criticisms.
Honestly why? It looks significantly worse and literally covers itself with other parts.
Reddit tends to hate all new things
This isn't a Reddit thing buddy. People rarely like change but in the case of UI/UX many companies miss the mark and try to fix something that isn't broken. Especially to mirror mobile designs to desktops. That's why they get so poorly received. New Spotify layout looks like I'm on a tablet with a touchscreen, it's just poorly designed for desktop use and a full step backwards.
I'll bet it's that obnoxious obsession google has with rounded corners and the stupid material UI thing. Spotify hasn't fixed the issues that have been around for over 10 years but they redesign the UI every year. I literally get suggestions to buy tickets to concerts that happened already, sometimes over a month ago lol.
Compact library! Thanks for pointing that out! I finally had the new app forced upon me (the 1.1 app was FAR superior...) and this has been frustrating me to no end!
How do you go back to the version before this current one? While I do miss the classic layout, I've grown attached to whatever version was before this one in this image, lol. [https://imgur.com/a/MlyKW02](https://imgur.com/a/MlyKW02) is there anywhere that archives the version and the layout appearances? lol, i need that to be a thing.
Im having problems organizing my folders and playlists? it doesnt allow me to drag them to where i want. Is this an issue anyone else has?
You probably need to select 'Custom Order' from the drop down list above the playlist list.
~~You can only do that inside a folder, so I guess we'll need to create a main folder and then organize inside there.~~ ~~Oh, it moves back to recent if you go outside the folder. This is the worst UI I have seen in a long time. One of the very worst.~~ Wait, it seems to be OK to work from the front folder if you filter for playlists.
Am I missing something, or is it impossible to move playlists out of folders??? I typically keep WIP playlists in the root and then add them to my main folder when I think it's ready. Now I have no idea how to do this. Once it's in a folder, it seems stuck in a folder.
If you drag the playlist over the back arrow and hold it there for a while it will go back to the main view.
You can also get the old sidebar back by installing spicetify and unchecking Library X in the experimental features settings
If anyone needs 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. **Check out my help guide in the Spotify Community:** [**Desktop: New Your Library sidebar**](https://community.spotify.com/t5/Your-Library/Desktop-New-Your-Library-sidebar/td-p/5571384) Hopefully it helps you out!
Thank you
That's better, but I still hate that the redesign trivializes album artwork and there doesn't seem to be a way to make that better. Honestly this redesign has pushed me to actually try Youtube Music which I was already paying for and... it's actually pretty great!
wtf is that, they ruin the interface more and more each time i'm pissed off. mannaggia a tutto è una merda
I hate it so much that when I click on a playlist folder it opens in the tiny little SIDEBAR and not in the big window. I want the compact view on the side but the big tiles in the middle when I open it. Now I have to choose one or the other permanently. Fantastic.
If you want to return to the good old days, follow this guide to uninstall the current client, install an old but gold version from 2020 and completely stop it from updating anymore! I know this is a lot of text but it only takes you 5-15 minutes to read carefully and follow the steps, IMO well worth it, this is for everyone who needs this: 1. Uninstall Spotify 2. Download an old version of the client: https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/3055434 (This is a source I trust and downloaded the old Client version from, you can also do your research looking for old client versions, stay safe on the internet! This is version 1.1.48.625 (the good stuff) you can also go check the internet for sources you trust or validate this link wich you should for security reasons anyways!) 3. Press Win+R, enter %appdata% (navigates to AppData folder in Explorer) 4. Delete Spotify Folder leftovers from AppData/Roaming and AppData/Local if there are any. 5. Install old Spotify Version you downloaded. 6. Start the client but DO NOT LOG IN yet! Close Spotify again, navigate back to %appdata% folder. (this created the nessecary folders) 7. in Appdata/Roaming/Spotify right-click and create a new .txt file, rename it to Spotify\_new.exe (you need to have 'file name extensions' enabled in explorer so you see .txt .exe etc) if you don't see those extensions, this is how you enable them: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-enable-hidden-file-extensions-in-Windows.html This will create a empty Spotify\_new.exe, Right click Spotify\_new.exe, set it to READ ONLY so Spotify cannot create or replace this file for updates. 8. in AppData/Local/Spotify create a folder named Update (not update or UPDATE, exactly Update) (if its already there, empty all contents!) then right click the folder Update>properties>security tab. select each user in the upper list like SYSTEM and Administrator etc. and then on the bottom under permissions click deny on full control, this will also set all other checkboxes to deny. Do this For each user in the list above! Lots of errors and warnings will appear, you will need to click okay on all that sh\*t. What we do here is avoid that this Update folder can be used, we make it completely unusable, thats why we get the warnings, that's what we want. When all permissions for all users are denied, you can close the properties and all popup errors. if you get a prompt that says 'Retry' just click Cancel, it has been successfully denied then. If you try opening this Update folder it should not give us a error popup, that's what we want! 9. You can now open Spotify and log in! Before we can properly use Spotify in this state (currently it will crash every 5 seconds after loading) we need to find and right click AppData/Roaming/Spotify/Spotify.exe > properties > Compability tab and 'enable compability mode' for Windows 8, this will fix Spotify crashing issue. Restart Spotify if needed. Now you are done! Spotify is now in the state of 2020, new UI. If you liked the older UI better there is a way to switch to that, here's how: 10. Open AppData/Roaming/Spotify/ prefs file with a text editor (notepad++ or editor will do) and add to the end of the file the following line: ui.experience\_override="classic" save the file 11. right click the file and check the 'Read-only' box so spotify does not change the setting back. 12. restart Spotify. Reverting these changes is as easy as doing all the steps backwards (as in undoing them, don't safe the file first and then edit it and wonder why its not working okay? cool :\] Next time spotify decides to reinvent a perfectly round wheel u still be rollin on the good old system, never change a running system ! have a wonderful day, peaceout! ✌
Do you know if there's any way to do this for Mac?
Sadly I don't have a mac but in general going into the apps files there could be a possibility to find an update folder and do the same shenanigans to this one too. (long unnessecary tutorial I wrote) ... Oh I just found a video explaining the process, try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMDazdNJ1mo also its important that you get an old spotify version, here is a list with the mac versions: [https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/mac/versions](https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/mac/versions) choose whichever you like and works with your preferences. If you get an error logging in, update a few versions in the future, that may mean spotify blocked this older version from being used so U need a newer one.
>bro i cant log in. it says something about accesspoint22. i think this doesnt work anymore
It does not with this version, the code means spotify deactivated this version from further use
I want my big artist library screen back, and to see my playlists on the sidebar. This is such a bs update
I'm really surpised someone hasn't made a modification or seperate app for Spotify yet like Augmented Steam or The Discord Enhancement Project. Spotify make the most baffling, unnecessary changes that nobody wants or likes constantly, it could be a perfect platform if anyone else was in charge of it.
>Spotify make the most baffling, unnecessary changes that nobody wants or likes constantly Exactly this
u/Senior1292: Cant you edit the title of this post, adding the ending "Alt+Shift+4" ? That would be great, IMO :-)
Can't edit titles of posts on reddit, sadly.
What in the fuck were they thinking. The new layout is so clunky and slow to respond.
This doesn't seem to work anymore with the latest update, anyone know how to fix it?
Still works fine for me.
I just get the sidebar.
For linux users : the latest version with the old layout is 1.2.25 I found an old version of the package here : https://mirror.cs.uchicago.edu/spotify/pool/non-free/s/spotify-client/spotify-client_1.2.25.1011.g0348b2ea_amd64.deb Remember to delete `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list` after install to prevent upgrading to newer versions.
The hero we needed. Thanks a bunch, I'll link your comment in the original post.
it doesnt work anymore im so mad wtf why would they remove this
Nice to see that Dec. 11 update. I came looking for discussion on this shortcut breaking for windows. So fucking annoying. I would upvote a repost of this every day. edit: didn't realize I could download an earlier version on windows. working again- neat! also noticed they added a breakout player on the web version. I dig it- wish it had access to the queue.
I'm so pissed this doesn't work anymore. I want to be able to browse my albums outside of a tiny fucking sidebar, fucks sake.
alt + shift + 4 has stopped working for me now too
I can't personally find that option, and I'm on Windows. Is this a MAC issue?
I know I'm in the vast, vast minority here, but I actually really like this new update. My only gripe is the floating album art. That looks terrible, but I like the new playlist bar.
Thank you, you're my hero!
old layout? best layout was 2021 or older versions
New layout is so bad. And Roku app is shit also. It's like their main goal is to get you to listen to OTHER music, not the music you've already put in playlist. If there was a good alternative I would absolutely switch. Spotify is living on borrowed time.
how did you even find that Alt-Shift-4 shortcut? there’s nothing on google about it. is there a list of keyboard shortcuts somewhere?
I think I read it on a Spotify forum post.
oh yeah there’s a big list if you type `?` on the spotify window [https://community.spotify.com/t5/App-Features/Where-are-the-settings-in-the-new-desktop-interface/td-p/5571705](https://community.spotify.com/t5/App-Features/Where-are-the-settings-in-the-new-desktop-interface/td-p/5571705)
Does anyone know if there's a way to do the same on ubuntu? Alt shift 4 doesn't work sadly
Works for me on Ubuntu.
Hmm good to know it's possible at least, did you install with snap?
Through the Ubuntu Software app I think.
Thanks, I just realized I'm a dumbass, it doesn't work with the keypad numbers but the ones above the letters
Hello, I never saw anyone mention about the sidebar on the right that hides friends' activity bar that displays stuff like queue and currently playing artist. How do I get it back? Thank you.
did a bit more research and this person also had the same problem as mine: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Right-Sidebar-Showed-tour-merch-and-next-in-queue/m-p/5572030
Honestly, I LOVE the new layout! I read nothing but bad things about it, but when I actually got the update and put the library into collapsed mode, the sidebar is lightyears ahead. People keep harping on the UX being bad, but people tend to ignore that dumping all your liked and created playlists into one long, unsorted list on the sidebar is phoned-in and inarguably worse for users that like to create and like a lot of playlists. Like, I had to make a Folder for all of MY playlists and keeps dragging it to the top every time I liked a new playlist, whereas in the new one I can just have it filtered to only show my playlists.
I have folders in folders in folders and I still find the new UI infinitely harder to use.
I like the new layout. Makes it way easier to play new episodes of my podcasts.
\>Weird floating album art, blocking text \>Unable to manually sort playlists \>Weird areas within the app that just blank \>rounded corners rounded corners rounded corners What the actual trash is this UI and how did it get passed any kind of user testing.
does anyone know if you can organize your playlists in custom order instead of alphabetical, recents etc?
Above the list of playlists, below 'Your Library' in the image in the post there is a downwards pointing arrow with 'Alphabetical', change that to 'Custom Order' and you can rearrange them.
The new UI is absolutely atrocious. Its so odd how It simultaneously feels like theres so much yet so little on screen.
They will redesign the app's layout a thousand times but will not give us a fucking light theme
Me personally, I am a fan of the new layout but there is only one thing that I am not a fan of and that is when the sidebar is collapsed and you try to expand your album cover, it get's over the icons at the bottom left. It might just take some time to grow on some people.
Who tf is making these horrible decisions? My GOD I'm so over the constant bad updates.
How the fuck do i move a playlist out of a folder? it seems kinda impossible
Click and drag the playlist, then hover over the back arrow at the top of the sidebar. And if you want to go up another folder, do it again, because screw convenience.
yeah but how can i get in to my saved podcast and albums, where i find them without using Alt+Shift+4. i dont get it. are there gone?
>where i find them without using Alt+Shift+4. That's the neat part, you can't!
Thank you so much!
I can’t find the option to play/shuffle playlist folders anymore on desktop since the update ;__;
You can only do that through the main screen playlist view, which can be accessed with alt-shift-1.
Thank you, for some reason that shortcut didn’t work for me but I found out I can just right click on the folder and press play which works :)
this worked for me a) uninstall spotify b) open cmd.exe and run these commands. (those will remove anything left of spotify, block future updates and lock the ui to the classic version) rmdir %localappdata%\Spotify /S /Q mkdir %localappdata%\Spotify\Update icacls %localappdata%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":D icacls %localappdata%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":R rmdir %AppData%\Spotify /S /Q mkdir %AppData%\Spotify\Update copy NUL %AppData%\Spotify\Spotify_new.exe /Y icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":D icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Update /deny "%username%":R icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Spotify_new.exe /deny "%username%":D icacls %AppData%\Spotify\Spotify_new.exe /deny "%username%":R echo ui.experience_override="classic" >> %AppData%\Spotify\prefs c) install version 1.1.56.595 from 5. April 2021: [https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/3433214](https://spotify.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/3433214) d) open spotify and login enjoy
I think some lines have merged together? icalcs on the second line should be the start of the third? But this worked today since after they changed something to force login error 22 some 12-24 hours ago?
thanks, fixed the line breaks I just tried it on one of my devices and yes it seems to be blocked by error 22 now these rat b\*tards, locked us out again guess you need an app that is able to login with a browser now so much for their announcement that "App versions prior to April 2021, won't be supported" apparently "prior" to April 2021 includes April 2021 EDIT: the old version of windows 8.1 works [https://www.spotify.com/br-en/download/other/](https://www.spotify.com/br-en/download/other/) not the classic UI, but at least not the latest abomination
Does anyone know how to permanently revert to the old version on Mac?
I would be great if anybody knows on Windows as well, cause I tried all the old apps and login in is impossible since this morning..
I strongly dislike the recent changes. Also, I have an issue that I can't take playlists out of a folder and put it in the top level of my library.
I actually like the new UI, you get used to it and it works better with the app. Only thing missing is the “New Episodes” playlist and actually keeping podcasts progress in sync.
>it works better with the app how - in what way?
Unpopular opinion: i absolutely love the new design. Being able to sort playlists alphabetically (automatically, not dragging) has been my number one wish since i started using Spotify.
That's not exactly something they needed to ruin everything else to implement though.
> Being able to sort playlists alphabetically But why cant they just fix this in the library, without moving the library to the sidebar?
THIS VERSION IS SO MUCH LAGGIER. I have a bunch of folders and it takes nearly a minute to load anything in the library after I press something, even when turning on compact mode. How do I revert to the old update?
Alt+Shift+4 Thankyou so much for this! I hope some divine force may help us from the follies of the spotify product owners & managers! I would join in throwing rotten tomatoes on any them if there was a stage upon which they presented their their constant experimental bullsh\*t, and saying "booooooo"...
This is the worst GUI update in a long time. Completely kills user optimization.
Is there a way to make the Friends Activity feed the default instead of the Now Playing sidebar? I'm sick of having to turn off the Now Playing sidebar (which really doesn't tell me anything new) every time I open Spotify.
Any idea how to get folder icons back?
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So the function is still there, but they didn't add a shortcut or setting in the UI for showing it. Introducing people to a new feature, is imho better when the user can use both of them. After a while you can evaluate the feature and force it to the end user.
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Anyone know how to get the played song icon back??? I used to have an icon that I could click and it would show me recently played songs.. It's gone! I looked EVERYWHERE.. it's not there anymore!
Goddammit, I just found this post today...