[UPDATED V4] Get Old Spotify Back by Downgrading and Pausing Updates

The new Spotify look is nice, but everything is shifted around. This makes navigating Spotify awful. Fortunately, there is a way to get the old Spotify back. Unfortunately, Spotify decided to ruin the old method of changing the UI so I'm hitting back hard and showing you not only how to downgrade Spotify, but also how to stop Spotify updates so our super secret code works like normal.

Old Spotify Download
MAKE SURE TO NOT LOG IN BEFORE ADDING THE UPDATE FOLDERS

Spotify prefs file code

FAQ
Q: "My username is weird"
A: Yes, this is a normal side effect that you will just have to tolerate. I'm not sure if it will go away.

Q: "This doesn't work"
A: Please save my sanity and try it one more time. If it doesn't work..... At this point imma just send an email to Spotify or a private video of me crying.

OTHER LINKS
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Discord Server

[javieraravena]

I'm absolutely mad at the fact that Spotify just keeps on making their interface worse and worse.

[alphazero]

I have no idea why i was recommended this within a minute of it being uploaded, but I am certainly not disappointed

[handsken]

I hope the person that made the new gui has a cursed pillow that's warm on both sides so he can't sleep

[cypher]

Thanks for not stretching this video to 20 minutes. To the point and like it should be. I personally knew these steps of locking down updates, just couldn't be bothered to search for an older installer. Thanks :)

[poschrafael]

Small tip: If you're gaming while listening to music, make sure to turn off "Hardware Acceleration" in the Settings, before you make the Spotify Folder "read only". That's because Read only also prevents you from changing some settings in the app.

Hardware Acceleration is known to cause frame drops and input lag especially in CSGO.

[kittenpounce]

To anyone still here, this tutorial still works. You just can't use any update below 1.1.59, which I think is almost the same as the one he uses anyway.

Edit- I'm not sure if anyone else is having this issue but the website linked to download the older version of Spotify is automatically downloading the newest version no matter which option I choose. Different websites still let you download older versions and the video works for those.

[julianderrico]

One year later and this tutorial still works perfectly! Never installing the new Spotify until a decent update comes out

[anagoge]

I've watched and used this video so many times for so many different machines over the last week. Thank you so much for taking the time to put it together in a clear and concise way. Really appreciate it. I can finally use Spotify properly again!

[chairmanlemon]

if you thought it looked bad then just wait for the new update...

[theAstarrr]

Thank you. This means Toastify still works. The newest Spotify update broke it.

[pepe]

This still works for the latest and probably shittiest Spotify update ever, thank you so much.

[avtor]

This is the most well explained step by step how-to tutorial I've ever watched.

[Pflanze]

holy crap dude you just saved my day! the old method of just adding the line in the prefs file didnt work anymore and the old ui is definetly worth the work this requires! thank you so much

[Caramellen]

having to go through all this because spotify decided to patch out having a free choice hurt my pride, thanks man

[David-styz]

Good info thank you! One thing you can do extra is to goto advanced on the prefs file, then set deny and check only the "write" deny box, in system / admin, This will force a popup if it is ever trying to be changed at a higher level etc, well for most versions of windows 10 at least.

[shuriken]

The new Spotify is awful, thank you so much. Great video

[EnigmaNL]

You are a saint, the "new and improved" Spotify annoyed the hell out of me. The UX designers at Spotify need to go back to school because every "improvement" they make decreases the usability of the program.

[ylppfyw]

dude, I'm now back to looking through an artists catalogue on one scrolling screen instead of the stupid clicking into new screen, having to go back to see other albums, songs etc. :)

[someone_]

I just got an email saying that version will stop working on May 12…

[kurtdewittphoto]

I don't know why Spotify doesn't give you options on how your library looks. What an awful decision to have album artwork next to all your playlists. Since 99% of mine are mixed artists, it just ends up looking like a jumbled mess with 4x artwork on each thumbnail. Should have a toggle for artwork. Easy fix.

EDIT. I found a "Compact Library" option in settings *facepalm* - Still not as good as the old UI though.