Spotify cares so little about Windows 11 the controversial disco ball icon came and went without ever touching a PC

Spotify beta for Windows on ARM — (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

Spotify has gotten rid of its disco ball logo that received hate across the web. But if you only use Spotify on your PC, you never saw the logo at all. That fact gives us a hint as to how Spotify feels about Windows 11.

The icon was part of the Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s) experience that allowed users to see their first day on Spotify, the total number of songs they've listened to, their first streamed song, and their most-streamed artist.

That experience was limited to mobile users, meaning Windows 11 users could not celebrate their past with the service. Windows 11 users were also spared from seeing the controversial disco ball — or deprived depending on your point of view.

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Many shared passionate responses about the logo. Spotify responded by stating the change was only temporary.

Windows 11 was not the only operating system left out. Some Android users saw the disco ball icon, but it never rolled out to everyone.

Spotify has not shared why it left Windows 11 out of the party experience. Windows 11 is often left out of short-term campaigns by Spotify, so it's not as if the company slighted Windows 11 specifically for this one.

But that highlights a greater issue. Why isn't the desktop version of Spotify part of the full experience? I know many disliked the icon, but it can be fun to look back at listening history. The demand from PC users for interactive features is clearly there. Spotify eventually brought a functional Wrapped experience to desktop after years of keeping it mobile-only.

Instead, the Windows 11 app feels completely frozen in time, missing out on modern UI overhauls and native settings such as audio equalizers. Many features are exclusive to mobile devices or better optimized for smartphone use.

It's clear that Spotify does not value integrating its app with Windows 11. The Spotify widget is an embarrassment that doesn't even show your playlists or audio controls. It just presents a few trending playlists.

Even if you hated the disco ball icon, you should be able to hate it alongside everyone else rather than be left out.

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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.