Why did Spotify remove the heart button? App update leaves users disheartened

In order to merge the "Heart" and the "Add to Playlist" icons into a single symbol, music streaming giant Spotify has deleted the Heart button. The company made the announcement about the change in February and stated that the function would start being available to all customers worldwide over time.

The music streamer claimed that with the change, users would have a "more streamlined way to save favorite music and podcasts." They also stated that this apparently saves time and lets users add to numerous playlists at once.

Previously, listeners used the "Heart" icon to indicate what songs they wanted to preserve. They used the "Add to Playlist" icon to add songs or podcast episodes to their preferred playlists.

Spotify wrote about the modification in a blog post and called the upgrade the "latest step" in their "ongoing work to create a more intuitive experience." The company added that all this would lead to an easier way for users to engage with the music and podcasts they love. The brand claims in the blog post that these changes are intended to enhance user experience, save their time, and increase engagement.

While the update had been available since February 2023, it was made available to Android users worldwide only recently. The update has left users disheartened and sad as they mourn the loss of the "Heart" button. They took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their opinions about the same.

---

Netizens express sadness as Spotify removes the Heart Button

The Spotify Check button has replaced the "Heart" button letting users add songs or podcasts to the "You Library" section. They can also choose which playlist they want to save the items to.

In order to navigate the music app, listeners need to click the Plus button next to the song or podcast title in the "Now Playing" window to add it to their list of "Liked Songs" or "Your Episodes." After the track is saved, a green tick appears in place of the Plus icon.

The green tick allows the users to alter the song's playlist or remove it completely from their stored tracks.

Discussing the latest update, which was recently made available globally, Spotify said:

“The new and improved Plus (+) button now gives users a more streamlined way to save favorite music and podcasts. Plus, in our user research, we found that the Plus (+) button upgrade helped save time and gave users the ability to add to multiple playlists at once”.

They added:

“We also found that saving songs and podcasts makes users more likely to listen to them again, which means more love for those artists or shows you’ve discovered. So it can do everything the Heart button does- and more! Plus, everything you’ve already saved to your Liked Songs or Your Episodes will still be there”.

The replacement of the Heart Icon with the Plus Icon has left Spotify listeners disheartened. Once the new update started to show, they immediately took to X to voice their opinion and express their disappointment.

---

Spotify's heart button has become an essential feature of the streaming service. It has enabled users to save their preferred tracks, albums, and playlists for quick and simple access at a later time.

It has also helped Spotify's algorithm produce more accurate recommendations based on users' listening habits and expedites the process of discovering their favorite songs.

As per their official blog, the Plus button adds a lot of value. Single tracks, audiobooks, playlists, and albums can all be accessed with the Plus button. By tapping the plus icon next to an album, users can add albums to the "Your Library" sections of their profiles.