Spotify has become one of the most popular music streaming services worldwide. It allows users to create their own playlists, listen to music from any genre, and even share their playlists with other users. Additionally, Spotify has several features that make it unique and fun to use. One of its recent features is the Spotify bar that appears at the bottom of the screen while playing a song. It shows the title, artist name, album cover, and playback controls. This feature has been the subject of many customization attempts, and one of the most popular ones is turning it into a lightsaber.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before we start, you will need a few things:
- An Android or iOS device with the latest version of the Spotify app installed on it.
- A lightsaber image that you want to use as your bar.
- An image editor that can help you edit the lightsaber image according to the Spotify bar’s requirements.
What requires your attention is…?
Before you start, keep in mind the following:
- Spotify only allows the use of an image with a specific size and format for the bar. If you don’t use an image of the correct size and format, it won’t work.
- Changing the bar image affects all devices connected to that account, so make sure everyone on your account is okay with the change.
- Customizing the Spotify bar is a hack and not an official function. Therefore, it may not work if Spotify decides to change the functionality or layout of the app.
Method 1: Use a pre-made bar image
1. Search for "Spotify lightsaber bar" on Google.
2. Download the image you like from the search results.
3. Open the image in an image editor.
4. Crop or resize the image (if required) to fit the Spotify bar’s required size. The recommended size is 1440 x 320 pixels.
5. Save the image as a .png or .jpg file.
6. Connect your device to the internet and open the Spotify app.
7. Go to the playback screen and play a song.
8. Tap on the three dots on the top-right corner of the screen.
9. Select "Device Broadcast Status."
10. Upload the image you created as your broadcast image.
Method 2: Use Photopea
1. Go to the Photopea website.
2. Click on "Create a New Project" and select "Custom" from the "Size" dropdown menu.
3. Enter the dimensions for the Spotify bar’s image size, which is 1440 x 320 pixels.
4. Select the "Transparent" option under the "Background Contents" section.
5. Click on "Create" to open the image editor.
6. Use the tools provided to create your lightsaber image. You can draw it yourself or import an image.
7. Once done, save the image as a .png file by selecting "File," then "Export As," and choosing the .png option.
8. Connect your device to the internet and open the Spotify app.
9. Go to the playback screen and play a song.
10. Tap on the three dots on the top-right corner of the screen.
11. Select "Device Broadcast Status."
12. Upload the image you created as your broadcast image.
Method 3: Use Adobe Photoshop
1. Open Adobe Photoshop on your computer.
2. Create a new document with the dimensions of 1440 x 320 pixels.
3. Create a new layer and name it "Lightsaber."
4. Draw or import a picture of a lightsaber on this layer. Ensure that the image is centered and that no parts of it extend beyond the canvas.
5. Right-click on the "Lightsaber" layer and select "Blending Options."
6. Check the "Stroke" box and adjust the stroke width and color as required to enhance the lightsaber’s visibility.
7. Save the file as a .png file.
8. Transfer the file to your mobile device.
9. Connect your device to the internet and open the Spotify app.
10. Go to the playback screen and play a song.
11. Tap on the three dots on the top-right corner of the screen.
12. Select "Device Broadcast Status."
13. Upload the image you created as your broadcast image.
Why Can’t I Make the Lightsaber Bar Work?
1. Incorrect image size: Make sure that the image size is 1440 x 320 pixels. Spotify only recognizes images of this size for the bar.
2. Unsupported image format: Spotify recognizes .png and .jpg file formats for the bar image.
3. Poor internet connection: Ensure that your device is connected to the internet and that the signal strength is strong enough.
4. Server downtime: Sometimes, Spotify’s broadcasting server may be down. Wait for some time and try again later.
Implications and Recommendations
Customizing the Spotify bar may seem trivial, but it adds a bit of personal touch to the listening experience. It can also be a great conversation starter with friends or family. However, keep in mind that customizing the bar affects all devices connected to that account. Therefore, make sure everyone on your account is okay with the change.
Additionally, it’s essential to note that customizing the bar is a hack and not an official feature. Thus, it may not work if Spotify decides to change the app’s functionality. Be aware of the risks and only proceed if you are willing to take them.
FAQs
Q: Can I use any image I want for the lightsaber bar?
A: No, you can’t. Spotify only accepts images that are the size of 1440 x 320 pixels, and they must be in .png or .jpg format.
Q: Does customizing the bar affect my Spotify account in any way?
A: No, it doesn’t. Customizing the bar only changes the look of the app’s interface. It doesn’t affect your account’s settings or playback history.
Q: Can I revert to the default bar image?
A: Yes, you can. Follow the same steps used to change the bar image, but this time select "Default Image" instead of uploading a custom image.
Q: Will customizing the bar image affect the app’s performance?
A: No, it won’t. Customizing the bar image won’t have any effect on the app’s performance or stability.
Q: Can I customize the bar image on my desktop computer?
A: Yes, you can use any photo editing software on your computer to create the bar image. However, transferring the image to your mobile device may require additional steps such as emailing the image to yourself, using a cloud storage service, or using a file transfer app.
Conclusion
Customizing the Spotify bar image is a fun way to add a personal touch to your app’s interface. It’s easy to do and requires no special skills or tools. However, keep in mind that customizing the bar is a hack and not an official feature, and therefore it may not work if Spotify decides to change the app’s functionality. Nonetheless, if you’re willing to take that risk, go ahead and give it a try.