[GH-ISSUE #641] Better control in fzf searching

kerem commented

2026-03-02 23:46:58 +03:00

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Originally created by @khaosdoctor on GitHub (Dec 17, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/aome510/spotify-player/issues/641

Is your feature already implemented in the latest master? No

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Being able to use fzf with / to find tracks in the liked songs (gy), for example, is an awesome addition. The problem is that once searched, I can't do anything other than play the track. If I want to add the searched track to the queue, this is not possible because every command will be typed in the search field. I've tried C-space, change focus, but nothing works. The only key that works is enter, if I press C-space I'm thrown back at the top of my liked songs list.

Describe the solution you'd like
It would be nice if the fzf search for every page worked like the search page, e.g: press / a new field pops below the current playing song progress bar, you can type in and the list is being filtered as you type. But, as you press FocusNextPane you drop to the results list where you can apply the same commands as you would be able to in the liked songs list or the search results list

Describe alternatives you've considered
What I'm doing today is that I use the search page to search for the song I want, even though I know the song is already saved in my library and then I use Z to add to the queue.

Additional context
Version: 0.20.4
MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1
Installed through Cargo with all the features

Originally created by @khaosdoctor on GitHub (Dec 17, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/aome510/spotify-player/issues/641 **Is your feature already implemented in the latest `master`?** No **Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.** Being able to use fzf with `/` to find tracks in the liked songs (`gy`), for example, is an awesome addition. The problem is that once searched, I can't do anything other than play the track. If I want to add the searched track to the queue, this is not possible because every command will be typed in the search field. I've tried `C-space`, change focus, but nothing works. The only key that works is `enter`, if I press `C-space` I'm thrown back at the top of my liked songs list. **Describe the solution you'd like** It would be nice if the fzf search for every page worked like the search page, e.g: press `/` a new field pops below the current playing song progress bar, you can type in and the list is being filtered as you type. But, as you press `FocusNextPane` you drop to the results list where you can apply the same commands as you would be able to in the liked songs list or the search results list **Describe alternatives you've considered** What I'm doing today is that I use the search page to search for the song I want, even though I know the song is already saved in my library and then I use `Z` to add to the queue. **Additional context** Version: 0.20.4 MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Installed through Cargo with all the features

kerem added the

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2026-03-02 23:46:58 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-03-02 23:46:59 +03:00

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@aome510 commented on GitHub (Dec 17, 2024):

The only key that works is enter, if I press C-space I'm thrown back at the top of my liked songs list.

Yes, but it should show a popup for you to initiate an action on the selected track.

If I want to add the searched track to the queue, this is not possible because every command will be typed in the search field

No, not every command. Commands with key bindings control + {char} or alt + {char} still work in the search. FYI, AddSelectedItemToQueue does have a C-z (control+z) binding. You can also define your own keybindings for a command for it to work with search.

Search is intended to be interactive. The solution you'd like to see defeats that purpose

@aome510 commented on GitHub (Dec 17, 2024): > The only key that works is enter, if I press C-space I'm thrown back at the top of my liked songs list. Yes, but it should show a popup for you to initiate an action on the selected track. > If I want to add the searched track to the queue, this is not possible because every command will be typed in the search field No, not every command. Commands with key bindings `control + {char}` or `alt + {char}` still work in the search. FYI, `AddSelectedItemToQueue` does have a `C-z` (control+z) binding. You can also define your own keybindings for a command for it to work with search. Search is intended to be **interactive**. The solution you'd like to see defeats that purpose

kerem commented

2026-03-02 23:46:59 +03:00

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@khaosdoctor commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2024):

I see thanks for the clarification, in any case there’s the C-space bug, if I press it, the interactive search goes away and I’m thrown back at the top of the list.

Regarding the fzf search, would it be possible to add the binding to move to the next pane and unfocus the search box? This would solve all the issues

On 17 Dec 2024, at 12:27, Thang Pham @.***> wrote:

The only key that works is enter, if I press C-space I'm thrown back at the top of my liked songs list.

Yes, but it should show a popup for you to initiate an action on the selected track.

If I want to add the searched track to the queue, this is not possible because every command will be typed in the search field

No, not every command. Commands with key bindings control + {char} or alt + {char} still work in the search. FYI, AddSelectedItemToQueue does have a C-z (control+z) binding.

Search is intended to be interactive. The solution you'd like to see defeats that purpose

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@khaosdoctor commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2024): I see thanks for the clarification, in any case there’s the C-space bug, if I press it, the interactive search goes away and I’m thrown back at the top of the list. Regarding the fzf search, would it be possible to add the binding to move to the next pane and unfocus the search box? This would solve all the issues > On 17 Dec 2024, at 12:27, Thang Pham ***@***.***> wrote: > > > The only key that works is enter, if I press C-space I'm thrown back at the top of my liked songs list. > > Yes, but it should show a popup for you to initiate an action on the selected track. > > If I want to add the searched track to the queue, this is not possible because every command will be typed in the search field > > No, not every command. Commands with key bindings control + {char} or alt + {char} still work in the search. FYI, AddSelectedItemToQueue does have a C-z (control+z) binding. > > Search is intended to be interactive. The solution you'd like to see defeats that purpose > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://github.com/aome510/spotify-player/issues/641#issuecomment-2548756376>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAYNMMF7FERKLT2EZGTWWQT2GA7GPAVCNFSM6AAAAABTYULN5CVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDKNBYG42TMMZXGY>. > You are receiving this because you authored the thread. >

kerem commented

2026-03-02 23:46:59 +03:00

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@wiraki commented on GitHub (Aug 30, 2025):

Just started using spotify-player, it's awesome! Thank you for making it.

It's amazing to have fzf support, but in my first hour of using it I did struggle with the same problem described in this issue.

Yes, but it should show a popup for you to initiate an action on the selected track.

That's for the top result of the fzf-search, which will be considered as "selected". Which means that I have to carefully adjust my query to make sure the track I am looking for and I want to interact with be the top result. I would argue this beats the purpose of fuzzy searching.

In my mind, after popping up the search, typing a few characters (might even make some typos) and filtering down the items, it would then make sense to be able to "browse" through the search results, before taking any action.

@khaosdoctor said:

Regarding the fzf search, would it be possible to add the binding to move to the next pane and unfocus the search box? This would solve all the issues

Indeed, this would be a solution and initially I was expecting this to be possible from reading the documentation:

To move the focus from the search input to the other windows such as track results, album results, etc, use FocusNextWindow or FocusPreviousWindow.

But that is not true when fuzzy search is enabled apparently? Is that right? If so, a clarification would be good in the documentation. (I can make the contribution when I completely understand how the fuzzy search works).

As a workaround, I found that after fuzzy searching I can use the arrow keys to navigate the search results.

@wiraki commented on GitHub (Aug 30, 2025): Just started using spotify-player, it's awesome! Thank you for making it. It's amazing to have fzf support, but in my first hour of using it I did struggle with the same problem described in this issue. > Yes, but it should show a popup for you to initiate an action on the selected track. That's for the top result of the fzf-search, which will be considered as "selected". Which means that I have to carefully adjust my query to make sure the track I am looking for and I want to interact with be the top result. I would argue this beats the purpose of fuzzy searching. In my mind, after popping up the search, typing a few characters (might even make some typos) and filtering down the items, it would then make sense to be able to "browse" through the search results, before taking any action. @khaosdoctor said: >Regarding the fzf search, would it be possible to add the binding to move to the next pane and unfocus the search box? This would solve all the issues Indeed, this would be a solution and initially I was expecting this to be possible from reading the documentation: > To move the focus from the search input to the other windows such as track results, album results, etc, use FocusNextWindow or FocusPreviousWindow. But that is not true when fuzzy search is enabled apparently? Is that right? If so, a clarification would be good in the documentation. (I can make the contribution when I completely understand how the fuzzy search works). As a workaround, I found that after fuzzy searching I can use the arrow keys to navigate the search results.

kerem commented

2026-03-02 23:46:59 +03:00

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@juliamertz commented on GitHub (Oct 12, 2025):

I ran into the same problem, so I've added an option for modal input in github.com/juliamertz/spotify-player@afe2bc61cc

If the option is enabled, you're put into insert mode when searching. Then if you press escape (or enter to submit the query), you're put into normal mode so you can browse the results pane and use all the keybinds.

I wrote this a while ago, but if there's interest, I can finish it up and open a PR.

@juliamertz commented on GitHub (Oct 12, 2025): I ran into the same problem, so I've added an option for modal input in https://github.com/juliamertz/spotify-player/commit/afe2bc61cca6db62bddb3a57b3f6a6be20ed8f20 If the option is enabled, you're put into insert mode when searching. Then if you press escape (or enter to submit the query), you're put into normal mode so you can browse the results pane and use all the keybinds. I wrote this a while ago, but if there's interest, I can finish it up and open a PR.

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