How to Fix iTunes 10 Vertical Stoplight Buttons

**Wiley John Wright** · 09-04-2010, 11:16 PM

With the release of iTunes 10, Apple has once again added an array of impressive new features to its venerable music player. Unfortunately, some users are not happy with a few of Apple’s design choices.

First and foremost, Apple has chosen to go against its own human interface guidelines. These guidelines are rules intended to maintain a consistent look and feel across the entire operating system. Apple usually sticks to these rules religiously but not this time.

The “close,” “minimize” and “maximize” buttons are now in a vertical orientation. This is a first for any Apple application. From a practical point of view, this change does not affect the way the buttons work, but what is remarkable about this change is the fact that Apple went against its own human interface guidelines.

Luckily, there is an easy fix that will put the iTunes buttons back in their more-familiar horizontal orientation. You will, however, have to use the Terminal application located in the utilities folder to do this. First close iTunes 10, then open the Terminal window and type:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes full-window -1

Then hit return and reopen iTunes. The stoplight buttons will be in their usual place once again. I tried this myself just a moment ago, and I can tell you that it does work. Now you have your stoplight buttons back to where they should be. Now if we could just get the color back into iTunes’ once rosy cheeks. As it stands right now, iTunes 10 looks like it had a run-in with a vampire.

Source: Cult of Mac

**VBLUE42** · 09-04-2010, 11:25 PM

Worked like a charm. Thanks.

**endwaro** · 09-04-2010, 11:26 PM

Well that's nice cause it was annoying and really apple? iTunes looks like it got it's life sucked I mean there's no more colors. Well looks like apple wants to save battery life with black and white or Steve jobs can't see many colors now lol
O yes I'm first hahahahaha

**Li-ion** · 09-04-2010, 11:27 PM

I kinda hope the vertical buttons are implemented in the next OS X. I like them

**endwaro** · 09-04-2010, 11:29 PM

No!!!!!!!!! By 1 minute by 1 minute I didn't get to be first!!!!!!!!

O wells there's next time.

**steve-z17** · 09-04-2010, 11:38 PM

Thanks, that was getting annoying. The new color (or lack of color) is so bland! Any way of fixing that would be awesome.

**corkey20000** · 09-04-2010, 11:42 PM

Did this the second I installed 10 the other day. My brain could not process this vertical layout thing they were trying to be revolutionary about.

**sekrit** · 09-04-2010, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by steve-z17

Thanks, that was getting annoying. The new color (or lack of color) is so bland! Any way of fixing that would be awesome.

Color mod

to add color back

**magic8ball88** · 09-04-2010, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Li-ion

I kinda hope the vertical buttons are implemented in the next OS X. I like them

Ew no. It makes no sense for them to be that way. What if you have a small window open? The top bar would have to be much bigger, and not all windows need it to be that big. It would look ugly. It makes more sense for them to go horizontally too, just because the screen is wider than it is tall... For most people.

**endwaro** · 09-05-2010, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by steve-z17

Thanks, that was getting annoying. The new color (or lack of color) is so bland! Any way of fixing that would be awesome.

Hey I'm from Utah 2 lol just saying pretty cool

**Ikemann888** · 09-05-2010, 01:18 AM

Thanks a lot.

**Gr8dude** · 09-05-2010, 01:23 AM

Very nice fix !! Worked like a charm. I was wondering is any one finding Ping useful or has even checked it out past the first 5 minutes of "seeing what it looks like"?

**niqolas619** · 09-05-2010, 01:32 AM

It didn't really bother me that much - I always have iTunes running in the background and just use command-w to hide it. I did think it was weird that they went to the vertical setup, though - just as the poster here put it.

**hellomoto4** · 09-05-2010, 01:42 AM

Check out iTunes 109 to add a bit of colour (if you're on a Mac) !
iClarified - Apple News - iTunes 109 Brings the Color Back to iTunes 10
and Damien Erambert | "iTunes 109" for download.

**HeLLaxGoOd** · 09-05-2010, 02:00 AM

Those grey icons are mad ugly!! wtf were they thinking..this aint the 50s....CMON SON!

how do we get itunes 109 for windows?

**javiert30** · 09-05-2010, 03:46 AM

Originally Posted by Li-ion

I kinda hope the vertical buttons are implemented in the next OS X. I like them

That's what I'm thinking...

**i4life** · 09-05-2010, 04:41 AM

Thanks, worked perfectly!

**dq13** · 09-05-2010, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by Wiley John Wright

Luckily, there is an easy fix that will put the iTunes buttons back in their more-familiar vertical orientation.

you mean to put them back horizontal

**MikePA** · 09-05-2010, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by endwaro

O yes I'm first hahahahaha

Good grief.

**klouud** · 09-05-2010, 06:03 AM

Go to mac themes and search for iTunes UI themes - and iTunes icons to replace that ugly iTunes 10 icon

My iTunes 10:

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: How to Fix iTunes 10 Vertical Stoplight Buttons

Mac News

General Apple/Mac

With the release of iTunes 10 , Apple has once again added an array of impressive new features to its venerable music player. Unfortunately, some users are not happy with

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