diff --git a/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.cpp b/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.cpp
index 35eb93ff2..70a1060f1 100644
--- a/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.cpp
+++ b/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.cpp
@@ -305,11 +305,14 @@ bool LogFile::startReplay()
  */
 bool LogFile::stopReplay()
 {
-    if (!m_file.isOpen() || !m_timer.isActive()) {
+    if (!m_file.isOpen()) {
         return false;
     }
+    if (m_timer.isActive()) {
+        m_timer.stop();
+    }
+
     qDebug() << "LogFile - stopReplay";
-    m_timer.stop();
     m_replayState = STOPPED;
 
     emit replayFinished();
@@ -386,9 +389,6 @@ bool LogFile::pauseReplay()
     qDebug() << "LogFile - pauseReplay";
     m_timer.stop();
     m_replayState = PAUSED;
-
-    // hack to notify UI that replay paused
-    emit replayStarted();
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ bool LogFile::buildIndex()
         }
     }
 
-    emit updateBeginAndEndTimes(m_beginTimeStamp, m_endTimeStamp);
+    emit setBeginAndEndTimes(m_beginTimeStamp, m_endTimeStamp);
 
     // reset the read pointer to the start of the file
     m_file.seek(0);
diff --git a/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.h b/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.h
index ef1672267..7e19c02a0 100644
--- a/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.h
+++ b/ground/gcs/src/libs/utils/logfile.h
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ signals:
     void replayStarted();
     void replayFinished();
     void setPlaybackPosition(quint32);
-    void updateBeginAndEndTimes(quint32, quint32);
+    void setBeginAndEndTimes(quint32, quint32);
 
 protected:
     QByteArray m_dataBuffer;
diff --git a/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logging.ui b/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logging.ui
index 421ecb2cd..e9537c935 100644
--- a/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logging.ui
+++ b/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logging.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
     <width>439</width>
-    <height>118</height>
+    <height>120</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="sizePolicy">
@@ -27,34 +27,43 @@
   </property>
   <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_2" stretch="0,1">
    <item>
-    <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout" stretch="0,0,0">
+    <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout">
+     <property name="spacing">
+      <number>3</number>
+     </property>
      <item>
-      <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout" stretch="0,0,2,0,0,2,0,0">
+      <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout" stretch="0,0,0,2,0,0,2,0,0">
        <property name="sizeConstraint">
         <enum>QLayout::SetNoConstraint</enum>
        </property>
        <item>
-        <widget class="QPushButton" name="playPauseButton">
+        <widget class="QPushButton" name="playButton">
+         <property name="enabled">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
          <property name="sizePolicy">
-          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Maximum" vsizetype="Fixed">
-           <horstretch>80</horstretch>
+          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+           <horstretch>0</horstretch>
            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
           </sizepolicy>
          </property>
          <property name="minimumSize">
           <size>
-           <width>30</width>
-           <height>0</height>
+           <width>39</width>
+           <height>38</height>
           </size>
          </property>
-         <property name="maximumSize">
+         <property name="baseSize">
           <size>
-           <width>80</width>
-           <height>16777215</height>
+           <width>39</width>
+           <height>38</height>
           </size>
          </property>
-         <property name="text">
-          <string>  Play</string>
+         <property name="focusPolicy">
+          <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="autoFillBackground">
+          <bool>false</bool>
          </property>
          <property name="icon">
           <iconset resource="res.qrc">
@@ -69,27 +78,44 @@
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item>
-        <widget class="QPushButton" name="stopButton">
+        <widget class="QPushButton" name="pauseButton">
          <property name="sizePolicy">
-          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Maximum" vsizetype="Fixed">
-           <horstretch>80</horstretch>
+          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+           <horstretch>0</horstretch>
            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
           </sizepolicy>
          </property>
          <property name="minimumSize">
           <size>
-           <width>30</width>
-           <height>0</height>
+           <width>39</width>
+           <height>38</height>
           </size>
          </property>
-         <property name="maximumSize">
+         <property name="icon">
+          <iconset resource="res.qrc">
+           <normaloff>:/logging/images/pause.png</normaloff>:/logging/images/pause.png</iconset>
+         </property>
+         <property name="iconSize">
           <size>
-           <width>80</width>
-           <height>16777215</height>
+           <width>16</width>
+           <height>16</height>
           </size>
          </property>
-         <property name="text">
-          <string>  Stop</string>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QPushButton" name="stopButton">
+         <property name="sizePolicy">
+          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+           <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+           <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+          </sizepolicy>
+         </property>
+         <property name="minimumSize">
+          <size>
+           <width>39</width>
+           <height>38</height>
+          </size>
          </property>
          <property name="icon">
           <iconset resource="res.qrc">
@@ -121,12 +147,15 @@
          <property name="text">
           <string>Playback speed:</string>
          </property>
+         <property name="wordWrap">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item>
         <widget class="QDoubleSpinBox" name="playbackSpeed">
          <property name="sizePolicy">
-          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Fixed" vsizetype="Fixed">
+          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Fixed" vsizetype="Maximum">
            <horstretch>0</horstretch>
            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
           </sizepolicy>
@@ -170,6 +199,12 @@
        </item>
        <item>
         <widget class="QLabel" name="statusLabel">
+         <property name="minimumSize">
+          <size>
+           <width>65</width>
+           <height>0</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
          <property name="font">
           <font>
            <weight>75</weight>
@@ -184,29 +219,20 @@
       </layout>
      </item>
      <item>
-      <widget class="QSlider" name="playBackPosition">
+      <widget class="QSlider" name="playbackPosition">
        <property name="tracking">
         <bool>true</bool>
        </property>
        <property name="orientation">
         <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
        </property>
-       <property name="invertedAppearance">
-        <bool>false</bool>
-       </property>
-       <property name="invertedControls">
-        <bool>false</bool>
-       </property>
-       <property name="tickPosition">
-        <enum>QSlider::TicksBothSides</enum>
-       </property>
-       <property name="tickInterval">
-        <number>5</number>
-       </property>
       </widget>
      </item>
      <item>
       <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_8">
+       <property name="spacing">
+        <number>0</number>
+       </property>
        <property name="topMargin">
         <number>0</number>
        </property>
@@ -230,6 +256,9 @@
          <property name="text">
           <string/>
          </property>
+         <property name="alignment">
+          <set>Qt::AlignLeading|Qt::AlignLeft|Qt::AlignTop</set>
+         </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item>
@@ -262,6 +291,9 @@
          <property name="text">
           <string/>
          </property>
+         <property name="alignment">
+          <set>Qt::AlignLeading|Qt::AlignLeft|Qt::AlignTop</set>
+         </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item>
@@ -295,7 +327,7 @@
           <string/>
          </property>
          <property name="alignment">
-          <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
+          <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTop|Qt::AlignTrailing</set>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
diff --git a/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.cpp b/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.cpp
index eebe3118e..6a84b1179 100644
--- a/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.cpp
+++ b/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.cpp
@@ -42,10 +42,7 @@ LoggingGadgetWidget::LoggingGadgetWidget(QWidget *parent) : QWidget(parent), log
     ExtensionSystem::PluginManager *pm = ExtensionSystem::PluginManager::instance();
     scpPlugin = pm->getObject<ScopeGadgetFactory>();
 
-    // Store preferred button width before manipulating the button appearance
-    m_preferredButtonWidth = m_logging->playPauseButton->sizeHint().width();
-
-    disableButtons();
+    disableWidgets();
 
     // Configure timer to delay application of slider position action for 200ms
     sliderActionDelay.setSingleShot(true);
@@ -65,7 +62,8 @@ void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlugin(LoggingPlugin *p)
     LogFile *logFile = loggingPlugin->getLogfile();
 
     // GUI elements to gadgetwidget functions
-    connect(m_logging->playPauseButton, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::playPauseButtonAction);
+    connect(m_logging->playButton, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::playButtonAction);
+    connect(m_logging->pauseButton, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::pauseButtonAction);
     connect(m_logging->stopButton, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::stopButtonAction);
     connect(m_logging->playbackPosition, &QSlider::valueChanged, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::sliderMoved);
 
@@ -83,10 +81,10 @@ void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlugin(LoggingPlugin *p)
 
     // Feedback from logfile to GUI
     connect(loggingPlugin, &LoggingPlugin::stateChanged, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::stateChanged);
-    connect(logFile, &LogFile::updateBeginAndEndTimes, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::updateBeginAndEndTimes);
+    connect(logFile, &LogFile::setBeginAndEndTimes, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::setBeginAndEndTimes);
     connect(logFile, &LogFile::setPlaybackPosition, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlaybackPosition);
-    connect(logFile, &LogFile::replayStarted, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::enableButtons);
-    connect(logFile, &LogFile::replayFinished, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::disableButtons);
+    connect(logFile, &LogFile::replayStarted, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::enableWidgets);
+    connect(logFile, &LogFile::replayFinished, this, &LoggingGadgetWidget::disableWidgets);
 
     // Feedback from logfile to scope
     connect(logFile, &LogFile::replayFinished, scpPlugin, &ScopeGadgetFactory::stopPlotting);
@@ -95,84 +93,52 @@ void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlugin(LoggingPlugin *p)
     stateChanged(loggingPlugin->getState());
 }
 
-/*
-    resizeEvent()
-
-    Determine button content policy based on button size.
-
- */
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent *event)
+void LoggingGadgetWidget::playButtonAction()
 {
-    int width = m_logging->playPauseButton->size().width();
+    ReplayState replayState = (loggingPlugin->getLogfile())->getReplayState();
 
-    if (width < m_preferredButtonWidth) {
-        m_iconOnlyButtons = true;
-    } else {
-        m_iconOnlyButtons = false;
+    if (replayState != PLAYING) {
+        emit resumeReplay(m_logging->playbackPosition->value());
     }
-    updateButtonAppearance();
 
-    QWidget::resizeEvent(event);
+    m_logging->playButton->setVisible(false);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(true);
+    m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(true);
 }
 
-/*
-    setPlayPauseButtonToPlay()
-
-    Changes the appearance of the playPause button to the PLAY appearance.
- */
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlayPauseButtonToPlay()
+void LoggingGadgetWidget::pauseButtonAction()
 {
-    m_logging->playPauseButton->setIcon(QIcon(":/logging/images/play.png"));
-    if (m_iconOnlyButtons) {
-        m_logging->playPauseButton->setText(QString());
-    } else {
-        m_logging->playPauseButton->setText(tr("  Play"));
-    }
-}
-
-/*
-    setPlayPauseButtonToPause()
-
-    Changes the appearance of the playPause button to the PAUSE appearance.
- */
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlayPauseButtonToPause()
-{
-    m_logging->playPauseButton->setIcon(QIcon(":/logging/images/pause.png"));
-    if (m_iconOnlyButtons) {
-        m_logging->playPauseButton->setText(QString());
-    } else {
-        m_logging->playPauseButton->setText(tr("  Pause"));
-    }
-}
-
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::playPauseButtonAction()
-{
-    ReplayState replayState = loggingPlugin->getLogfile()->getReplayState();
+    ReplayState replayState = (loggingPlugin->getLogfile())->getReplayState();
 
     if (replayState == PLAYING) {
         emit pauseReplay();
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
-    } else {
-        emit resumeReplay(m_logging->playbackPosition->value());
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPause();
     }
+
+    m_logging->playButton->setVisible(true);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(false);
     m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(true);
+
+    m_logging->statusLabel->setText(tr("Paused"));
 }
 
 void LoggingGadgetWidget::stopButtonAction()
 {
-    ReplayState replayState = loggingPlugin->getLogfile()->getReplayState();
+    ReplayState replayState = (loggingPlugin->getLogfile())->getReplayState();
 
     if (replayState != STOPPED) {
         emit pauseReplayAndResetPosition();
     }
+
+    m_logging->playButton->setVisible(true);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(false);
     m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(false);
-    setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
 
     // Block signals while setting the slider to the start position
     m_logging->playbackPosition->blockSignals(true);
     m_logging->playbackPosition->setValue(m_logging->playbackPosition->minimum());
     m_logging->playbackPosition->blockSignals(false);
+
+    m_logging->statusLabel->setText(tr("Paused"));
 }
 
 void LoggingGadgetWidget::stateChanged(LoggingPlugin::State state)
@@ -196,16 +162,20 @@ void LoggingGadgetWidget::stateChanged(LoggingPlugin::State state)
     m_logging->statusLabel->setText(status);
 
     bool playing = loggingPlugin->getLogfile()->isPlaying();
+    m_logging->playButton->setEnabled(enabled);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setEnabled(enabled);
     m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(enabled && playing);
-    m_logging->playPauseButton->setEnabled(enabled);
+
     if (playing) {
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPause();
+        m_logging->playButton->setVisible(false);
+        m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(true);
     } else {
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
+        m_logging->playButton->setVisible(true);
+        m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(false);
     }
 }
 
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::updateBeginAndEndTimes(quint32 startTimeStamp, quint32 endTimeStamp)
+void LoggingGadgetWidget::setBeginAndEndTimes(quint32 startTimeStamp, quint32 endTimeStamp)
 {
     int startSec, startMin, endSec, endMin;
 
@@ -225,8 +195,6 @@ void LoggingGadgetWidget::updateBeginAndEndTimes(quint32 startTimeStamp, quint32
 
     m_logging->playbackPosition->setSingleStep((endTimeStamp - startTimeStamp) / 100);
     m_logging->playbackPosition->setPageStep((endTimeStamp - startTimeStamp) / 10);
-    m_logging->playbackPosition->setTickInterval((endTimeStamp - startTimeStamp) / 10);
-    m_logging->playbackPosition->setTickPosition(QSlider::TicksBothSides);
 }
 
 void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlaybackPosition(quint32 positionTimeStamp)
@@ -243,65 +211,49 @@ void LoggingGadgetWidget::setPlaybackPosition(quint32 positionTimeStamp)
     }
 }
 
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::enableButtons()
+void LoggingGadgetWidget::enableWidgets()
 {
     ReplayState replayState = loggingPlugin->getLogfile()->getReplayState();
 
+    m_logging->playButton->setEnabled(true);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setEnabled(true);
+
     switch (replayState) {
     case STOPPED:
         m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(false);
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
+        m_logging->playButton->setVisible(true);
+        m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(false);
         break;
 
     case PLAYING:
         m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(true);
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPause();
+        m_logging->playButton->setVisible(false);
+        m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(true);
         break;
 
     case PAUSED:
         m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(true);
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
+        m_logging->playButton->setVisible(true);
+        m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(false);
         break;
     }
-    m_logging->playPauseButton->setEnabled(true);
     m_logging->playbackPosition->setEnabled(true);
 }
 
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::disableButtons()
+void LoggingGadgetWidget::disableWidgets()
 {
-    m_logging->playPauseButton->setEnabled(false);
-    setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
+    m_logging->playButton->setVisible(true);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setVisible(false);
+
+    m_logging->playButton->setEnabled(false);
+    m_logging->pauseButton->setEnabled(false);
     m_logging->stopButton->setEnabled(false);
 
     m_logging->playbackPosition->setEnabled(false);
-}
 
-void LoggingGadgetWidget::updateButtonAppearance()
-{
-    ReplayState replayState;
-
-    if (!loggingPlugin || !loggingPlugin->getLogfile()) {
-        // loggingPlugin has not been completely initialized: set to STOPPED state
-        replayState = STOPPED;
-    } else {
-        replayState = loggingPlugin->getLogfile()->getReplayState();
-    }
-
-    // Update playPause button appearance
-    if (replayState == PLAYING) {
-        // Playing: playPause button must appear as a pause button
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPause();
-    } else {
-        // Stopped or Paused: playPause button must appear as a play button
-        setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
-    }
-
-    // Update stop button appearance
-    if (m_iconOnlyButtons) {
-        m_logging->stopButton->setText(QString());
-    } else {
-        m_logging->stopButton->setText(tr("  Stop"));
-    }
+    // reset start and end labels
+    m_logging->startTimeLabel->setText("");
+    m_logging->endTimeLabel->setText("");
 }
 
 void LoggingGadgetWidget::updatePositionLabel(quint32 positionTimeStamp)
diff --git a/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.h b/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.h
index b5f778759..f07f20304 100644
--- a/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.h
+++ b/ground/gcs/src/plugins/logging/logginggadgetwidget.h
@@ -50,12 +50,13 @@ public:
 
 protected slots:
     void stateChanged(LoggingPlugin::State state);
-    void updateBeginAndEndTimes(quint32 startTimeStamp, quint32 endTimeStamp);
+    void setBeginAndEndTimes(quint32 startTimeStamp, quint32 endTimeStamp);
     void setPlaybackPosition(quint32 positionTimeStamp);
-    void playPauseButtonAction();
+    void playButtonAction();
+    void pauseButtonAction();
     void stopButtonAction();
-    void enableButtons();
-    void disableButtons();
+    void enableWidgets();
+    void disableWidgets();
     void sliderMoved(int);
     void sliderAction();
 
@@ -69,14 +70,8 @@ private:
     LoggingPlugin *loggingPlugin;
     ScopeGadgetFactory *scpPlugin;
     QTimer sliderActionDelay;
-    bool m_iconOnlyButtons;
-    int m_preferredButtonWidth;
 
     void updatePositionLabel(quint32 positionTimeStamp);
-    void setPlayPauseButtonToPlay();
-    void setPlayPauseButtonToPause();
-    void updateButtonAppearance();
-    void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent *event);
 };
 
 #endif /* LoggingGADGETWIDGET_H_ */