How to make a Playlist on YouTube
Want to have a space for your tutorials, music videos, study sessions, or Shorts? A YouTube playlist gives you the ability to assemble videos in one place, sequence them, and create a single link to share.
What is a YouTube Playlist?
A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos that play in sequence under one, shareable URL. You can add long-form videos and Shorts to a playlist, reorder them, set privacy options, and invite collaborators—if the playlist is eligible!
Important Note for Kids Content
If a video or channel is set to "made for kids," you are unable to add that video from other parts of YouTube such as Home. You can still add that video from the search results or the watch page.
How to Create a Playlist on YouTube Desktop
Open the video's watch page
Navigate to any video you want to add to your new playlist.
Click More (⋮) → Save → Create new playlist
Look for the three dots menu, then select Save, and choose to create a new playlist.
Enter a name for the playlist
Choose a descriptive name that viewers would search for.
Select privacy (Public, Unlisted, or Private)
Choose who can see and access your playlist.
Click Create
Your playlist is now created and ready to use!
Adding a Short?
Just do the same on the Short's watch page! More (⋮) → Save → Create new playlist → name → privacy → Create.
How to Make a YouTube Playlist on Mobile (iOS & Android)
From Video
Open a video
Tap Save
Tap Change on the pop-up
Tap New playlist
Name it, select privacy
Tap Create
From Library
From the You tab (Library):
Profile picture → Playlists
New playlist
Pick videos from history
Next → title + privacy → Create
Privacy Settings: Public vs. Unlisted vs. Private
| Setting | Who can watch | Where it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Anyone | Listed publicly; can receive suggestions for viewing or notifications |
| Unlisted | Anyone with the link | Not listed publicly; can share the URL to other viewers |
| Private | Only you (and admins if added) | Completely hidden |
Note: You can change the privacy option of a playlist at any time.
Desktop vs. Mobile: Fast Comparison
| Action | Desktop (youtube.com) | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|
| Create playlist | More (⋮) → Save → Create new playlist on a video | Save → Change → New playlist on a video |
| Add Short | More (⋮) → Save → Create new playlist | More (⋮) → Save to playlist → New playlist |
| Reorder | Drag & drop in playlist view / YouTube Studio | Open playlist → Edit (pencil) → reorder |
| Edit details | Playlist page or YouTube Studio | Playlist → pencil icon |
| Share | Playlist page → Share | Playlist page → Share |
Managing Your Playlists
Adding & Removing Videos
Add from watch page
Click or tap Save, then select the playlist
Add multiple (desktop)
Use "Add videos" and paste URLs or search
Remove videos
More (⋮) next to video → Remove from playlist
Reorder & Optimize
Reorder videos
Drag-and-drop on desktop; pencil (Edit) on mobile
Rename playlist
Edit on playlist page or YouTube Studio
Filter content
View only Videos or Shorts (desktop)
Collaborate on Playlists
You can invite others to add videos to an existing public or unlisted playlist. Collaborators can add content and—on eligible, rolling-out experiences—vote to influence the order of items in the playlist via ranked voting.
New Voting Feature
As of May–June 2025, YouTube announced and began rolling out voting on collaborative playlists, allowing upvotes and downvotes to adjust order. Availability may vary by region/account.
How to Delete a Playlist on YouTube
Open the playlist page
Library → Playlists → choose playlist
Click or tap More (⋮) / Settings
Look for the three dots menu or settings option
Select Delete playlist and confirm
This action is permanent and cannot be undone
Important Notes
- • Built-in collections like "Watch Later" can't be deleted
- • Deleting a playlist is permanent
- • Consider removing select videos instead if you just need to tidy up
Pro Tips to Make Better Playlists
Searchable Names
Use clear, keyword-rich names like "How to Learn Python (Full Course Playlist)", not "My Coding Stuff"
Strong Opening
Lead with your strongest video. The first item sets the tone for the entire playlist experience.
Add Description
Tell viewers what they'll get and who it's for (e.g., "Beginner-friendly fitness plan: warm-ups, 20-min workouts, cooldowns")
Keep It Tight
Giant playlists can feel overwhelming. Curate the best 10–20 first, then expand gradually.
Update Regularly
Fresh additions keep the playlist relevant—and give you reasons to reshare with your audience.
Use Collaboration
For events, parties, classrooms, clubs—let others contribute and vote to surface crowd favorites.
How to Create a Playlist on YouTube Music
Want just music (songs, music videos, albums) all in one place? Here's how to create a playlist on YouTube Music.
Mobile App (Android, iOS)
Open Library → New playlist
OR
Tap More (⋮) from any song/album
Add to playlist → New playlist
Name + privacy settings
Desktop (music.youtube.com)
From any song/album
More (⋮) → Add to playlist
New playlist
Name + privacy settings
Capacity: YouTube Music playlists generally support thousands of tracks (historically around 5,000+)
FAQ: Quick Answers
How to make a playlist on YouTube?
On desktop: watch page → More (⋮) → Save → Create new playlist → name + privacy → Create. On mobile: Save → Change → New playlist → name + privacy → Create.
How to make a YouTube playlist for Shorts?
From a Short's watch page, use More (⋮) → Save → Create new playlist (desktop) or More (⋮) → Save to playlist → New playlist (mobile).
What's the max size of a YouTube playlist?
Historically, playlists top out around 5,000 items (also often true for "Liked videos" and YouTube Music). Interfaces may only show chunks (e.g., ~200 at a time) in some views.
Is there a daily limit on creating public playlists?
Yes. YouTube limits how many public playlists a channel can create per day across YouTube, YouTube Music, and the API. Unlocking Advanced features can increase that limit.
Can I change playlist privacy later?
Yes. Switch among Public, Unlisted, and Private anytime from your playlist settings.
Can collaborators reorder my playlist?
Yes. If the voting feature is available and enabled, upvotes and downvotes can influence the display order. Otherwise, the playlist owner retains control over the final order.
Ready to Create Your First Playlist?
Now you know how to make a playlist on YouTube from any device! Start curating your content, stay organized, and let playlists create engaging viewing experiences for your audience.