YouTube playlists let you group videos into a single watchable list that you or others can play from start to finish
A playlist on YouTube is a collection of videos arranged in an order you choose. When someone watches your playlist, YouTube plays each video in sequence without stopping between them. You can create playlists to organize your own viewing, share curated collections with others, or build a channel strategy where viewers watch related content back-to-back. Playlists work on desktop, mobile, and the YouTube app.
The basic steps are the same whether you're organizing videos you've found or grouping your own uploads: you create the playlist, give it a name, set who can see it, and add videos one at a time or in batches. YouTube stores your playlists in your account, so they stay with you across devices.
Key Takeaways
- You create a new playlist from your YouTube library or by clicking the "Save" button on any video and selecting "Create new playlist".
- Playlists can be private (only you see them), unlisted (only people with the link see them), or public (anyone can find and watch them).
- You can add videos to a playlist while watching them, or go back to your playlist later and add videos in bulk from the search results or your library.
- Reordering videos in a playlist takes seconds — click and drag them into the sequence you want, or use the three-dot menu on each video to move it up or down.
- Other YouTube users can add your public playlists to their own library, and you can see how many times your playlist has been added.
Creating a new playlist on desktop
On a desktop computer, go to YouTube.com and sign into your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Create a playlist" from the dropdown menu. YouTube will open a dialog box asking for a playlist name, description (optional), and privacy setting.
Type a clear name that tells viewers what the playlist contains — "Home Renovation Tutorials", "Editing Software Reviews", or "Clips from My Channel" are all specific enough that someone scrolling your library knows what to expect. The description is optional but helpful if you want to explain the playlist's purpose or who it's for. Choose your privacy level: Private means only you can see it, Unlisted means only people you share the link with can watch it, and Public means anyone on YouTube can find it through search or your channel. Click "Create" and your empty playlist is ready for videos.
Creating a playlist while watching a video
If you're already watching a video you want to save, you don't have to go to your library first. Click the "Save" button (it looks like a plus sign or bookmark) below the video title. A menu appears with the option to "Create new playlist" at the top. Click it, fill in the name and privacy settings, and YouTube automatically adds that video to the new playlist.
This method is faster when you're browsing and finding videos you want to group together. Each time you click "Save" on a new video, you can choose to add it to an existing playlist or create another new one. YouTube remembers your recent playlists, so they appear at the top of the save menu for quick access.
Adding videos to your playlist
Once your playlist exists, you can add videos to it in two ways. The first is to find a video while browsing YouTube, click "Save", and select your playlist from the menu. The second is to open your playlist, click "Add videos" (usually a plus icon near the top), search for or browse to the videos you want, and click the plus icon next to each one.
You can add the same video to multiple playlists. If you add a video that's already in the playlist, YouTube won't create a duplicate — it just confirms the video is there. Videos stay in your playlist even if the original uploader deletes them from YouTube, though viewers won't be able to watch them.
Organizing and reordering videos in your playlist
The order of videos in your playlist matters because YouTube plays them in sequence. To change the order on desktop, open your playlist and click the three horizontal lines (menu icon) next to any video. You'll see options to move the video up, down, or to a specific position. Alternatively, you can click and drag videos to rearrange them directly — grab the six-dot handle on the left side of each video and drag it to its new spot.
On mobile, open your playlist, tap the three dots next to a video, and select "Move up" or "Move down" to shift its position. You can also remove videos from the playlist using the same menu. Reordering takes effect when ready, so viewers see the new sequence the next time they watch your public playlist.
Changing privacy settings and sharing your playlist
You can change a playlist's privacy level at any time. Open the playlist, click the three dots in the top right corner (or the menu icon on mobile), and select "Edit playlist". Change the privacy setting from Private to Unlisted or Public, or vice versa. If you make a playlist Unlisted, you can share the direct link with specific people, and only they can access it. If you make it Public, anyone can find it by searching YouTube or browsing your channel.
When you share a public playlist, viewers can add it to their own library by clicking "Save" on the playlist page itself. YouTube shows you how many times your playlist has been added, which is useful feedback if you're building a channel and want to know which collections resonate with your audience.
Playlists on mobile and the YouTube app
Creating and managing playlists on your phone or tablet works almost identically to desktop. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, and select "Create a playlist". Fill in the name and privacy settings the same way. To add videos, tap "Save" while watching or open your playlist and tap the plus icon to search for videos to add.
On mobile, reordering is done by tapping the three dots next to each video and selecting "Move up" or "Move down". The mobile interface is slightly more compact, but all the same features are available. Your playlists sync across devices, so a playlist you create on your phone appears on your desktop and vice versa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add videos from other channels to my playlist?
Yes. You can add any public or unlisted video to your playlist, regardless of who uploaded it. You can't add private videos unless the uploader has shared the link directly with you. This is how most people build playlists — by collecting videos from many creators around a single topic.
What happens if someone deletes a video that's in my playlist?
The video stays in your playlist, but it shows as "Deleted video" and viewers can't watch it. The playlist continues to play the remaining videos. If you want to remove the deleted video from your playlist, click the three dots next to it and select "Remove from playlist".
Can other people edit my public playlist?
No. Only you can add, remove, or reorder videos in your own playlist. Other users can add your public playlist to their own library, but they can't change the videos or their order. If you want to collaborate on a playlist with someone else, you would need to share your account login, which is not recommended for security reasons.
How many videos can I add to a single playlist?
YouTube doesn't publish a hard limit, but playlists can contain thousands of videos. Very large playlists may load more slowly on some devices. For most uses — organizing tutorials, grouping channel uploads, or curating a topic — you won't run into a practical limit.
Do playlists help with YouTube's recommendation algorithm?
YouTube's algorithm does consider watch history and playlists as signals of what content you're interested in, which may influence recommendations. If you're building a channel, public playlists can help viewers discover related videos and spend more time watching your content in sequence, which benefits your channel's performance.