You can drag songs up and down on mobile, or click and drag on desktop
Spotify lets you change the order of songs in any playlist you created yourself. On your phone, open the playlist, tap the three dots next to any song, and select "Move to" — then choose where in the list you want it to go. On a computer, click and hold a song, then drag it to its new position. The change happens when ready and saves automatically.
You cannot reorder songs in playlists other people made, even if you follow them. You also cannot reorder Spotify's own playlists like Release Radar or Discover Weekly. But any playlist you started yourself — whether you named it "Workout" or "Road Trip" — is yours to rearrange however you want.
Key Takeaways
- On mobile, tap the three dots next to a song and choose "Move to" to pick its new spot in the playlist.
- On desktop, click and hold a song, then drag it up or down to reorder it.
- Changes save automatically and take effect right away across all your devices.
- You can only reorder playlists you created — not ones made by other people or by Spotify itself.
- Reordering works the same way whether you use the free or paid version of Spotify.
How to reorder songs on your phone or tablet
Open Spotify and go to the playlist you want to change. Tap the three vertical dots (the menu icon) next to the song you want to move. A menu will pop up with several options — select "Move to." Spotify will show you a list of every song in the playlist with numbers next to each one.
Tap the number or song name where you want to move it. If you want a song to be third in the playlist, tap the song that is currently in the third spot. Spotify will slide your song into that position and shift the others down. You can move one song at a time this way, or repeat the process for as many songs as you need to rearrange.
How to reorder songs on your computer
Go to Spotify on your web browser or open the desktop app and find your playlist. Click on the song you want to move and hold down your mouse button. While holding, move your mouse up or down to the spot where you want the song to go. You will see a line appear showing where the song will land. Release the mouse button and the song drops into its new position.
This drag-and-drop method works faster if you need to move many songs. You can grab a song from the bottom of the playlist and drag it to the top in one motion, or shuffle things around in smaller groups. The desktop version also shows you the total length of your playlist at the top, which helps if you are building a playlist for a specific amount of time.
What happens when you reorder a playlist
The new order shows up on all your devices within seconds. If you reorder a playlist on your phone, the same order appears when you open Spotify on your computer or tablet. Spotify stores the order in the cloud, so it stays the same no matter where you listen.
If you share the playlist with friends, they see the songs in the order you arranged them. If they follow your playlist, they get updates when you add new songs, but they cannot change the order themselves — only you can do that. If you unfollow a playlist someone else made and then follow it again, it goes back to the original order that person set.
Why you might want to reorder a playlist
The most common reason is to build a flow — putting upbeat songs at the start to warm up, slower songs in the middle, and high-energy tracks at the end. For workout playlists, people often arrange songs by tempo, putting faster songs where they need the most push. For road trips, you might group similar moods or artists together so the listening experience feels natural.
You might also reorder a playlist after adding new songs. Instead of having new tracks scattered throughout, you can move them to sit with related songs or group them at the end until you decide where they belong. Some people keep a "New Additions" section at the bottom and move songs up into the main playlist once they have listened a few times.
Limits and things that do not work
You cannot reorder songs in playlists made by other people, even if you follow them and listen regularly. Spotify's algorithm playlists — like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or Daily Mixes — cannot be reordered because Spotify updates them automatically. If you want a version you can control, you can create your own playlist and copy songs from those Spotify playlists into it.
You also cannot reorder songs while they are downloading for offline listening, though you can reorder them before or after the read finishes. If you delete a song from a playlist and then want it back, you have to add it again — Spotify does not keep a history of removed songs within the playlist itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reorder songs in a playlist someone shared with me?
No. You can only reorder playlists you created. If you want to rearrange songs from someone else's playlist, create your own playlist and add those songs to it. Then you can arrange them however you want.
Does reordering a playlist change the order for people who follow it?
Yes. When you change the order, anyone following your playlist sees the new arrangement. They cannot change it back — only you can reorder your own playlists.
What if I reorder a playlist on my phone — will it be in the same order on my computer?
Yes. Spotify syncs the order across all your devices within a few seconds. Reorder on your phone, and your computer shows the same order the next time you open the playlist.
Can I undo a reorder if I change my mind?
Spotify does not have an undo button for reordering. If you want to go back to a previous order, you will need to move the songs back manually. Some people take a screenshot of the original order before making big changes.
Why can't I reorder Spotify's playlists like Discover Weekly?
Spotify updates those playlists automatically based on your listening habits, so reordering would not stick. If you want a version you can control, create a new playlist and copy your favorite songs from Discover Weekly into it.