Creating a playlist on YouTube takes three steps: sign in to your account, click the menu next to any video, and select "Add to playlist"

A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos grouped together in one place. You can watch them in order without searching for each one, share the whole list with someone else, or keep videos organized by topic. Playlists work on any device where you watch YouTube — phone, tablet, or computer — and they stay with your account, not your device.

You need a Google account to create a playlist. If you watch YouTube without signing in, you can still watch other people's playlists, but you cannot make your own or save videos to one.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be signed into a Google account to create a playlist; YouTube does not save playlists for viewers who are not logged in.
  • The fastest way to start a playlist is to click the three-dot menu next to any video and choose "Add to playlist," then select "Create new playlist."
  • Playlists can be set to private (only you see them), unlisted (only people with the link see them), or public (anyone can find and watch them).
  • You can rearrange videos in a playlist by dragging them into a new order, or delete individual videos without affecting the original uploads.
  • Playlists update automatically if a video is deleted from YouTube, and they work across all devices where you sign in with the same Google account.

How to start a new playlist from any video

Open YouTube and find any video you want to add. Below the video title, look for the three vertical dots (the menu button). Click or tap it. A menu will appear with several options, including "Add to playlist."

Click "Add to playlist." A small window will open showing playlists you have already made. At the top of that window, click "Create new playlist." Type a name for your playlist — something like "Cooking Tutorials" or "Guitar Lessons" — and choose who can see it. Then click "Create." YouTube will add that video to your new playlist right away.

If you want to add more videos to the same playlist, click the three-dot menu on the next video, select "Add to playlist," and choose the playlist you just made from the list.

Setting privacy for your playlist

When you create a playlist, YouTube asks you to choose one of three privacy settings. Private means only you can see and watch the playlist. Unlisted means anyone with the link can watch it, but it will not show up in search results or on your channel. Public means anyone on YouTube can find it by searching or visiting your channel.

You can change the privacy setting later. Go to your playlists (click your profile picture, then "Your channel," then the "Playlists" tab), click the three-dot menu next to the playlist name, and select "Edit playlist." Change the privacy setting and click "Save."

Most people use private playlists for personal collections and unlisted for playlists they want to share with specific people. Public playlists work well if you are building a collection you want others to discover — for example, a list of the best videos on a topic you care about.

Adding videos to an existing playlist

Once you have created a playlist, adding more videos is the same process every time. Find a video, click the three-dot menu, select "Add to playlist," and choose the playlist from the list. You can add the same video to multiple playlists.

You can also add videos while watching. If you are in the middle of a video, click the "Save" button (it looks like a plus sign or bookmark) below the video title. A menu will appear showing your playlists. Click the one you want to add it to.

Videos stay in your playlist even if the original uploader deletes them from YouTube. The video will show as unavailable, but it will not disappear from your playlist or change the order of the videos around it.

Organizing and editing your playlist

To rearrange videos in your playlist, go to the playlist page and click "Edit" in the top right. Each video will show a handle (six dots) on the left side. Click and drag any video to move it up or down in the order. Click "Save" when you are done.

To remove a single video from the playlist without deleting it from YouTube, click the three-dot menu next to that video in the playlist and select "Remove from playlist." The video stays on YouTube; it just leaves your collection.

To delete the entire playlist, go to your playlists, click the three-dot menu next to the playlist name, and select "Delete playlist." This removes the playlist but does not delete any of the videos from YouTube.

Sharing a playlist with others

If your playlist is public or unlisted, you can share it. Go to the playlist page and look for the "Share" button (usually near the top). Click it and choose how you want to share: copy the link to paste into a message, email, or social media, or use the social media buttons to post it directly.

Anyone who gets the link can watch the entire playlist in order. If the playlist is unlisted, they can only access it through the link you give them. If it is public, they can also find it by searching your channel or YouTube search.

People who watch your playlist cannot edit it or add videos to it unless you give them permission. Only the person who created the playlist can change the order, add videos, or delete videos from it.

Using playlists across devices

Your playlists are tied to your Google account, not to any single device. If you create a playlist on your computer, you can watch it on your phone or tablet by signing in with the same Google account. Any changes you make on one device show up on all the others.

If you watch YouTube without signing in, YouTube will not save any playlists you try to create. Always make sure you are logged in before you start building a collection you want to keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add videos from different channels to the same playlist?

Yes. A playlist can hold videos from any channel on YouTube. You can mix videos from different creators in any order you want.

What happens if someone deletes a video that is in my playlist?

The video stays in your playlist but shows as unavailable. You can still see it was there, but you cannot watch it. You can remove it from the playlist if you want to clean it up.

Can I make a playlist that other people can add videos to?

No. Only the person who created the playlist can add or remove videos. Other people can watch it and share it, but they cannot edit it.

How many videos can I add to one playlist?

YouTube does not publish a hard limit, but playlists with thousands of videos may load slowly. Most people keep playlists between 10 and 200 videos for straightforward browsing.

Can I read a playlist to watch offline?

YouTube Premium members can read individual videos to watch offline, but you cannot read an entire playlist at once. You would need to read each video separately.