Creating a playlist takes three steps: sign in, click the menu next to any video, and select "Add to playlist"
A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos you save in one place so you can watch them in order without searching for each one. You can create playlists from your own channel, add videos from other creators, and share the link with anyone. The fastest way to start is to click the three-dot menu next to any video you want to save, then choose "Add to playlist" and create a new one.
You need a Google account to create playlists — the same account you use for Gmail or Google Drive. If you do not have one, you can create it free at accounts.google.com. Once you are signed in to YouTube, you can build playlists on any device: computer, phone, or tablet.
Key Takeaways
- Click the three-dot menu next to any video, select "Add to playlist", and choose "Create new" to start your first playlist.
- You can add videos to a playlist from any creator, not just your own channel, as long as you have the video's link or can find it on YouTube.
- Playlists can be private (only you see them), unlisted (only people with the link can see them), or public (anyone can find and watch them).
- You can rearrange videos in your playlist by dragging them into a different order, and remove videos by clicking the X next to each title.
How to add your first video to a new playlist
Find any video on YouTube you want to save. It can be from a channel you follow or a video you found through search. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) below the video title or to the right of the play button, depending on whether you are on a computer or phone.
Click or tap those three dots. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Add to playlist". YouTube will show you a list of playlists you have already created, plus a button that says "Create new". Click "Create new" to make your first playlist.
Type a name for your playlist — something that describes what the videos are about, like "Cooking Tutorials" or "JavaScript Lessons". You can add a description if you want, but it is optional. Then click "Create". YouTube will add the video to your new playlist and show you a confirmation message.
Changing who can see your playlist
When you create a playlist, YouTube sets it to private by default, which means only you can see it. You can change this setting anytime by going to your channel, clicking "Playlists", finding the playlist you want to adjust, and clicking the three-dot menu next to its name.
YouTube gives you three visibility options. Private means only you can view and edit the playlist — no one else can find it or watch it. Unlisted means anyone with the link can watch the playlist, but it will not show up in search results or on your channel page. Public means anyone on YouTube can find the playlist through search, see it on your channel, and watch all the videos in it.
Most people use private playlists for personal collections and unlisted playlists when they want to share a specific set of videos with friends or colleagues without making it searchable. Public playlists work well if you are a creator building themed collections that other people might want to watch.
Adding more videos to an existing playlist
Once you have created a playlist, adding more videos is the same process. Find any video on YouTube, click the three-dot menu, select "Add to playlist", and this time choose the name of the playlist you want to add it to from the list that appears. YouTube will add the video to the end of that playlist.
You can add the same video to multiple playlists. This is useful if a single video fits into more than one theme — for example, a video about healthy cooking could go into both a "Recipes" playlist and a "Fitness Tips" playlist.
Organizing and editing your playlist
To see all the videos in a playlist and rearrange them, go to your channel, click "Playlists", and select the playlist you want to edit. YouTube will show you every video in order. You can drag videos up or down to change the order they will play in — just click and hold a video, then drag it to where you want it.
To remove a video from the playlist, hover over it and click the X that appears. The video will be deleted from the playlist but will still exist on YouTube — you are only removing it from your collection, not deleting it from the platform.
You can also edit the playlist's name and description by clicking the three-dot menu at the top of the playlist page and selecting "Edit playlist details". This is where you can also change the privacy setting from private to unlisted or public.
Sharing a playlist with others
If your playlist is set to unlisted or public, you can share it by copying the playlist link. Go to your playlist, click the share icon (it looks like an arrow pointing outward), and select "Copy link". You can then paste that link in an email, text message, or social media post.
Anyone who clicks the link will be able to watch all the videos in your playlist in order. If the playlist is unlisted, they will not be able to find it through YouTube search — 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 searching YouTube directly.
Using playlists to watch videos in a series
One of the most useful features of playlists is autoplay. When you start playing a playlist, YouTube will automatically play the next video in the playlist when the current one finishes. This means you can start a playlist and let it run without stopping to click on the next video.
This works especially well for educational content, like a series of programming tutorials or language lessons, where you want to watch videos in a specific order. You can also shuffle a playlist — click the shuffle icon on the playlist page to play videos in random order instead of the order you arranged them in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add videos from other creators to my playlist?
Yes. You can add any video from any creator to any of your playlists. The video does not have to be from your own channel. The creator does not need to give you permission, and they will not be notified that you added their video to your playlist.
What happens if a video I added to my playlist gets deleted?
If the creator deletes a video, it will disappear from your playlist. YouTube will show an empty space where the video was, and you can remove that space by clicking the X next to it. The rest of your playlist will continue to play normally.
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. Standard YouTube accounts cannot read videos at all.
How many videos can I add to a single playlist?
YouTube does not publish a hard limit, but playlists can hold thousands of videos. In practice, most people keep playlists between 10 and 100 videos for easier browsing, but there is no rule against making a much longer one.
Can someone edit my playlist if I share the link with them?
No. Only you can edit your playlist, even if you share the link with someone else. Other people can watch the videos and see the order, but they cannot add videos, remove videos, or change the playlist's name or description.