Creating a playlist on YouTube 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 grouped together in one place. You can create playlists to organize videos by topic, save content to watch later, or share a curated list with other people. Playlists appear on your channel and can be public (anyone can find and watch them), unlisted (only people with the link can see them), or private (only you can see them).

The process works the same whether you're using a computer, phone, or tablet. You need a Google account to create playlists — the same account you use to sign in to YouTube. Once you create a playlist, you can add videos to it from your watch history, search results, or any video page.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a new playlist by clicking the menu icon next to any video and selecting "Add to playlist," then choosing "Create new playlist."
  • Playlists can be set to public, unlisted, or private depending on whether you want others to find them, access them with a link, or keep them to yourself.
  • You can add videos to a playlist from the video page, search results, or your watch history without opening the playlist itself.
  • Playlists appear on your YouTube channel under the Playlists tab, and you can reorder videos or remove them at any time.
  • Other people can subscribe to your public playlists and receive notifications when you add new videos.

How to create a new playlist on a computer

Start by signing into YouTube on your computer. Navigate to any video you want to add to your new playlist. Below the video title, look for the three-dot menu icon (sometimes called the "more" menu). Click it, and a dropdown menu will appear with several options.

Select "Add to playlist" from the menu. A panel will slide out from the right side of the screen showing your existing playlists. At the top of this panel, click "Create new playlist." A dialog box will open asking you to name your playlist and choose its privacy setting. Type a name that describes what the playlist contains — for example, "Web Development Tutorials" or "Videos to Watch Later." Then select whether you want the playlist to be public, unlisted, or private. Click "Create," and your new playlist is ready.

The video you were viewing will automatically be added to the new playlist. You can now add more videos to it by clicking the menu icon on any video and selecting your playlist from the "Add to playlist" list.

How to create a playlist on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet and sign in if you're not already. Find a video you want to add to your new playlist. Tap the three-dot menu icon below the video title or in the top right corner of the video player, depending on your device.

Tap "Add to playlist" from the menu options. Your existing playlists will appear. At the top, you'll see an option to create a new playlist — tap it. Enter a name for your playlist and choose its privacy setting (public, unlisted, or private). Tap "Create," and the video will be added to your new playlist when ready.

Understanding playlist privacy settings

When you create a playlist, you choose one of three privacy levels. A public playlist appears on your YouTube channel and in search results. Anyone can find it, watch all the videos in it, and subscribe to it. YouTube will notify subscribers when you add new videos to a public playlist.

An unlisted playlist does not appear in search results or on your channel. Only people who have the direct link to your playlist can view it. This is useful if you want to share a playlist with specific people without making it visible to everyone on YouTube.

A private playlist is visible only to you. No one else can see it, even if they have the link. Private playlists are good for saving videos you want to watch later or organizing content just for yourself.

You can change a playlist's privacy setting at any time. On a computer, go to your channel, click the Playlists tab, find your playlist, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Edit playlist." On a phone or tablet, tap your profile icon, select "Your playlists," find the playlist, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Edit playlist." Then select a new privacy option and save your changes.

Adding videos to an existing playlist

You don't need to open your playlist to add videos to it. From any video page, search result, or your watch history, click or tap the three-dot menu next to the video. Select "Add to playlist," and your playlists will appear. Click or tap the name of the playlist you want to add the video to, and it will be added when ready.

You can add the same video to multiple playlists. A single video can appear in as many playlists as you want, and removing it from one playlist does not remove it from others.

Managing and organizing your playlists

Once you've created a playlist and added videos, you can reorder them, remove videos, or delete the entire playlist. On a computer, go to your channel and click the Playlists tab. Click the playlist you want to edit. You'll see all the videos in that playlist. Click and drag any video to move it to a different position in the list. To remove a single video, click the three-dot menu next to it and select "Remove from playlist." To delete the entire playlist, click the three-dot menu at the top of the playlist page and select "Delete playlist."

On a phone or tablet, tap your profile icon and select "Your playlists." Tap the playlist you want to edit. Tap the three-dot menu next to any video to remove it from the playlist. To delete the entire playlist, go back to your playlists list, tap the three-dot menu next to the playlist name, and select "Delete playlist."

Sharing playlists with others

If your playlist is public or unlisted, you can share it with other people. On a computer, open the playlist and click the "Share" button below the playlist title. A menu will appear with options to copy the link, share to email, or share to social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. Copy the link and send it to anyone you want to view the playlist.

On a phone or tablet, open the playlist and tap the share icon (usually an arrow pointing outward). Select how you want to share — through email, messaging apps, social media, or by copying the link. The person receiving the link can watch all the videos in your playlist without needing to create an account, as long as the playlist is public or unlisted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add videos from other channels to my playlist?

Yes. You can add any video from YouTube to your playlist, regardless of which channel uploaded it. The video does not need to be from your own channel. straightforward click the three-dot menu next to any video and select "Add to playlist."

What happens if a video is deleted or made private?

If a video is deleted from YouTube or made private by its uploader, it will no longer play in your playlist. The video will remain in your playlist list, but viewers will see a message that the video is unavailable. You can remove it manually from your playlist at any time.

Can other people add videos to my playlist?

No. Only you can add or remove videos from your playlists. Other people can watch your public or unlisted playlists and subscribe to them, but they cannot edit the contents. If you want others to contribute videos, you would need to create a separate shared document or communication method outside of YouTube.

How many videos can I add to a playlist?

YouTube does not have a published limit on the number of videos in a single playlist. You can add hundreds or thousands of videos to one playlist if you want. However, very large playlists may load more slowly on some devices.

Can I make a playlist that plays automatically?

Yes. When you open a playlist and click the play button, YouTube will play all videos in the playlist in order, one after another. You can also enable autoplay in your YouTube settings so that when one video finishes, the next video in the playlist starts automatically.