YouTube playlists let you group videos together in any order you choose

A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos you arrange and name yourself. You can add videos from anywhere on YouTube — your own uploads, videos from other creators, or a mix of both. Once you create a playlist, you can share the link with others, embed it on a website, or keep it private for your own use. The videos play in the order you set them, one after another, unless someone watching chooses to skip ahead.

Playlists are useful for organizing content by topic, creating a watch-later list, or curating videos for a specific audience. You can edit a playlist anytime — add more videos, remove ones you no longer want, or change the order.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a playlist by clicking your profile icon, selecting "Create a new playlist," naming it, and choosing who can see it.
  • Add videos to a playlist by clicking the "Save" button below any video and selecting which playlist to add it to.
  • Rearrange videos in your playlist by dragging them into a new order, or remove individual videos without deleting them from YouTube.
  • Share a playlist by copying its link or embedding it on a website, and control whether viewers can see it or add videos to it.

How to create a new playlist on YouTube

Start by signing into your YouTube account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of the page. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Create a new playlist" from that menu.

A dialog box will open asking you to name your playlist. Type a name that describes what the playlist contains — for example, "Video Editing Tutorials" or "Favorite Documentaries." After you enter the name, you will see three privacy options: Public, Unlisted, or Private. Public playlists appear in search results and on your channel. Unlisted playlists do not show up in search, but anyone with the link can watch them. Private playlists are visible only to you. Choose the setting that fits your purpose, then click "Create."

Adding videos to your playlist

Once your playlist exists, you can add videos to it. When you are watching any video on YouTube, look for the "Save" button below the video player (it looks like a bookmark or plus sign, depending on your device). Click it, and a menu will show all your playlists. Select the playlist you want to add the video to, and it will be saved there instantly.

You can also add videos while browsing. Hover over any video thumbnail in search results or a channel page, and a menu icon (three dots) will appear. Click it and select "Add to playlist," then choose which playlist to add it to. This works the same way whether you are on a computer or mobile device.

Organizing and reordering videos in a playlist

To view and edit your playlist, click your profile icon and select "Your channel." On your channel page, click the "Playlists" tab. Find the playlist you want to edit and click on it to open it.

Inside the playlist, you will see all the videos listed in order. To change the order, click the three-dot menu icon next to any video and select "Move up" or "Move down." On a computer, you can also drag videos by clicking and holding the handle icon (six dots) on the left side of each video and dragging it to a new position. To remove a video from the playlist without deleting it from YouTube, click the three-dot menu and select "Remove from playlist."

Sharing your playlist with others

To share a playlist, open it and look for the "Share" button near the top of the page. Click it to see sharing options. You can copy the playlist link and paste it into a message, email, or social media. Anyone who receives the link can watch the playlist if it is set to Public or Unlisted.

If you want to embed a playlist on a website, click the "Share" button and select "Embed." YouTube will generate code you can copy and paste into your website's HTML. The playlist will then play directly on your site. Keep in mind that embedded playlists still respect your privacy settings — if your playlist is Private, only you can see it even if someone has the embed code.

Controlling who can add videos to your playlist

By default, only you can add videos to your own playlists. If you want to let other people add videos to a playlist you created, you need to change its settings. Open the playlist, click the three-dot menu icon at the top, and select "Playlist settings."

In the settings menu, you will see an option that says "Allow viewers to add videos." Toggle this on if you want others to be able to contribute. This is useful for collaborative playlists where multiple people are building a collection together. Keep in mind that if you allow this, viewers can add videos but cannot remove videos that others added — only you can manage the full list.

Deleting a playlist

If you no longer want a playlist, you can delete it. Open the playlist, click the three-dot menu at the top, and select "Delete playlist." YouTube will ask you to confirm. Deleting a playlist removes the collection itself, but it does not delete any of the videos from YouTube — they remain on their original channels.

You can also delete a playlist from your channel page. Go to your channel, click the "Playlists" tab, hover over the playlist you want to remove, click the three-dot menu, and select "Delete playlist."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add the same video to multiple playlists?

Yes. Click the "Save" button on any video, and you can select multiple playlists to add it to at once. The video will appear in all of them, and changes you make to the video itself (like watching it) will be reflected across all playlists.

What happens if I delete a video from YouTube that is in one of my playlists?

The video will automatically disappear from all your playlists. YouTube removes it from the collection because the video no longer exists on the platform. The rest of your playlist remains intact.

Can I make a playlist that only I can see but still share with specific people?

No. YouTube playlists are either Private (only you), Unlisted (anyone with the link), or Public (searchable). There is no option to share with specific people only. If you want to share with certain people, set it to Unlisted and send them the link directly.

How many videos can I add to a single playlist?

YouTube does not publish a hard limit, but playlists can hold thousands of videos. Performance may slow down if a playlist becomes extremely large, but this is rare for most users.