Creating a playlist takes three steps and takes less than a minute
To create a new playlist on YouTube, sign into your account, click your profile icon in the top right corner, select "Create a playlist," give it a name, and choose who can see it. After that, you can add videos to it by clicking the "Save" button under any video and selecting your new playlist. The playlist appears in your library and stays there until you delete it.
You do not need any special account type or permission to create playlists. Every YouTube account — free or paid — can make as many playlists as you want. The steps are the same whether you are on a computer, phone, or tablet, though the buttons look slightly different on mobile.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile icon, then "Create a playlist" to start; YouTube asks for a name and privacy setting before the playlist exists.
- You can set a playlist to private (only you see it), unlisted (only people with the link see it), or public (anyone can find it).
- Add videos to a playlist by clicking "Save" under the video and choosing which playlist to save it to.
- You can edit the playlist name, description, and privacy setting anytime after creating it by opening the playlist and clicking the three-dot menu.
- Playlists stay organized in your library under "Your playlists" and can be rearranged or deleted whenever you want.
Step-by-step: Creating your first playlist on a computer
Start by signing into YouTube on your computer. Look for your profile picture or initial in the top right corner of the screen and click it. A menu will drop down with several options.
Click "Create a playlist" from that menu. YouTube will open a small window asking you to name the playlist. Type whatever you want — "Cooking Videos," "Workout Music," "Things to Watch Later" — anything that helps you remember what goes in it. After you type the name, click "Create." That is all you need to do to make the playlist exist.
YouTube will ask you to choose a privacy setting. Select one of three options: "Private" means only you can see it, "Unlisted" means only people you share the link with can see it, and "Public" means anyone on YouTube can find it and watch it. Most people choose "Private" for personal playlists. Click the privacy option you want, and your playlist is ready to use.
Adding videos to your playlist
Once your playlist exists, you can start filling it with videos. Find any video on YouTube you want to save. Below the video title, you will see a row of buttons including "Like," "Share," and "Save." Click the "Save" button — it looks like a bookmark or flag.
A menu will pop up showing all your playlists. Click the name of the playlist you just created. YouTube will add that video to the playlist immediately. You do not need to do anything else — the video is saved and stays in the playlist until you remove it.
You can add videos to a playlist from the search results page too. Hover over any video thumbnail in the search results, and a three-dot menu will appear in the corner. Click it and select "Save to playlist," then choose your playlist from the list.
Creating a playlist on your phone or tablet
The process is nearly identical on mobile, but the buttons are in different places. Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap "Create a playlist" from the menu that appears.
Type the name of your playlist and tap "Create." YouTube will ask you to choose a privacy setting — tap "Private," "Unlisted," or "Public" depending on who you want to see it. Your playlist is now created and ready for videos.
To add videos on mobile, find the video you want to save and tap the three-dot menu below the video title. Tap "Save to playlist" and select your new playlist from the list. The video will be added right away.
Changing your playlist name, description, or privacy setting
You can edit a playlist anytime after creating it. Go to your library by clicking your profile icon and selecting "Your playlists." Find the playlist you want to change and click on it to open it.
Once the playlist is open, look for a three-dot menu icon near the top of the page (on a computer) or at the top right (on mobile). Click or tap it and select "Edit playlist." A window will open where you can change the name, add a description, or change the privacy setting. Make your changes and click "Save."
If you want to rename the playlist without adding a description, you can also click directly on the playlist name at the top and type a new one. YouTube saves changes automatically, so you do not need to click anything extra.
Organizing and managing videos in your playlist
Once you have added videos to a playlist, you can rearrange them, remove them, or see how many videos are in it. Open the playlist and you will see all the videos listed in order. To move a video to a different spot, click and drag it to the new position (on a computer) or long-press it and drag it (on mobile).
To remove a video from the playlist without deleting the video from YouTube, hover over the video and click the three-dot menu, then select "Remove from playlist." The video stays on YouTube but disappears from that playlist.
You can see the total number of videos in your playlist at the top of the page. YouTube also shows you how long it would take to watch all the videos in the playlist if you watched them back-to-back without stopping.
Sharing your playlist with other people
If your playlist is set to "Public" or "Unlisted," you can share it with other people. Open the playlist and look for a "Share" button near the top. Click it and YouTube will give you a link you can copy and send to anyone. If the playlist is "Unlisted," only people with that link can see it. If it is "Public," anyone can find it by searching YouTube.
You can also share a playlist through email, text, or social media by clicking the share button and selecting the method you want to use. YouTube will format the link automatically so it works no matter how the person receives it.
If your playlist is "Private," the share button will not work because only you can see it. To share a private playlist, you would need to change it to "Unlisted" or "Public" first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a playlist after I create it?
Yes. Open the playlist, click the three-dot menu, and select "Delete playlist." YouTube will ask you to confirm. Deleting the playlist removes it from your library, but it does not delete any of the videos from YouTube — they stay on the platform and in your watch history.
What is the difference between a private and unlisted playlist?
A private playlist is only visible to you when you are signed into your account. An unlisted playlist is hidden from search results and your public profile, but anyone with the direct link can view it and the videos in it. Public playlists appear in search results and on your profile for anyone to find.
Can I add the same video to multiple playlists?
Yes. When you click "Save" on a video, you can select multiple playlists at once by checking the box next to each one. The video will be added to all of them. You can also add a video to a new playlist later even if it is already in another playlist.
How many videos can I add to one playlist?
YouTube does not have a limit on the number of videos you can add to a single playlist. You can have hundreds or thousands of videos in one playlist if you want, though very large playlists may load more slowly on older devices.
Do I need a YouTube channel to create a playlist?
No. Every YouTube account comes with the ability to create playlists automatically. You do not need to create a channel, upload videos, or do anything special — just sign in and start making playlists.