Creating a new playlist on YouTube takes less than a minute

You can make a new playlist directly from your YouTube account in two ways: while watching a video, or from your library. The fastest method is to click "Save" under any video, select "Create new playlist," give it a name, and choose who can see it. If you prefer to start from your library first, go to your account menu, select "Your playlists," and click the "Create" button. Either way, YouTube stores your playlist in your account so you can add videos to it anytime, from any device where you're signed in.

Both methods take about 30 seconds and result in the same thing: an empty playlist ready for videos. The choice between them comes down to whether you already have a video in mind that you want to save, or whether you want to set up the playlist first and find videos later.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create a playlist while watching a video by clicking "Save" and selecting "Create new playlist," or start from your library under "Your playlists."
  • When you create a playlist, you choose whether it's private (only you see it), unlisted (only people with the link see it), or public (anyone can find it).
  • After creating a playlist, you can add videos by clicking "Save" under any video and selecting the playlist name from the list.
  • You can edit your playlist name, description, and privacy settings anytime by going to "Your playlists" and clicking the three-dot menu next to the playlist.

Creating a playlist while watching a video

This is the quickest way if you're already watching something you want to save. Look for the "Save" button below the video player (it looks like a bookmark or flag icon). Click it, and a menu will pop up showing your existing playlists. At the top of that menu, select "Create new playlist."

A small window will appear asking for a playlist name. Type whatever you want to call it — "Cooking Videos," "Workout Music," "Things to Watch Later," anything that makes sense to you. Below the name field, you'll see three privacy options: Private, Unlisted, and Public. Choose one, then click "Create." YouTube will add the video you were watching to the new playlist automatically.

Creating a playlist from your library

If you want to set up a playlist before you start saving videos, go to your YouTube account menu by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Your channel" or scroll down and click "Your playlists." On that page, you'll see a button that says "Create" or a plus icon. Click it.

A form will open asking for a playlist name and privacy setting. Fill in the name, choose your privacy level, and click "Create playlist." The new playlist will appear in your library, empty and ready for videos. You can add videos to it anytime by clicking "Save" under any video and selecting the playlist from the menu that appears.

Understanding privacy settings for your playlist

Private means only you can see the playlist. No one else can find it, search for it, or access it even if they have the link. Use this for personal lists like "Videos I'm embarrassed to watch" or "Research for a project." Private playlists are completely hidden from your public channel.

Unlisted means the playlist is hidden from search and from your public channel, but anyone with the direct link can watch it. This is useful if you want to share a specific playlist with friends or family without making it visible to everyone. You can send them the link directly, and they'll be able to view it without needing a YouTube account.

Public means anyone on YouTube can find your playlist through search, see it on your channel, and watch it. Choose this if you're creating a playlist you want to share widely, like "Best Cooking Channels" or "Documentaries About Space." Public playlists appear on your channel profile for anyone to discover.

Adding videos to your playlist after creation

Once your playlist exists, adding videos is straightforward. While watching any video on YouTube, click the "Save" button below the player. A menu will show all your playlists. Click the name of the playlist you want to add the video to, and it will be saved. You can add the same video to multiple playlists if you want — there's no limit to how many playlists a single video can belong to.

You can also add videos from search results or your recommendations without clicking into the full video. Hover over a video thumbnail and click the three-dot menu that appears, then select "Add to playlist." Choose the playlist from the list, and the video is added. This method is faster when you're browsing and want to save several videos at once.

Editing your playlist name, description, and settings

To change a playlist's name, description, or privacy setting after you've created it, go to "Your playlists" in your library. Find the playlist you want to edit and click the three-dot menu (or settings icon) next to it. Select "Edit playlist."

A form will open showing the playlist name, description field, and privacy options. Change any of these details and click "Update." You can also remove videos from the playlist by opening it, hovering over a video, and clicking the X or trash icon that appears. If you want to delete the entire playlist, click the three-dot menu next to the playlist name in your library and select "Delete playlist." This action cannot be undone, so make sure you want to remove it.

Organizing multiple playlists

If you create several playlists, YouTube lists them in the order you created them. You cannot manually reorder them, but you can organize them by naming them clearly — for example, "1. Cooking," "2. Fitness," "3. Learning" — so they appear in the order you prefer alphabetically. This naming system helps you find the right playlist quickly when you have many of them.

You can also use playlist descriptions to keep track of what each one is for. Click "Edit playlist" and add a note like "Videos for my workout routine" or "Recommendations from my friend Sarah." This helps you remember the purpose of each playlist, especially if you have many of them. YouTube shows the description when someone views your public playlists, so keep it brief and clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move videos between playlists?

No, but you can add the same video to multiple playlists. Open the video, click "Save," and select each playlist you want it in. To remove it from one playlist, open that playlist, find the video, and click the X or trash icon next to it.

What happens if I delete a playlist?

The playlist disappears from your account, and anyone who had the link to an unlisted playlist will no longer be able to access it. The videos themselves stay on YouTube — deleting a playlist does not delete the videos. You can create a new playlist anytime.

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, but they cannot edit them. If you want to let others contribute, you would need to share your account login, which is not recommended.

How many videos can I add to one playlist?

YouTube does not have a published limit on playlist size. You can add hundreds or thousands of videos to a single playlist. However, very large playlists may load slowly on some devices.

Can I see how many people have watched my public playlist?

YouTube does not show view counts for playlists the way it does for individual videos. You can see how many videos are in the playlist and how many subscribers your channel has, but not specific engagement data for that playlist.