Creating a playlist takes three taps and a name
Open Apple Music, tap the Library tab at the bottom right, then tap "Playlists" at the top. Tap the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner, choose "New Playlist", type a name, and tap "Create". You now have an empty playlist. To add songs, search for a track in Apple Music, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Add to Playlist" — then pick the playlist you just made.
The whole process takes less than a minute. Once you have created a few playlists, you can add songs to them from anywhere in the app: while playing a song, from search results, or from an artist's page. Every time you add a song, it stays in that playlist until you remove it.
Key Takeaways
- Create a new playlist by opening Library, tapping Playlists, then the plus sign, naming it, and tapping Create.
- Add songs to a playlist by tapping the three dots next to any track and selecting "Add to Playlist".
- You can add the same song to multiple playlists without making copies — removing it from one playlist does not affect the others.
- Playlists you create are stored on your device and in your Apple Music account, so they sync across your phone, tablet, and computer.
- You can delete a playlist by swiping left on it in your Library, or edit its name and description by tapping the three dots at the top of the playlist.
Adding songs from different parts of the app
You do not have to be in your Library to add a song to a playlist. If you are browsing the Browse tab and find a song you like, tap the three dots next to it and choose "Add to Playlist". The same option appears when you search for a song, when you are looking at an artist's full discography, or when a song is currently playing.
When you tap "Add to Playlist", a menu shows all your existing playlists. Tap the one you want, and the song is added immediately. If you want to add the same song to multiple playlists at once, you have to add it one playlist at a time — there is no bulk option for this.
Editing playlist names and descriptions
After you create a playlist, you can change its name or add a description. Open the playlist, then tap the three dots in the upper right corner. Choose "Edit Playlist" to change the name, add a description, or change the image that appears next to the playlist name. The image can be a photo from your phone or a default Apple Music image.
You can also reorder songs within a playlist by tapping "Edit" in the upper right, then dragging songs up or down. When you are done rearranging, tap "Done" to save the order. This is useful if you want a specific song to play first, or if you are building a playlist for a particular mood or activity.
Removing songs and deleting playlists
To remove a single song from a playlist, open the playlist, tap the three dots next to the song, and select "Remove from Playlist". The song stays in your Apple Music library — it is only removed from that specific playlist. If you added the song to other playlists, it remains in those.
To delete an entire playlist, go to your Library, tap Playlists, then swipe left on the playlist name. A red delete button appears — tap it to remove the playlist. You can also tap the three dots at the top of an open playlist and choose "Delete Playlist". Deleting a playlist does not remove the songs from your library, only from that collection.
Sharing playlists with other people
Apple Music lets you share a playlist with friends, family, or on social media. Open the playlist, tap the three dots in the upper right, and select "Share Playlist". You can copy a link to paste in a message, email, or social media, or you can use AirDrop to send it directly to someone nearby. Anyone with the link can view your playlist and listen to the songs, even if they do not follow you.
When someone opens a shared playlist link, they see all the songs in it and can add any of them to their own playlists. They cannot edit your original playlist — only you can add or remove songs from it. If you want to stop sharing a playlist, there is no "unshare" button; instead, you can delete the playlist or create a new private one.
Syncing playlists across your devices
Any playlist you create on your iPhone automatically appears on your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch if you are signed into the same Apple Music account. The sync happens within a few minutes, and any songs you add to the playlist on one device show up on the others. This works whether you are using Apple Music on iOS, macOS, or watchOS.
If you create a playlist on your computer using iTunes or the Music app on Mac, it syncs to your phone the same way. The only exception is if you turn off iCloud Music Library in your settings — if that is off, playlists stay only on the device where you created them. To check if iCloud Music Library is on, go to Settings > Music > iCloud Music Library on your phone, or System Settings > Music on your Mac.
Playlists versus saved albums and artists
A playlist is different from saving an album or following an artist. When you save an album, all the songs in that album appear in your Library under "Albums", but you cannot reorder them or remove individual tracks. When you follow an artist, their new releases show up in a special section, but you are not collecting specific songs.
A playlist is the only way to collect individual songs in a custom order. If you want to mix songs from different albums, or if you want to arrange them in a specific sequence, a playlist is the tool to use. You can create as many playlists as you want, and there is no limit to how many songs each one can hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a playlist with songs that are not on Apple Music?
No. A playlist can only contain songs that are available in the Apple Music catalog. If you have music files on your device that are not in Apple Music, you cannot add them to a playlist. You would need to use a different music app or upload those files to Apple Music through iTunes Match (a separate paid service).
What happens to a playlist if I cancel my Apple Music subscription?
Your playlists remain in the app, but you cannot play the songs in them. If you resubscribe later, your playlists and all the songs in them come back. If you want to keep a record of what was in a playlist, you can take a screenshot or write down the song names before your subscription ends.
Can I collaborate on a playlist with someone else?
Apple Music does not have a built-in collaboration feature where multiple people can edit the same playlist. You can share a playlist so others can view it and add songs to their own playlists, but only the creator can edit the original. Some users work around this by taking turns adding songs and sharing the link.
How many playlists can I create?
Apple Music does not publish a limit on the number of playlists you can create. In practice, you can create hundreds without running into problems. The app may slow down if you have thousands of playlists, but this is rare for typical users.
Can I sort my playlists alphabetically or by date created?
Your playlists appear in the order you created them, with the most recently created at the top. You cannot sort them alphabetically or by any other method in the app. If you want to organize them, you can rename them with numbers or letters at the start (like "1 - Workout" or "A - Favorites") to control the order they appear.