Creating a new playlist on YouTube takes about 30 seconds

You can create a playlist directly from your YouTube library or while watching a video. The fastest way is to click the "Create a new playlist" option that appears when you save a video — YouTube will ask you to name it and choose who can see it, then add that video automatically. If you want to start with an empty playlist and add videos later, go to your library, select "Playlists," and click the plus icon to build from scratch.

The process is the same whether you're on a computer, phone, or tablet. YouTube saves your playlist to your account immediately, so you can add to it anytime and share the link with others if you choose.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create a playlist while saving any video by selecting "Create a new playlist" from the save menu.
  • Playlists can be set to private (only you see them), unlisted (only people with the link can see them), or public (anyone can find them).
  • You add videos to a playlist by clicking the save icon below any video and selecting which playlist to add it to.
  • You can reorder videos in your playlist by dragging them, and remove videos by clicking the three-dot menu next to each one.

Creating a playlist while saving a video

The quickest way to start a playlist is to save a video you're watching. Click the save icon (it looks like a bookmark or plus sign) below the video player. A menu will pop up with your existing playlists and an option at the top that says "Create a new playlist."

Click that option. YouTube will ask you to name the playlist and choose its privacy setting. Type a name that describes what's in it — "Cooking Tutorials," "Workout Videos," "Music I Like" — whatever makes sense to you. Then choose whether the playlist is private (only you can see it), unlisted (only people you share the link with can see it), or public (anyone on YouTube can find it). Click "Create," and YouTube adds the video you were watching to the new playlist automatically.

Creating an empty playlist from your library

If you want to set up a playlist before you know which videos to add, start from your YouTube library instead. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Create a new playlist" from the menu. On a phone or tablet, tap your profile picture, go to "Create a new playlist," and follow the same steps.

Name the playlist and set its privacy level the same way. This time, YouTube creates an empty playlist with no videos in it. You can add videos to it later by saving them and selecting this playlist from the save menu.

Adding videos to your playlist after creation

Once your playlist exists, you can add videos to it anytime. Find any video on YouTube, click the save icon below it, and a menu shows all your playlists. Select the one you want to add it to, and YouTube adds it instantly. You can add the same video to multiple playlists if you want.

You can also add videos while browsing your library or your subscriptions. The save icon works the same way everywhere on YouTube.

Organizing and editing your playlist

Once videos are in your playlist, you can change their order. Open the playlist, and on a computer you can drag videos up or down to reorder them. On a phone or tablet, tap the three-dot menu next to a video and select "Move up" or "Move down" to change its position.

To remove a video from the playlist, click or tap the three-dot menu next to it and select "Remove from playlist." This doesn't delete the video from YouTube — it only removes it from that particular playlist. You can also change the playlist's name or privacy setting by clicking the three-dot menu at the top of the playlist page and selecting "Edit playlist."

Sharing your playlist with others

If your playlist is public or unlisted, you can share it with other people. Open the playlist and look for the share icon (usually a box with an arrow pointing out). Click it, and YouTube gives 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's public, anyone can find it by searching YouTube.

People who view your shared playlist can watch all the videos in it without needing permission. They cannot edit your playlist or add videos to it — only you can do that. If you want to let someone else edit a playlist, you would need to share your YouTube account, which is not recommended for security reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a playlist private after I create it?

Yes. Open the playlist, click the three-dot menu at the top, select "Edit playlist," and change the privacy setting from public or unlisted to private. Only you will be able to see it after that change.

What happens if I delete a playlist?

Deleting a playlist removes the playlist itself, but all the videos in it stay on YouTube. You're only removing the collection, not the actual videos. You can create the playlist again and re-add videos if you change your mind.

Can other people add videos to my playlist?

No. Only you can add or remove videos from your own playlist. Other people can view it and watch the videos, but they cannot edit it. YouTube does not have a feature for collaborative playlists that multiple people can edit.

How many videos can I put in one playlist?

YouTube allows up to 5,000 videos in a single playlist. Most people never reach that limit, but if you're building a very large collection, that's the maximum.

Can I see how many people have watched my playlist?

YouTube does not show view counts for playlists the way it does for individual videos. You can see how many views each video in the playlist has gotten, but not how many times the playlist itself has been watched.