YouTube playlists let you group videos together and save them in one place

A playlist on YouTube is a collection of videos you organize under a single name. You can add videos you find while browsing, save videos to watch later, or create a themed list — like workout routines, cooking tutorials, or music from a specific artist. Once you create a playlist, you can watch the videos in order, share the playlist with others, or keep it private for yourself.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using YouTube on a computer, phone, or tablet, but the basic steps are the same: create the playlist, then add videos to it. You can create multiple playlists and organize your videos however you want.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a new playlist from your YouTube library, which you access through the menu on the left side of the YouTube homepage on a computer or through the profile icon on mobile.
  • When you find a video you want to save, click or tap the "Save" button below the video title, then choose which playlist to add it to.
  • You can change a playlist from private to public at any time, which lets other people find and watch it.
  • Playlists play videos in the order you arrange them, and you can delete videos from a playlist without deleting the original video from YouTube.

Creating a new playlist on a computer

Start by going to YouTube.com and signing into your account. In the left sidebar menu, look for "Your channel" or scroll down until you see "Playlists." Click on "Playlists," then click the button that says "Create playlist" (it may also say "+ New playlist").

A box will appear asking you to name your playlist. Type a name that describes what's in it — for example, "Morning Workouts" or "Jazz Piano." Below the name field, you'll see options for privacy: "Private" means only you can see it, "Unlisted" means people can watch it if you share the link, and "Public" means anyone on YouTube can find it. Choose the privacy level you want, then click "Create."

Your new playlist is now ready. It will appear in your Playlists section, and you can start adding videos to it.

Adding videos to a playlist on a computer

When you're watching a video or see one in your search results, look for the "Save" button below the video title (it looks like a bookmark or flag icon). Click it, and a menu will drop down showing all your playlists. Click the name of the playlist you want to add the video to, and it will be saved there immediately.

You can also add videos while you're inside a playlist. Open the playlist, click the "Add videos" button (usually near the top), and search for videos by title or channel name. When you find one you want, click the plus sign next to it to add it to that playlist.

Creating and adding videos on a phone or tablet

On mobile, tap your profile icon in the top right corner of the YouTube app, then tap "Create a new playlist." Type a name for your playlist and choose your privacy setting (Private, Unlisted, or Public), then tap "Create."

To add videos on mobile, find the video you want to save, tap the three dots below the video title, and tap "Add to playlist." A list of your playlists will appear — tap the one you want to add the video to. The video will be saved immediately.

Organizing and editing your playlists

Once you've added videos to a playlist, you can rearrange them by dragging them into a new order. On a computer, open the playlist, then click and drag each video to move it up or down the list. On mobile, tap "Edit" at the top of the playlist, then hold and drag videos to reorder them.

To remove a video from a playlist without deleting it from YouTube, open the playlist, find the video, and click the three dots next to it. Select "Remove from playlist." The video stays on YouTube — it's only removed from that particular collection.

You can also change a playlist's privacy setting after you create it. Open the playlist, click the three dots in the top right, select "Playlist settings," and choose a new privacy level. This is useful if you create a private playlist and later want to share it with others.

Sharing playlists with other people

If your playlist is set to "Public," anyone can find it by searching YouTube. If it's "Unlisted," you need to share the link directly — click the "Share" button on the playlist page and copy the URL to send to friends or post online.

When someone watches your playlist, they see all the videos in the order you arranged them. They can't edit your playlist, but if it's public, they can add it to their own library by clicking "Add to library" on the playlist page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add the same video to multiple playlists?

Yes. When you click the "Save" button on a video, you can select more than one playlist at a time by clicking the checkbox next to each playlist name before confirming. The same video can appear in as many of your playlists as you want.

What's the difference between a playlist and "Watch Later"?

"Watch Later" is a built-in playlist YouTube creates for you automatically. It works the same way as a regular playlist, but it's designed specifically for videos you want to watch soon. You can create custom playlists for different themes or purposes.

Can I delete a playlist?

Yes. Open the playlist, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Delete playlist." This removes the playlist but doesn't delete any of the videos from YouTube — they stay on the platform and in any other playlists you've added them to.

What happens if I make a playlist public and then change it to private?

When you change a public playlist to private, only you can see it anymore. Anyone who had the link will no longer be able to access it. You can change it back to public or unlisted at any time.