Creating a playlist takes three steps: open Spotify, tap the plus icon, and name it

On the Spotify app or website, find the plus icon (usually labeled "Create Playlist" or shown as a + symbol) in the left sidebar on desktop or in the "Your Library" tab on mobile. Tap or click it, give your playlist a name, and confirm. That's the playlist created. From there, you add songs by finding a track, tapping the three dots next to it, and selecting "Add to Playlist," then choosing the one you just made.

The whole process takes under a minute. Once the playlist exists, you can add songs from any artist, album, or search result the same way. You can also drag songs into the playlist on desktop, or use the heart icon to save individual tracks to a "Liked Songs" playlist that Spotify creates automatically for every account.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a new playlist by tapping the plus icon in Your Library (mobile) or the left sidebar (desktop), then name it and confirm.
  • Add songs by finding a track, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Add to Playlist" from the menu that appears.
  • You can reorder songs by dragging them on desktop, or by long-pressing and moving them on mobile.
  • Share a playlist by tapping the share icon and choosing how to send it — as a link, to social media, or directly to another Spotify user.
  • Playlists you create are private by default, but you can change them to public so anyone with the link can see and follow them.

Where to find the create button on different devices

On desktop (web or app), look at the left sidebar. Below "Search" and "Home," you'll see "Your Library." Click the plus icon next to "Playlist" or anywhere in that section, and a dialog box opens asking for a name.

On iPhone or Android, open the app and tap "Your Library" at the bottom right. Tap the plus icon in the top right corner of the screen. A menu appears; select "Create Playlist." Type the name and tap "Create."

If you're using Spotify on a smart speaker or car system, you cannot create playlists directly from those devices. You'll need to use the app or website, then access the playlist from your speaker or car once it's created.

Adding songs to your playlist

Once your playlist exists, find any song you want to add. On desktop, right-click the song title and select "Add to Playlist," then choose your playlist from the list. On mobile, tap the three dots next to the song and tap "Add to Playlist."

You can add songs from search results, artist pages, albums, or other playlists. There's no limit to how many songs you can add, and you can add the same song multiple times if you want it to appear more than once in your playlist.

If you want to save individual songs without creating a playlist, tap the heart icon next to any track. This adds it to your "Liked Songs" playlist, which Spotify maintains for you automatically. You can view your liked songs anytime in Your Library.

Organizing and reordering songs

On desktop, open your playlist and click and drag any song to move it up or down the list. The order updates immediately. You can also delete a song from the playlist by right-clicking it and selecting "Remove from This Playlist" — this doesn't delete the song from Spotify, only from your playlist.

On mobile, open your playlist, tap the three dots next to a song, and select "Remove from This Playlist." To reorder, long-press a song until it highlights, then drag it to the position you want. Not all mobile devices support drag-and-drop; if yours doesn't, you can still remove songs but will need to use desktop to reorder.

You can also edit the playlist name or description by tapping the three dots at the top of the playlist (mobile) or right-clicking the playlist name (desktop) and selecting "Edit Details."

Making your playlist public or private

By default, playlists you create are private — only you can see them. To change this, open your playlist and tap the three dots at the top. Select "Make Public." Once public, anyone with the link can view your playlist and follow it, but they cannot edit it unless you give them permission.

If you want to let other people add songs to your playlist, you need to make it collaborative. Tap the three dots, select "Make Collaborative," and share the link. Anyone with the link can then add, remove, or reorder songs. This is useful for group playlists like party mixes or road trip soundtracks.

You can switch a playlist back to private at any time using the same menu. Making it private hides it from other users but doesn't remove songs or change the playlist itself.

Sharing your playlist with others

To share a playlist, open it and tap the share icon (usually three dots connected by lines, or a box with an arrow). Spotify shows options to copy the link, share to social media, send via text or email, or share directly to another Spotify user if you're on mobile.

The link works whether your playlist is public or private. If it's private, only people you send the link to can see it. If it's public, anyone who finds the link can view it, and it may show up in search results or recommendations.

You can also embed a playlist on a website or blog using Spotify's embed code, which you can generate from the share menu on desktop.

Collaborative playlists and editing permissions

A collaborative playlist lets multiple people add and remove songs. To create one, make your playlist public first, then tap the three dots and select "Make Collaborative." Share the link with whoever you want to contribute.

Anyone with the link can add songs, but they cannot delete songs added by other people — only their own. This prevents one person from removing everything. If you want full control, keep the playlist non-collaborative and ask people to suggest songs instead.

You can turn off collaboration at any time by tapping the three dots and selecting "Make Non-Collaborative." This removes everyone else's editing access but keeps all the songs they added.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a playlist I created?

Yes. Open the playlist, tap the three dots at the top, and select "Delete Playlist." This removes the playlist but doesn't delete any of the songs from Spotify. If other people were following your playlist, it disappears from their libraries.

What's the difference between liking a song and adding it to a playlist?

Liking a song (tapping the heart) adds it to your "Liked Songs" playlist, which is a single collection of all your favorite tracks. Creating a custom playlist lets you organize songs into themed groups — workout music, study beats, road trip songs, and so on. You can add the same song to multiple playlists.

Can I see who added songs to my collaborative playlist?

Spotify doesn't show which user added each song in a collaborative playlist. You can see the order and content, but not the contributor history. If you need to track who added what, you'll need to ask people to tell you separately.

Why can't I find the plus icon to create a playlist?

Make sure you're in "Your Library" (mobile) or have clicked "Your Library" in the left sidebar (desktop). If you're viewing search results, an artist page, or an album, the create button won't appear. Also check that your Spotify account is not in a restricted mode, which sometimes limits playlist creation.

Can I create a playlist on Spotify for a specific person as a gift?

You can create a playlist and share the link with someone, but Spotify doesn't have a "gift" feature that adds a playlist directly to another person's account. Create the playlist, make it public, and send them the link. They can then follow it to add it to their own library.