Creating a playlist on YouTube takes three steps: sign in to your account, click "Create a playlist" from the library menu, and name it

A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos you organize under a single name. You can add videos as you find them, rearrange them, and share the whole list with others. Playlists stay in your account unless you delete them, so they work well for saving videos you want to watch later or grouping videos by topic.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you are using YouTube on a computer or phone, but both routes take less than a minute to set up. Once you create a playlist, adding videos to it becomes a one-click action from any video's page.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into your YouTube account first — playlists are tied to your account and cannot be created while browsing as a guest.
  • On a computer, go to the library menu on the left side and select "Create a playlist" to name and set privacy settings in one step.
  • On a phone or tablet, tap your profile icon, select "Create a new playlist," and choose whether it is private, unlisted, or public before naming it.
  • After creating a playlist, you can add videos by clicking the three-dot menu on any video and selecting "Add to playlist."
  • You can rearrange videos within a playlist by dragging them into a new order, or delete individual videos without affecting the original uploads.

Creating a playlist on a computer

Open YouTube in your browser and sign in with your Google account. Look at the left sidebar — you should see a "Library" section with options like "History" and "Watch later." Below those, you will see a link that says "Create a playlist" or a plus icon next to "Playlists."

Click that link. A small window will appear asking you to name your playlist and choose its privacy setting. Type a name that describes what the playlist contains — for example, "Cooking tutorials" or "Workout videos." Then select one of three privacy options: Private means only you can see it, Unlisted means anyone with the link can watch it but it will not show up in search results, and Public means anyone can find and watch it. After you choose, click "Create" and your playlist is ready.

Creating a playlist on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. A menu will drop down — select "Create a new playlist" from the options. You will see a text field where you type the playlist name, and below that, three radio buttons for privacy settings.

Choose your privacy level the same way you would on a computer: Private, Unlisted, or Public. Tap "Create" when you are done. The app will take you to your new empty playlist, where you can start adding videos.

Adding videos to your playlist

Once your playlist exists, adding videos is straightforward. Find any video you want to include, and look for the three-dot menu icon (sometimes called a "more" menu) below or beside the video title. On a computer, this is usually to the right of the video title. On a phone, it is often below the title or in the top right corner of the video player.

Tap or click that menu and select "Add to playlist." A list of your playlists will appear — select the one you want to add the video to. The video is now part of that playlist. You can add the same video to multiple playlists, and adding a video to a playlist does not remove it from YouTube or change the original upload in any way.

Rearranging and removing videos from a playlist

To change the order of videos in your playlist, open the playlist and look for a drag handle — usually three horizontal lines or dots to the left of each video title. On a computer, click and hold that handle, then drag the video up or down to its new position. On a phone, tap and hold the handle until the video lifts, then drag it to where you want it.

To remove a single video from a playlist without deleting the video itself, click or tap the three-dot menu next to that video within the playlist and select "Remove from playlist." The video stays on YouTube and in any other playlists you added it to — only that one playlist loses it.

Sharing a playlist with others

If your playlist is set to Public or Unlisted, you can share it with other people. Open the playlist and look for a "Share" button, usually near the top of the page. Click or tap it and you will see options to copy the playlist link, or to share it directly to social media or email.

Anyone with the link to an Unlisted playlist can watch it, but they will not find it by searching YouTube. Anyone can find a Public playlist through search. If your playlist is Private, the Share button will not appear — only you can access it.

Editing playlist details after creation

You can change a playlist's name, description, or privacy setting after you create it. Open the playlist, then look for a pencil icon or "Edit playlist" option near the top. On a computer, this is usually next to the playlist title. On a phone, it may be in a menu accessed by tapping three dots.

Click or tap that option and you can update the name, add a description that explains what the playlist contains, and change the privacy setting. These changes take effect immediately and do not affect the videos already in the playlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add videos to a playlist while watching them?

Yes. While a video is playing, look for the three-dot menu in the video player controls or below the video title and select "Add to playlist." You do not have to stop watching or navigate away from the video.

What happens if I delete a playlist?

Deleting a playlist removes only the playlist itself — all the videos in it stay on YouTube and in any other playlists you added them to. The original creators' uploads are not affected at all.

Can someone else edit my playlist if I share it?

No. Only you can add, remove, or rearrange videos in your playlists. When you share a playlist, other people can only watch the videos in it. They cannot make changes to your playlist.

How many videos can I add to one playlist?

YouTube does not publish a hard limit, but playlists can hold thousands of videos. Very large playlists may load more slowly on older devices, but there is no official maximum.

Can I make a playlist of videos from other channels?

Yes. A playlist can contain videos from any channel, including your own. You can mix videos from different creators in a single playlist.