What a YouTube playlist is and why you'd make one

A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos you group together under one name. You create it on your YouTube account, add videos to it in whatever order you want, and then share the link with other people or keep it private for yourself. Playlists let you organize videos by topic, create a queue to watch later, or bundle together content you want to recommend to someone else.

The main reason to make a playlist is so you don't have to hunt for the same videos twice. If you watch a series of tutorials on the same topic, a playlist keeps them in order. If you want to send someone five videos about a subject without sending five separate links, one playlist link does it. You can also use playlists to save videos you want to watch but don't have time for right now.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a new playlist by going to your YouTube library, clicking "Create playlist," naming it, and choosing who can see it.
  • Add videos to a playlist by clicking the "Save" button under any video and selecting which playlist to add it to.
  • You can reorder videos in a playlist by dragging them, remove videos you no longer want, and change the playlist name or privacy setting anytime.
  • Playlists can be public (anyone can find and watch them), unlisted (only people with the link can watch), or private (only you can see them).

How to create a new playlist on YouTube

Start by signing into your YouTube account and going to your library. On the left side of the screen, you'll see a menu. Click on "Playlists" in that menu, then look for a button that says "Create playlist" or a plus sign next to the word Playlists. Click it.

A box will pop up asking you to name your playlist. Type in a name that tells you what's in it — something like "Python Tutorials" or "Videos to Watch Later" works better than "Stuff." After you type the name, you'll see a dropdown menu asking who can see this playlist. Choose one of three options: Public (anyone on YouTube can find it), Unlisted (only people you give the link to can watch it), or Private (only you can see it). Most people choose Unlisted or Private for personal playlists and Public if they're sharing with an audience. Click "Create" and you're done — your empty playlist now exists.

Adding videos to your playlist

To add a video to a playlist, watch or find the video on YouTube. Below the video title, you'll see a "Save" button (it looks like a bookmark or flag icon). Click it. A menu will pop up showing all your playlists. Click the name of the playlist you want to add the video to, and it's added instantly. You can add the same video to multiple playlists if you want.

You can also add videos while browsing. When you see a video in your search results or recommendations, hover over it and you'll see a menu icon (three dots). Click that, then select "Add to playlist" and choose which one. This is faster than clicking into the video first.

Organizing and editing your playlist

Once you've added videos, you can change their order. Go to your playlist and click "Edit playlist" (usually in the top right). You'll see all the videos listed. Click and drag any video to move it up or down in the order. This is useful if you want tutorials in a specific sequence or if you want to put your favorite videos at the top.

To remove a video from the playlist, click the X button next to it while you're in edit mode. The video stays on YouTube — it's only removed from this particular playlist. You can also change the playlist name, description, or privacy setting by clicking on those fields while editing. When you're done making changes, click outside the edit area or press the back button, and your changes save automatically.

Sharing your playlist with others

If your playlist is Public, anyone can find it by searching YouTube or by visiting your channel. If it's Unlisted or Private, you need to share the link directly. Go to your playlist, and you'll see a "Share" button near the top. Click it and copy the link that appears. You can paste this link in an email, message, or anywhere else you want to send it.

When someone clicks your playlist link, they'll see all the videos in order. If your playlist is Public, they can also add videos to it themselves (YouTube lets viewers contribute to public playlists unless you turn that off). If you want to prevent that, go to edit mode and look for an option to turn off contributions — this keeps the playlist exactly as you designed it.

Privacy settings and what they mean

Understanding the three privacy levels helps you decide which one to use. Public playlists show up in YouTube search results and on your channel for anyone to find. Anyone can watch, and by default anyone can add videos to it too. Use this if you're sharing a curated list with the world. Unlisted playlists don't appear in search or on your channel, but anyone with the link can watch and share it. This is the safest choice for sharing with a specific group of people. Private playlists are invisible to everyone except you — not even people you share the link with can watch them. Use this for personal watch-later lists.

You can change the privacy setting anytime. Go to your playlist, click edit, and change the dropdown at the top. The change takes effect immediately.

Fixing common playlist problems

If a video you added to a playlist has been deleted or made private by its creator, it will still appear in your playlist but you won't be able to watch it — you'll see a message saying the video is unavailable. You can remove it from the playlist, but you can't fix it. If you notice videos disappearing from a playlist you're watching, that's why.

If you can't find the "Save" button under a video, the video creator may have turned off the ability to save it to playlists. Some creators do this intentionally. You can still watch the video, but you can't add it to a playlist. If you're trying to add a video and the playlist doesn't show up in the menu, make sure you're signed into the account that owns the playlist — you can only add videos to playlists on your own account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add videos from different channels to the same playlist?

Yes. A playlist can hold videos from any creator on YouTube. You can mix tutorials from five different channels, music videos, and educational content all in one playlist if you want. The order and grouping are entirely up to you.

What happens if I delete a playlist?

Deleting a playlist removes the collection, but all the videos stay on YouTube. Anyone who had the link to your playlist will get an error message saying it no longer exists. You can create a new playlist anytime, and if you remember which videos were in the old one, you can add them again.

Can other people edit my playlist?

Only you can edit your own playlist. Other people can watch it, share it, and (if it's public) add videos to it, but they can't remove videos, change the order, or rename it. If you want full control, set it to Private or Unlisted so only people with the link can see it.

How many videos can I put in a playlist?

YouTube doesn't set a hard limit on playlist size. You can add hundreds or thousands of videos to a single playlist. Very large playlists may load slowly, but there's no official maximum.

Can I make a playlist of my own videos?

Yes. If you upload videos to YouTube, you can create a playlist and add your own videos to it just like any other video. This is useful for organizing your content by series or topic so viewers can watch them in order.