Being able to shuffle the playback order of videos in a YouTube playlist can help add variety and spontaneity to your viewing experience. If you want to shuffle a YouTube playlist while watching YouTube on your television, there are a few easy ways to do so depending on the device you are using.
Using a Smart TV’s YouTube App
Most smart TVs come with a pre-installed YouTube app that allows you to access YouTube directly on your television. The YouTube app on smart TVs has a shuffle feature that lets you easily randomize the playback order of videos in a playlist.
To shuffle a YouTube playlist on a smart TV:
- Open the YouTube app on your smart TV.
- Find and select the playlist you want to shuffle.
- Look for the shuffle icon, which is typically shown as two crossing arrows. On some TVs, this may be under an options or settings menu for the playlist.
- Select the shuffle icon to turn on shuffle playback. The videos in the playlist will now play in random order.
The exact steps may vary slightly depending on the specific TV model, but generally the process is straightforward. One advantage of using the smart TV’s YouTube app is that the shuffle setting will be remembered, so you can close and re-open the app without having to re-enable shuffle each time.
Using a Streaming Media Player
If you don’t have a smart TV, another option is to use a streaming media player like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV. These devices allow you to access YouTube through dedicated apps.
The YouTube apps on streaming media players also have shuffle options to randomize playlist playback. To shuffle a playlist:
- Open the YouTube app on your streaming device.
- Select the playlist you want to shuffle from your library or search results.
- Look for the shuffle button on the playlist screen and select it to turn shuffling on.
As with smart TVs, the toggle may be in a menu depending on the specific app. The shuffle setting should remain on even if you close and re-open the app.
Casting from Your Mobile Device
You can also shuffle a YouTube playlist on TV by casting it from your mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. This takes advantage of the built-in shuffle feature in the YouTube mobile app.
To shuffle a playlist while casting:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
- Find and open the playlist you want to cast.
- Tap the shuffle icon to turn shuffling on.
- Tap the cast button and select your TV to begin casting the playlist.
The playlist will now play in shuffled order on your TV. One limitation is that you have to keep the YouTube app open on your mobile device while casting.
Using YouTube TV
YouTube TV is YouTube’s live TV streaming service. The YouTube TV interface makes it easy to shuffle your video playlists.
To shuffle a playlist on YouTube TV:
- Open the YouTube TV app on your streaming device or smart TV.
- Go to your library and select a playlist.
- Choose the “Shuffle Play” option to turn on shuffling.
The playlist will now play in random order. YouTube TV will remember the shuffle setting for each playlist, so you can close and re-open the app without losing your place.
Using a Gaming Console
Recent game consoles like the PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S have YouTube apps that allow you to watch YouTube on your TV. These apps also let you shuffle video playlists.
To shuffle a playlist on a game console:
- Open the YouTube app on your console.
- Navigate to a playlist and open it.
- Look for the shuffle option in the playlist menu and turn it on.
The option may be in a settings or options menu for the playlist. Enabling shuffle will randomize the playlist queue.
Using a Computer Connected to Your TV
If you have a computer connected to your TV or monitor, you can shuffle YouTube playlists through the YouTube site:
- On your computer, open YouTube and find the playlist you want to shuffle.
- Click the Shuffle button below the playlist videos to turn on shuffling.
- Use screen mirroring or a video cable to display your computer on the TV.
The videos will now play in random order on your TV screen. This method gives you access to all of YouTube’s settings and options to customize your viewing experience.
Using YouTube Music
YouTube Music is YouTube’s music streaming service. It offers the ability to shuffle playlists of songs and music videos.
To use YouTube Music to shuffle playlists on your TV:
- Open the YouTube Music app on your smart TV, streaming device or game console.
- Find a playlist you want to shuffle.
- Select the “Shuffle Play” option to randomize the playlist.
YouTube Music will continue playing the playlist in shuffled order even if you close and reopen the app. This makes it easy to enjoy randomized music playback on your TV.
Connecting Speakers for Enhanced Audio
When shuffling a playlist on your TV, you may want to enhance the audio experience by connecting external speakers. Here are some options:
- Soundbar – Soundbars can instantly upgrade your TV’s built-in speakers with louder, richer sound. Many soundbars connect via HDMI ARC or optical cable.
- Bluetooth Speakers – Connect wireless Bluetooth speakers to your smart TV or streaming device for room-filling sound. Position them around your viewing area.
- AV Receiver – For surround sound, an AV receiver and 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system can create a theater-like experience.
- Smart Speakers – Speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home can connect wirelessly to TVs and streaming devices via Bluetooth.
With higher quality audio, shuffling a YouTube playlist on your TV can make for a lively atmosphere when entertaining guests or just relaxing at home.
Using Playlists to Organize Your YouTube Library
Shuffling playlists is a great way to add variety to your YouTube watching sessions. Here are some tips for creating effective YouTube playlists:
- Group videos into playlists around topics, genres or moods.
- Keep high-energy videos in upbeat playlists for exercising or parties.
- Make bedtime playlists with calm, peaceful videos to wind down.
- Add funny clips to a “Good Laughs” playlist for an instant mood boost.
- Make themed playlists for kids’ content, cooking videos, makeup tutorials, etc.
Well-organized playlists ensure you can always quickly shuffle videos on a certain subject. Delete or refresh stale playlists periodically.
Using Playlists for Background Playback
Shuffling long playlists is a great way to create personalized background audio. The music will continue with the screen off.
Ways to use shuffled YouTube playlists for background audio:
- Play music playlists while cooking, cleaning, working out, etc.
- Use a “White Noise” playlist to block distracting sounds when studying.
- PlayInstrumental music playlists to stay focused while working.
- Fall asleep to nature sounds or ASMR playlists.
The key is making playlists long enough to play for extended periods. Shuffling ensures variety during long playback sessions.
Managing Playlists
Here are some tips for managing your YouTube playlists:
- Review playlists occasionally and remove any irrelevant, boring or redundant videos.
- Check for copyright-blocked videos that may need to be removed.
- Rename unclear playlist titles that don’t communicate the theme.
- Merge playlists that are too similar or consolidate overlapping themes.
- Delete stale or incomplete playlists that you don’t use anymore.
- Add useful playlists to your YouTube account library for easy access.
Well-curated playlists make for the best shuffle playback experience. Delete or rework playlists that have gone stale over time.
Troubleshooting Shuffle Issues
If shuffle isn’t working properly on your TV, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Reload the app – Close and reopen the YouTube app to refresh the shuffle feature.
- Check app settings – Make sure shuffle is enabled in the app settings/options.
- Update the app – An outdated YouTube app can cause issues with shuffling.
- Restart your device – Rebooting your smart TV or streaming device may help.
- Disable extensions – Browser extensions can interfere with shuffling on computer.
- Use a different device – Try accessing YouTube on another device if issues persist.
If problems continue even after troubleshooting, it may be a larger technical issue on YouTube’s end.
Conclusion
Being able to shuffle video playlists is a simple way to add more variety and enjoyment to your YouTube TV viewing. All of the major smart TV, streaming device, mobile and gaming platforms offer shuffle controls to randomize playlist order.
Shuffle features are easy to use once you know where to find the toggle on each app. Creating well-organized playlists allows for seamless shuffle playback tailored to your mood or activity. With the right audio setup, shuffling YouTube playlists on your TV can provide hours of personalized entertainment.
