Playlists are one of the most useful features on YouTube that allow users to save and organize videos into customized collections. Just like creating playlists of your favorite songs, YouTube playlists let you gather videos on any topic and watch them back-to-back without having to search for each one.
What is a YouTube playlist?
A YouTube playlist is simply a collection of videos that have been curated and organized by either you as the viewer or another YouTube user. Playlists allow you to save videos into groups so you can watch multiple videos in a row without having to search for each individual video.
When you create a playlist, you give it a name and description, then start adding videos to it. The videos will play automatically from one to the next in the order you set. You can create as many custom playlists as you want to organize videos for different topics or purposes.
Benefits of using YouTube playlists
Here are some of the main reasons playlists are helpful on YouTube:
- Organize videos – Playlists allow you to logically group videos together instead of having them all loosely saved to your account.
- Binge watch – You can add dozens or even hundreds of videos to a playlist for seamless back-to-back viewing.
- Save videos – Playlists serve as a way to bookmark videos you want to watch later.
- Share interests – You can share playlists with friends or the public that showcase videos on specific topics.
- Discover new content – Browsing other users’ public playlists exposes you to new videos based on a theme.
- Background play – Playlists will continue autoplaying even if you switch apps or lock your phone.
How to create a playlist on YouTube
YouTube makes it simple to start curating your own playlists. Just follow these steps:
- Log into your YouTube account.
- Navigate to the Video page for any video you want to add.
- Click the “Save” button below the video.
- Select “Create new playlist” from the dropdown menu.
- Give your playlist a name and description.
- Click “Create” to finish making the playlist.
- To add more videos, find the video you want and click the “Save” button, then select your playlist from the dropdown menu.
- Repeat steps 2-4 to continue adding videos to your playlist.
That’s all there is to start building playlists! You can access your playlists from the Playlists tab on your channel page or sidebar. From there you can edit, share, or watch your playlists.
How to add videos to an existing YouTube playlist
Once you’ve made a playlist, adding more videos is easy:
- Navigate to the video you want to add and click “Save.”
- Select the playlist you want to add it to from the dropdown menu.
- The video will now be added to the bottom of your playlist.
You can rearrange the order of videos within a playlist at any time. Just open the playlist, drag and drop videos to reorder them, then click “Save” to update the sequence.
How to edit a YouTube playlist
Manage your playlists by editing their settings and contents:
- Rename – Click the 3-dot menu next to the playlist name > Rename to change the name.
- Change description – Click the 3-dot menu > Edit description to add or edit the text.
- Change privacy – Click the 3-dot menu > Privacy settings to make it public, private, or unlisted.
- Add video – Use the “Save” button on videos to add them.
- Reorder videos – Drag and drop videos to customize the sequence.
- Delete videos – Click the X icon on any video to remove it.
- Empty playlist – Click the 3-dot menu > Delete all to remove all videos.
- Delete playlist – Click the 3-dot menu > Delete playlist to erase the entire playlist.
How to find YouTube playlists
There are a few ways to find YouTube playlists to watch:
- Search playlists – Use search operators like “playlist: [topic]” or “playlists about [topic].”
- Browse playlist results – Scroll down on the results page to see curated playlists.
- Check video descriptions – Creators often link to their own playlists in the description.
- Look on channel pages – You can browse playlists created by a specific channel.
- Use YouTube Music – There are playlists for songs, albums, artists, and genres.
Finding playlists made by experts, established creators, and brands is a great way to discover high-quality content organized around a theme.
How to share a YouTube playlist
You have options for sharing your YouTube playlists:
- Send playlist link – Each playlist has its own unique URL you can share.
- Embed playlist – Use the embed code to embed your playlist onto a website.
- Share to social media – Click icons to share playlist links on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Send to friends – Click the “Email” icon to email a playlist to contacts.
The share options are found above the playlist videos or in the 3-dot menu next to the playlist name. Share your playlists to let others enjoy your collections!
YouTube playlist tips
Take your YouTube playlists to the next level with these handy tips:
- Make sequels – Create numbered playlists like “Weekend Party Playlist 1” and “Weekend Party Playlist 2.”
- Collaborate – Invite friends to add videos to your playlist or make one together.
- Embed on a blog – Share your expertise by embedding playlists on your website.
- Go public – Let everyone view your playlist by changing privacy to “Public.”
- Link in descriptions – Add your playlists to your video descriptions to promote them.
- Get inspired by history – Look back on your watch history for videos to add.
- Use YouTube Music – Build playlists of songs, albums, and artists.
FAQ about YouTube Playlists
How many videos can be added to a YouTube playlist?
There is no official limit to the number of videos a single YouTube playlist can contain. However, it’s recommended to keep most playlists under 100-200 videos for performance and usability reasons.
Do YouTube playlists have a time limit?
No, the total runtime of videos in a YouTube playlist is unlimited. You can create mammoth playlists with videos totaling dozens of hours in length if you want.
Can you reorder videos in a playlist?
Yes, videos can be rearranged within a playlist at any time. Just drag and drop them into your desired order, then click “Save” to update the sequence.
Why aren’t all my YouTube videos showing up in my playlists?
If certain videos are missing from your YouTube playlists, it’s likely because the video has either been made private, deleted, or removed due to a copyright claim.
Can you download a YouTube playlist?
YouTube does not have a built-in feature for downloading full playlists. However, third-party browser extensions and download software will allow you to download entire YouTube playlists at once.
Is there a limit to how many playlists you can make?
YouTube allows users to create up to 5000 playlists per channel. For most users that should be more than enough custom playlists to build.
Conclusion
Playlists are incredibly useful for organizing your YouTube videos into logical collections for learning, entertainment, background play, and more. Creating playlists tailored to your interests and sharing them with friends is a great way to get more out of YouTube.
Use the playlist creation and management features to become a power YouTube user. With the right playlists at your fingertips, you’ll always have the perfect videos lined up to watch next!