Playlists on Youtube allow you to save and organize videos for easy access later. With playlist folders, you can take your playlist organization a step further by grouping related playlists together. This can help keep your video collections tidy, especially if you have a large number of playlists.
What are Youtube playlist folders?
Playlist folders are a feature that lets you categorize your playlists into different folders. Just like you can create folders to organize files on your computer, you can make playlist folders to group similar playlists. For example, you could have a “Cooking” folder that contains playlists for “Dessert recipes,” “Healthy dinners,” “Grilling tips,” etc.
This is useful for keeping your profile page organized when you have lots of playlists. Instead of one long list of playlists, you can collapse folders to hide playlists you don’t need at the moment. Folders also make it easier to find a specific playlist quickly if you have them categorized into topics or themes.
How to create a playlist folder
Creating playlist folders is easy and only takes a few steps:
- Go to your YouTube account page and ensure you’re on the Playlists tab
- Click the “Create new playlist” button near the top
- Where it says to name your new playlist, type the name you want for your folder
- Toggle the “Make this a folder” switch to the on position
- Click Create
Your new folder will now appear in your list of playlists. To add playlists to it, simply drag and drop playlists onto the folder.
Benefits of using playlist folders
Here are some of the advantages of using playlist folders:
- Organization – Folders keep your playlists neatly categorized so your profile isn’t one long list.
- Searchability – You can find playlists faster when they’re organized into relevant folders.
- Customization – Make folders for any topics or themes that fit your video collection.
- Collapse folders – Hide playlists you don’t need by collapsing the folder.
- Reorder playlists – Change the order of playlists within a folder.
Overall, folders give you more tools to arrange your playlists logically. If you’re struggling to navigate a long playlist list, folders can provide some visual structure.
Folder organization tips
To get the most out of playlist folders, consider these tips:
- Choose folder names that describe the theme or topic of the playlists inside.
- Try to group similar playlists together in one folder to keep things neat.
- Put your most-used playlists in folders higher up your list for easy access.
- Create a consistent naming scheme for your folders and playlists.
- Reorganize occasionally as you add new playlists.
- Delete unused folders to avoid clutter.
The key is finding a folder structure that makes sense to you. You may want to keep folders general or get very specific – it’s up to you. Test different arrangements until you find a system that fits your playlist style.
Folder limits
YouTube currently allows you to create up to 100 playlist folders, with no limit on the number of playlists inside each folder. So you can get very detailed with nested playlists if you want. However, too many folders and playlists can become confusing to manage.
Try to resist creating folders that only have one or two playlists – that defeats the purpose of folders. Aim for 5-15 playlists per folder for the best organization.
Sharing folders
You can share playlist folders with others the same way you normally share playlists – by sending them the folder link. When someone views your shared folder, they’ll see the playlists bundled inside it. Sharing folders is great for:
- Letting people browse related playlists on a theme
- Sharing your favorite videos grouped logically
- Curating playlists for friends interested in a certain topic
This allows you to share a whole collection of playlists without flooding someone’s inbox with multiple links. Just send them your organized folder for easy access.
Viewing playlist folders on mobile
The YouTube mobile app supports playlist folders as well. To view, edit or create folders in the app:
- Open the YouTube app and tap on your channel icon
- Tap on “Your playlists”
- Here you’ll see your playlist folders along with regular playlists
- Tap a folder to view the playlists inside
- Edit folders and playlists by tapping the 3-dot menu next to them
One limitation is you can’t drag and drop to reorder playlists or folders in the mobile app. But you can still access, share, and modify your folders on the go.
Downsides of playlist folders
While playlist folders have many benefits, there are some downsides to weigh:
- Extra steps to access playlists – It takes more taps to reach a playlist inside a folder vs. a regular playlist.
- Ongoing maintenance – As you add playlists, you’ll need to continually file them into the appropriate folders.
- Only available on your channel – Playlists you subscribe to from other channels can’t be put into folders.
Folders require some extra effort compared to dumping all playlists on one list. It’s up to you to decide if the organization payoff is worth it based on how you use playlists.
Alternatives to playlist folders
If you find playlist folders too restrictive or tedious, other options include:
- Using descriptive playlist titles so they’re easier to scan
- Tagging playlists with relevant keywords
- Creating short playlists instead of long collections
- Making genre- or mood-based playlists
Playlists themselves have flexible organization since you control the titles and video content. You can achieve some level of structure without actual folders.
Apps like TuneMyMusic also let you arrange YouTube playlists and transfer them between platforms. So you can organize in the app and sync it back to your YouTube account.
Conclusion
Playlist folders provide a simple yet powerful way to tame a crowded playlist library. By dividing your playlists into logical groups, you can quickly find that workout mix or cooking playlist when you need it.
Folders work best when used thoughtfully – don’t overdo it and create folder sprawl. Find a folder structure tailored to your viewing habits. And check that you’re still able to easily access your most-viewed playlists.
Used appropriately, playlist folders give you better control and visibility over your personal YouTube music and video collection.
