You can make a YouTube playlist by opening a video, clicking or tapping Save, choosing Create new playlist, then adding a name and privacy setting. After that, you can add videos, change the order, share your playlist and improve the title and description so people can find it more easily.
Playlists are useful for almost everyone on YouTube. You can save your favorite music, organize a course, group a vlog series together or present your own videos in a way that keeps viewers watching for longer. For creators and brands, a good playlist is often more than just a folder with videos. It can help with structure, watch time, returning viewers and even income, as long as you understand how monetization works.
What is a YouTube playlist?
A YouTube playlist is a collection of videos that can play one after another. You can add your own videos, but also public videos from other channels. That makes playlists useful for things like:
- music for work, exercise or relaxing
- tutorials about one topic
- lessons, training or courses
- vlog series or episodes in the right order
- product reviews, explainer videos or customer stories
- your best videos on your own channel
For viewers, a good playlist feels simple and calm. They do not have to keep searching for the next video themselves. For a creator, that is valuable, because the better your videos connect to each other, the more likely someone is to watch several videos in a row.
Create a YouTube playlist on desktop and mobile
You can create a playlist from a computer, laptop, tablet or through the YouTube app. The buttons may appear in slightly different places depending on your device, but the idea is the same: you save a video to a new playlist.
How to create a YouTube playlist on a computer or laptop
- Go to YouTube and sign in with your Google account.
- Find a video you want to add to your new playlist.
- Click Save under the video. Sometimes this option is behind the three dots button.
- Click Create new playlist.
- Give your playlist a clear name, for example Home workout for beginners or Best camera reviews for YouTube.
- Choose the visibility: Public, Unlisted or Private.
- Click Create.
Your playlist will then appear in your library and, if you make it public, it can also be visible on your channel or in search results when YouTube sees it as relevant. Google also has an official guide on creating and managing playlists on YouTube if you want to check the latest menus.
How to create a YouTube playlist in the YouTube app
- Open the YouTube app and sign in.
- Open the video you want to save.
- Tap Save.
- Tap New playlist or Create new playlist.
- Enter a name.
- Choose whether the playlist should be public, unlisted or private.
- Tap Create.
If you only use the playlist for yourself, private is usually fine. If you want to share it with friends, clients, students or followers, choose unlisted or public. Public is especially useful if you want people to discover the playlist through your channel or YouTube search.
Which privacy setting should you choose?
| Setting | Who can see the playlist? | When is it useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Anyone can view the playlist. | For playlists you want to grow, share or show on your channel. |
| Unlisted | Only people with the link can view the playlist. | For clients, friends, lessons, temporary campaigns or internal lists. |
| Private | Only you can view the playlist. | For personal collections, drafts or research. |
Also pay attention to the privacy of your own videos. A public playlist that contains a private video does not suddenly make that video public. The video will still be invisible or unavailable to others. You can find more information about video visibility from YouTube through its page about video privacy settings.
Add videos to an existing playlist
If you have already created a playlist, you can add new videos to it later. This is useful if you have an ongoing series, such as weekly vlogs, music updates, lesson videos or new reviews.
Add a video from the video itself
- Open the video you want to add.
- Click or tap Save.
- Tick the playlist where the video should go.
- Close the window. The change is usually saved right away.
You can add the same video to multiple playlists. For example, a cooking video can be in Quick recipes, but also in Healthy lunch ideas.
Add a video through your library
- Go to your YouTube library.
- Open the playlist you want to edit.
- Choose the option to add a video, if it is available on your device.
- Search for the video and add it to the list.
If you do not see the option, use the first method through the video itself. YouTube regularly tests small changes in the app, so buttons can sometimes move to a different place.
Manage and edit your YouTube playlist
Creating a playlist is quick, but a good playlist also needs maintenance. This is especially true if you use the playlist for your channel, business or community. Outdated videos, a messy order or vague titles can make people leave faster.
Change the order of videos
The order decides how someone moves through your playlist. So do not just sort everything by date. Think about the viewer.
- For a course, put the basics first and the harder lessons later.
- For a vlog series, put episodes in chronological order.
- For music or entertainment, you can start with the strongest or most popular video.
- For product reviews, you can place the newest or most searched video at the top.
Open your playlist, click edit if needed and drag videos to the right position. On some devices, you do this through the menu next to a video.
Remove videos from a playlist
Removing a video from your playlist does not mean the video disappears from YouTube. You are only removing it from your list.
- Open the playlist.
- Click or tap the three dots next to the video.
- Choose Remove from playlist.
Remove videos that no longer fit the topic, are no longer available or lower the quality of your list. A shorter playlist with strong videos often works better than a long list with many videos that nobody really wants to watch.
Edit the title and description
The title and description are important if you want people to understand right away what they will get. Use words that a normal viewer would also type into YouTube.
A weak title is, for example:
- My videos
- Fun stuff
- Playlist 1
A clear title is, for example:
- Yoga for beginners at home
- YouTube tips for new creators
- Best budget cameras for vlogging
- LoFi music for studying and focus
In the description, you can briefly explain who the playlist is for, what someone will watch and why the order makes sense. You do not need to write a long story, but one or two clear paragraphs already help a lot.
Improve the thumbnail of a playlist
For playlists, YouTube often uses a thumbnail from one of the videos in the playlist. You can usually choose a video from the playlist as the visual cover. If you mainly add your own videos to the playlist, it helps to create strong thumbnails for those videos, because they also affect how attractive your playlist looks.
A good thumbnail is clean, readable and recognizable. Avoid too much small text. On mobile, a thumbnail is small, so always check whether it is still clear on a phone screen.
Delete a playlist
If you want to delete a playlist completely, open the playlist, go to the options and choose delete. Think about it before you do this, especially with public playlists that have already been shared or receive traffic through your channel, website or social media. The individual videos will still exist, but the playlist link will no longer work as before.
Share a YouTube playlist
You can share a playlist in different ways. The best option depends on your goal.
Share the playlist link
- Open the playlist.
- Click or tap Share.
- Copy the link.
- Paste the link in WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, your newsletter, your website or a community.
You can also share an unlisted playlist through a link. Anyone with that link can view it, so use private if the content is really only meant for you.
Embed a playlist on a website
If you have a website or blog, you can often embed a playlist with an embed code. This is useful for lessons, product pages, training or articles where several videos belong together. After placing it, always check whether the playlist works well on mobile, because many visitors watch on their phone.
Promote your playlist on Instagram, TikTok and other channels
Do not wait for people to find your playlist by themselves. Create a short teaser and explain exactly why someone should watch it. For example:
- post an Instagram Story with a link sticker to your playlist
- make a TikTok with three quick tips and point people to the full playlist
- put the playlist link in your YouTube video description
- place the link in a pinned comment under a relevant video
- add the playlist to your YouTube channel page
If you spend a lot of time on YouTube, also make sure your channel name is clear and recognizable. An unclear name makes it harder for viewers to find you again.
Make your playlist easier to find on YouTube
A playlist can appear on YouTube and sometimes also in Google, but only if the topic is clear and viewers get real value from it. Think less about tricks and more about clarity. YouTube needs to understand what your list is about, and viewers should immediately feel that the playlist answers their question.
Choose one clear topic
A playlist with all kinds of unrelated videos is hard to understand. It is better to create several clear playlists than one large mixed collection. For example:
- Not ideal: Fitness, nutrition, vlogs and motivation
- Better: 20 minute home workouts for beginners
- Better: Healthy meal prep recipes
- Better: Workout motivation for busy days
The more specific the playlist is, the greater the chance that the right people will keep watching.
Use search terms the way normal people search
Do not use complicated words if your audience does not use them. Someone is more likely to search for makeup for beginners than cosmetic application techniques. Put the main topic in the title and repeat it naturally in the description.
Write a description that actually helps
A good description does not need to be extremely long. Explain what is in the playlist, who it is for and what someone can do after watching. For example:
Example: In this playlist, you will find simple strength workouts you can do at home without expensive equipment. Start with the first video if you are new, then build up slowly with the longer workouts. Ideal for beginners who want to get stronger and train at home.
Use hashtags calmly
Hashtags can help make the topic clearer, but do not overdo it. Three relevant hashtags are often enough. Think of #fitness, #youtubetips or #guitarlesson. Too many hashtags make your description messy and can quickly feel spammy.
Make the first video extra strong
The first video is important, because it often decides whether someone keeps watching. So do not simply place the newest video first. Choose a video that gives value quickly, fits the title well and naturally leads people to the next video.
Use playlists on your channel page
If you create your own videos, place your best playlists clearly on your channel page. New visitors will understand faster what your channel is about. This is especially useful if you have multiple topics, such as tutorials, reviews and livestreams.
If you want to support your YouTube channel alongside good content and smart playlists, you can explore the YouTube services from SocialKings to see what fits your goal. Some creators combine a strong playlist structure with extra visibility through options such as YouTube views, YouTube likes or YouTube subscribers. See this as support, not as a replacement for good videos, clear titles and a channel people enjoy coming back to.
Can you make money with a YouTube playlist?
Yes, a playlist can help you make money with YouTube, but there is an important difference between making money with your own videos in a playlist and making money with videos from other people.
If you create a playlist with videos from other creators, you do not automatically receive ad revenue from those videos. That revenue goes to the rights holders and creators of the videos, not to the person who put the playlist together. A playlist by itself is therefore not a quick way to earn money from ads on someone else’s content.
Where a playlist can be strong is keeping viewers on your channel for longer, organizing your own videos better, sending traffic to your products or services and presenting your content in a more professional way.
Way 1: More watch time on your own videos
If you are in the YouTube Partner Program and your own videos can generate revenue, a good playlist can help. Viewers do not have to search for the next video themselves. They are more likely to keep watching, especially when the order makes sense.
Examples:
- a course with lessons in a fixed order
- a series of product reviews about the same topic
- a music series with your own songs
- a set of tutorials that build on each other
The playlist does not earn separately from your videos. It mainly helps your own videos get watched in a better flow.
Way 2: Affiliate links in the description
With some playlists, you can refer to products, tools or services in the description when they fit the content. Think of cameras with a vlog playlist, sports equipment with fitness videos or software with tutorials.
Keep this honest and clear. Say clearly when you use an affiliate link and only promote things that truly fit the viewer. A playlist full of random links feels unreliable and can push viewers away.
Way 3: Traffic to your own offer
Do you have an online store, course, coaching, music, events or a service? Then a playlist can work as a useful path to your offer. A good explainer playlist can help viewers before they become customers.
Examples:
- a hairdresser shares hair tutorials and points people to appointments
- a fitness coach shares training videos and points people to a plan
- a musician shares live sessions and points people to Spotify or merchandise
- a software company shares explainer videos and points people to a demo
Way 4: Collaborations and sponsors
If your channel and playlists attract many relevant viewers, collaborations can become interesting. Brands do not only look at views, but also at topic, audience and trust. A small but focused playlist about camera accessories can be more valuable to a brand than a broad playlist with random viewers.
Watch copyright when using playlists and income
Adding videos to a playlist is different from downloading videos, uploading them again or using them as if they are yours. Rights stay with the creator or rights holder. Especially with music, movie clips and sports footage, it is smart to be careful. YouTube explains the basics on its page about copyright on YouTube.
If you want to go deeper into income through playlists, it is worth exploring monetization models and smart ways to use playlists as part of your wider YouTube strategy.
Good ideas for YouTube playlists
Not every playlist has the same goal. Choose a format that fits your channel or what you want to save.
| Goal | Playlist idea | Why this works |
|---|---|---|
| More watch time | Complete beginner course | Viewers move logically from lesson to lesson. |
| More structure | All episodes of one series | New visitors quickly find the right order. |
| More trust | Customer questions and explainer videos | You answer doubts before someone contacts you. |
| More entertainment | Best moments or highlights | Viewers quickly see the most enjoyable content. |
| More sales opportunities | Product explanations and demonstrations | People understand better what you offer. |
Common mistakes with YouTube playlists
A playlist seems simple, but small mistakes can make people leave faster.
Too many topics in one playlist
A list with gaming, makeup, vlogs and music all together is not ideal for almost anyone. Create separate playlists for each topic.
No logical order
If lesson 8 comes before lesson 1, viewers lose the thread. Check the order as if you are watching the playlist for the first time yourself.
Vague titles
Titles like Favorites or Fun say very little. Make clear what someone will get.
Keeping old or broken videos
Sometimes videos are deleted, made private or become unavailable in certain countries. Check your most important playlists from time to time, especially if you use them on your website or in your social media bio.
Only optimizing, but not promoting
A good title helps, but you also need to bring the playlist to people’s attention. Share it in places where your target audience is already active.
Frequently asked questions about YouTube playlists
Can everyone see my YouTube playlist?
That depends on your privacy setting. Public playlists are visible to everyone. Unlisted playlists can be viewed by people with the link. Private playlists are only visible to you.
Can I add videos from other channels to my playlist?
Yes, you can usually add public videos from other channels to your playlist. If the creator later deletes the video, makes it private or restricts it, the video may disappear from your playlist or stop playing.
Do I get ad revenue from other people’s videos in my playlist?
No, not in the normal way. Ad revenue goes to the creator or rights holder of the video. You can earn if you use your own videos, send traffic to your own offer or use affiliate links in a clear and honest way.
How many videos should a playlist have?
There is no ideal number that always works. For a short explainer series, five videos can be enough. For music or a course, it can be much more. What matters most is that every video fits the topic and that the order stays logical.
Can I make a playlist private later?
Yes, you can change the visibility of a playlist later. Open the playlist, go to the edit options and change the privacy setting to public, unlisted or private.
Do playlists really help you get more views?
Playlists can help, especially when they are built well and connect your own videos in a logical way. They do not automatically create views, but they make it easier for viewers to watch more videos in a row.
Create your playlist with a clear goal
A strong YouTube playlist starts with one simple question: what should the viewer be able to watch easily? When you answer that question clearly, the title, order, description and promotion become much easier.
Do not make your first playlist too complicated. Choose a topic, add the best videos, put them in a logical order and share the playlist where your audience already spends time. After that, you can improve it based on what people actually watch.
