How to Create a YouTube Music Playlist: The Complete Guide for 2026

YouTube Music surpassed 100 million paid subscribers with YouTube Premium in early 2024, according to the official YouTube blog. And unlike Spotify, the service includes music videos, live performances, and covers in addition to studio tracks. The result: creating a YouTube Music playlist means building a collection that mixes official albums, acoustic versions, and rare videos. This guide shows you how to create, manage, and share your playlists on mobile, desktop, and the web, import playlists from Spotify or Apple Music, and take advantage of collaborative playlists.

Key points to remember

• YouTube Music + YouTube Premium surpass 100 million paying subscribers (YouTube, 2024)
• Creating a playlist takes less than 30 seconds on mobile, desktop, or at music.youtube.com
• Collaborative playlists allow multiple Google accounts to add songs in real time
• Tools like Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic let you transfer your Spotify or Apple Music playlists to YouTube Music
• Sharing YouTube Premium Family through the Spliiit marketplace reduces the monthly cost by up to 70%

How do I create a YouTube Music playlist on my phone?

In the YouTube Music app for Android or iOS, open a song, tap the three vertical dots, then tap "Add to playlist" and finally "New playlist." Name your playlist, choose the privacy setting (Public, Unlisted, Private), and confirm. According to Statista, the mobile app accounts for over 60% of streaming plays, making it the primary entry point.

In short: a YouTube Music playlist works like a personal folder. All the tracks you add to it remain accessible in the Library tab and are synced across all your devices linked to the same Google Account.

Step-by-step instructions for Android and iOS

1. Open the YouTube Music app and sign in with your Google account.
2. Play or search for a song you want to add.
3. Tap the "+" icon or the three dots to the right of the title.
4. Select "Add to playlist," then "New playlist."
5. Enter a name (up to 60 characters) and select the visibility setting.
6. Tap "Create": the playlist will appear in Library > Playlists.

Tip: Create an empty playlist

You can also open the Library tab, tap "Playlists," and then tap the "+ New Playlist" button. This is a handy way to create a themed playlist before adding songs to it one by one using the search function.

How do I create a YouTube Music playlist on desktop and the web?

On music.youtube.com, the process is the same: right-click or tap the "..." menu on a track, then select "Add to playlist" > "New playlist." The Windows/macOS desktop app (via Chrome or the Progressive Web App) follows the same procedure. Google states in its official help section that playlists sync automatically across the web, mobile, and PC.

The web is still the most convenient option for large playlists

If you want to import 300 tracks at once, sort by artist, or edit descriptions in bulk, the web version is more user-friendly. You can also drag and drop tracks from the current playback to a playlist in the sidebar, which the mobile app doesn't allow.

UNIQUE INSIGHT — Why YouTube Music Beats Spotify When It Comes to Covers and Live Performances

YouTube Music's real strength lies in its hybrid catalog. Acoustic versions, unofficial remixes, live performances, and rare clips available on YouTube all appear in the search results. A "Concerts 2024" playlist can mix Sony studio tracks, Boiler Room clips, and NPR Tiny Desk live performances—something that's impossible on Spotify or Apple Music.

What is a collaborative playlist, and how do I enable it?

A collaborative YouTube Music playlist allows multiple Google accounts to add and remove songs. To enable it, open the playlist, tap the "Edit" icon (pencil), and toggle the " Collaborate " switch to ON. An invitation link is generated; anyone who opens it and signs in can contribute. This feature will be rolled out globally by the end of 2023, according to the YouTube blog.

Who can add titles?

Only people with the link. You can remove a contributor, disable collaboration, or delete an addition deemed off-topic at any time. Perfect for a road trip, a wedding playlist, or a night out with friends where everyone adds their favorite songs.

Emojis as "likes"

On a collaborative playlist, each contributor can add an emoji reaction to a track. It’s a more fun way to interact than simple “thumbs up,” and it lets you see which songs the group likes best.

How do I import a Spotify or Apple Music playlist to YouTube Music?

YouTube Music doesn't offer an official import feature from Spotify or Apple Music, but third-party tools like Soundiiz, TuneMyMusic, or FreeYourMusic can do it in just a few clicks. According to Statista, nearly one in three music streaming users switches between two services, making the transfer of playlists a must.

Quick method using Soundiiz

1. Create a free Soundiiz account at soundiiz.com.
2. Connect your Spotify or Apple Music account.
3. Sign in to your YouTube Music account (Google).
4. Click "Transfer," select the playlist, and confirm.
5. Please wait for the automatic match: items not found are listed separately.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE — The match rate is never 100%

When transferring 200 tracks from Spotify to YouTube Music via Soundiiz, expect a match rate of 90% to 95%. The missing tracks are typically exclusive remixes, deluxe editions, and regional releases. Check the missing tracks manually: sometimes an acceptable replacement is available in the YouTube Music catalog.

If you want to transfer in the opposite direction or between two other services, our tutorial on transferring a Deezer playlist to Spotify explains the same process using TuneMyMusic.

What are the playlists automatically generated by YouTube Music?

YouTube Music automatically creates several personalized playlists based on your listening history. The most popular ones include My Mix, New Discoveries, Your Favorites, and mixes organized by artist or mood. According to Statista, YouTube’s recommendation algorithm processes over 500 hours of uploaded video every minute, and this power is reflected in the accuracy of its music suggestions.

"Car Radio" Based on a Song Title

Play a song, open the "..." menu, and select "Start Radio." YouTube Music generates an endless playlist of similar tracks, which you can save by selecting "Save to Library." It's the perfect way to discover artists that match your taste without lifting a finger.

"Smart" playlists based on mood or activity

On the Home tab, YouTube Music offers playlists tailored to different moods: "For Running," "Focus," "Chill Night," and "Road Trip." These playlists update based on the time of day, the day of the week, and your listening history. For more comprehensive recommendations, check out our 2026 music streaming comparison.

How do I share and delete a YouTube Music playlist?

To share, open the playlist, tap the "Share" icon, then choose a method (link, WhatsApp, email, text message). To delete, tap the"..." menu > Delete playlist. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Our guide on how to delete a YouTube playlist also covers standard (non-music) YouTube playlists.

Privacy: public, unlisted, private

• Public: visible on your YouTube Music channel, indexed by Google.
• Not listed: accessible only via the direct link.
• Private: visible only to you, even with a link.

Summary table: Where to create and manage your playlists

• Device|Create|Collaborative|Third-party import|Bulk editing
• Android/iOS|Yes|Yes|Via browser|Limited
• Desktop (web)|Yes|Yes|Yes (Soundiiz, TuneMyMusic)|Convenient
• PWA desktop app|Yes|Yes|Via browser|User-friendly
• Smart speakers|No|No|No|Read-only

Why pay for YouTube Music Premium for your playlists?

Without Premium, YouTube Music inserts ads between songs, prevents background playback on mobile devices, and blocks offline downloads. With YouTube Premium (which includes YouTube Music), you get all three of these features plus ad-free viewing across the entire YouTube platform. According to YouTube, the service has over 100 million paying subscribers.

The official price vs. the legal share

YouTube Premium Individual costs €12.99/month in France. The Family plan (up to 5 members + the account manager) costs €23.99/month. Split among 6 people, that works out to about €4 per person—a savings of up to 70% compared to the Individual plan. Platforms like the Spliiit marketplace connect families with unused subscriptions to individuals, in compliance with Google’s Terms of Service. Our guide on how to share YouTube Premium details the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you create a YouTube Music playlist without a Premium account?

Yes. You can create playlists for free and without limits using just a Google account, even without YouTube Premium. The restrictions apply to playback (ads, no mobile background playback, no offline playback) and not to playlist management. You’ll keep your playlists even if you cancel Premium.

How many songs can you add to a YouTube Music playlist?

The official limit is 5,000 songs per playlist, which is the same as on standard YouTube, according to YouTube Music’s help center. If you exceed this limit, create a second themed playlist. To compare these limits with those of other services, check out our ranking of the best music platforms.

Are YouTube and YouTube Music playlists linked?

Partially. A playlist created in YouTube Music appears in the Music section of YouTube. However, a standard YouTube playlist containing videos does not automatically convert to a YouTube Music playlist. Offline downloads and audio-only playback are still limited to the YouTube Music app with Premium.

Can you recover a deleted YouTube Music playlist?

No, once deleted, a YouTube Music playlist cannot be recovered. There is no deletion history and no trash bin. Before deleting a playlist containing many tracks, export it via Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic in "CSV backup" mode so you can rebuild it later if needed.

Is YouTube Music replacing Spotify for playlists?

Yes, for most uses. YouTube Music is on par with Spotify when it comes to creating, sharing, and collaborating, and it outperforms it in terms of music videos and live content. For a comprehensive comparison, check out our 2026 music streaming comparison and our guide to downloading from YouTube Music.

In summary

Creating a YouTube Music playlist takes less than a minute, works on all your devices, and supports collaborative playlists, imports from Spotify or Apple Music, and automatically generated smart playlists. To take it further without breaking your streaming budget, check out the Spliiit music guide and find a shared YouTube Premium Family subscription on the Spliiit marketplace: the same playlists, ad-free and available offline, for just a few euros a month.