The fastest way to open a playlist

Open YouTube in your web browser and search for the playlist by name, or paste the playlist URL directly into the address bar. If you have the link, pasting it is the quickest route — the playlist opens when ready. If you are searching by name, type the playlist title into the YouTube search box at the top of the page, then look for results marked "Playlist" underneath the title.

Once you find the playlist, click on it. The page will load and show all the videos in that playlist in order, with the first video ready to play. You can start watching right away or scroll through the list to pick a different video to begin with.

Key Takeaways

  • Pasting a playlist URL directly into your browser's address bar is the fastest way to open a specific playlist.
  • You can search for a playlist by name using the YouTube search box and filter results to show only playlists.
  • Your own playlists appear in the left sidebar under "You" when you are signed into your YouTube account.
  • Playlists created by other users are public by default, but some creators make their playlists private or unlisted.
  • Videos in a playlist play in the order the creator arranged them, and you can skip to any video in the list at any time.

Finding playlists you created yourself

If you created the playlist and are signed into your YouTube account, the easiest way to find it is through the left sidebar. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Your channel" from the menu. On your channel page, click the "Playlists" tab to see all the playlists you have made.

Click the playlist you want to open. It will load with all your videos displayed in the order you arranged them. If you have many playlists, you can use the search box on the Playlists tab to find the one you are looking for by typing its name.

Using a playlist link someone sent you

When someone shares a playlist link with you, the URL usually looks like this: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxxxxxx (the letters and numbers after "list=" are unique to that playlist). Copy the entire link and paste it into your browser's address bar, then press Enter. The playlist will open when ready.

If the playlist is public, you will see all the videos and can watch them without any restrictions. If the creator made the playlist unlisted or private, you may see a message saying the playlist is not available, or you may only be able to watch it if the creator shared it with you directly.

Searching for playlists by topic or creator

Go to YouTube and type what you are looking for into the search box — for example, "cooking tutorials" or "jazz music." The search results will show videos, channels, and playlists. To see only playlists, click the "Filter" button (the funnel icon) below the search box, then select "Playlist" from the options.

The results will now show only playlists that match your search. Click any playlist to open it. You can sort results by upload date, view count, or relevance depending on what YouTube offers for that search.

Playing videos in a playlist

When a playlist is open, the first video starts playing automatically in the main player. Below the video, you will see a list of all the other videos in the playlist. Click any video in the list to jump to it and start playing it instead.

The playlist will continue playing videos in order after the one you selected, unless you turn off the autoplay feature. To turn off autoplay, look for the toggle switch labeled "Autoplay" on the right side of the playlist list — it is usually turned on by default. Click it to turn it off if you want to stop after each video and choose the next one manually.

Saving a playlist to your account

If you find a playlist you like and want to watch it later, you can save it to your account. Open the playlist, then click the "Save playlist" button (it looks like a plus sign or bookmark icon) near the top of the page. The playlist will be added to your account under "Your playlists" in the left sidebar.

You can also create a new playlist and add videos to it manually. While watching any video, click the "Save" button below the video player, then select "Create new playlist" and give it a name. After that, you can add more videos to the same playlist by clicking "Save" on each video and selecting the playlist name from the menu.

Troubleshooting playlists that won't open

If a playlist link is not working, the most common reason is that the playlist has been deleted or made private by the creator. If you see an error message, try copying the link again and pasting it carefully into a fresh browser tab — sometimes a typo in the URL will prevent the page from loading.

If you are signed out of your YouTube account, some playlists may not be visible to you. Try signing in to your account and searching for the playlist again. If the playlist still does not appear, it may have been removed or the creator may have restricted who can view it. You can also try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then loading the playlist link again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a YouTube playlist without signing in?

Yes. Public playlists created by other users can be opened and watched without signing in. You only need to sign in if you want to save playlists to your own account or create new ones.

What is the difference between a public and private playlist?

A public playlist can be found by anyone searching YouTube and can be watched by anyone with the link. A private playlist is only visible to you and people you share it with directly. Unlisted playlists are somewhere in between — they do not show up in search results, but anyone with the link can watch them.

Can I rearrange the order of videos in a playlist I created?

Yes. Open your playlist, then hover over any video in the list. A menu icon (three dots) will appear on the right side of that video. Click it and select "Move" to drag the video to a new position in the playlist.

Why is a playlist showing me videos I did not add to it?

If autoplay is turned on, YouTube will automatically add related videos to the end of your playlist after all the videos you added have finished playing. Turn off autoplay by clicking the toggle switch on the right side of the playlist list to stop this from happening.

Can I read a playlist to watch offline?

YouTube Premium members can read videos and playlists to watch offline using the YouTube app on mobile devices. On a computer, you cannot read playlists through YouTube itself, but you can use third-party software — check the terms of service for any tool you use to make sure it is allowed.