Rename a Playlist on Spotify Mobile or Desktop

To change a playlist name on Spotify, open the playlist, tap or click the three dots next to the title, select "Edit Playlist," and type the new name. The steps differ slightly between mobile and desktop, but both take less than a minute. You can rename any playlist you created yourself — playlists made by Spotify or other users cannot be renamed unless you save them as your own copy first.

On a phone or tablet, swipe up on the playlist cover to reveal the menu, then tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Choose "Edit Playlist" from the dropdown. The name field will highlight and let you delete the old text and type a new one. Tap outside the field or press the back button to save your change.

On a desktop computer or web browser, right-click the playlist name in your library on the left side, or click the three dots that appear when you hover over the playlist. Select "Edit Details" or "Rename" depending on your Spotify version. Type the new name directly into the field and click outside it or press Enter to confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • Mobile users should swipe up on the playlist cover, tap the three dots, and select "Edit Playlist" to change the name.
  • Desktop users can right-click the playlist name in the left sidebar or click the three-dot menu and choose "Edit Details."
  • You can only rename playlists you created — Spotify's official playlists and playlists from other users cannot be renamed directly.
  • Changes save automatically once you confirm the new name, and the updated title appears when ready across all your devices.
  • If a playlist belongs to someone else but you want to rename it, you must save it as a new playlist under your own account.

Renaming Playlists You Don't Own

If you follow a playlist made by Spotify or another user, you cannot edit its name directly. Instead, you can create a personal copy by saving it to your library and then renaming that copy. Open the playlist, tap or click the heart or plus icon to save it, then follow the rename steps above on your saved version.

Your renamed copy will appear in your library as a separate playlist with your new title, while the original playlist keeps its name. This is useful if you want to organize someone else's curated playlist under a label that makes sense for your own collection — for example, renaming a public workout playlist to "Morning Runs" or "Gym Sessions."

What Happens When You Rename a Playlist

When you change a playlist name, the new title appears when ready on the device you used to make the change. If you use Spotify on multiple devices — phone, tablet, computer, or the web player — the updated name syncs within a few seconds to all of them. You do not need to refresh or restart the app.

Other people who follow your playlist will see the new name the next time they open Spotify or refresh the app. If you share a playlist with friends or colleagues, they will notice the name change, but it does not affect the songs in the playlist or any of their personal settings.

Renaming Collaborative Playlists

If you created a collaborative playlist — one that other people can add songs to — you can still rename it as long as you are the original creator. Open the playlist, tap or click the three dots, and follow the same rename steps. The new name updates for everyone who has access to the playlist.

If someone else created the collaborative playlist and invited you to add songs, you cannot rename it. Only the creator has permission to change the playlist name, description, or cover image. If you want to rename a collaborative playlist you do not own, you would need to ask the creator to make the change.

Changing Playlist Descriptions and Cover Images

While renaming, you can also change the playlist description and cover image using the same menu. On mobile, tap "Edit Playlist" and you will see fields for the name, description, and an option to upload or change the cover photo. On desktop, click "Edit Details" and the same options appear in a popup window.

The description is optional and appears below the playlist name when someone views it. You can write anything — a note about the mood, the artist, or the occasion. The cover image can be a photo from your phone or a default Spotify image. These changes save at the same time as the name change and sync across all your devices.

Troubleshooting Playlist Rename Issues

If the three-dot menu does not appear or the "Edit Playlist" option is grayed out, you likely do not own the playlist. Check whether you created it or if it came from Spotify or another user. If you created it but cannot edit it, try logging out and back into Spotify, or restart the app.

On desktop, make sure you are using an updated version of Spotify. Older versions sometimes have different menu layouts. If you are using the web player at spotify.com, the rename option works the same way as the desktop app — right-click or click the three dots next to the playlist name.

If you renamed a playlist but the old name still appears on one device, that device may not have synced yet. Close and reopen the Spotify app, or wait a few seconds and refresh. Spotify syncs playlist changes across devices automatically, but occasionally a device lags behind by a few seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rename a playlist that someone shared with me?

No, you can only rename playlists you created. If someone shared a playlist with you and you want to rename it, save it to your library first, which creates your own copy. Then rename your copy. The original playlist keeps its name.

Will renaming a playlist remove the songs from it?

No. Changing the name does not affect the songs, the order, or any other details of the playlist. All the music stays exactly as it was.

How long does it take for the new playlist name to show up on all my devices?

The name usually syncs within a few seconds. If it takes longer, close and reopen the Spotify app on the device where you do not see the change yet.

Can I undo a playlist name change?

Spotify does not have an undo button for playlist edits. If you want to go back to the old name, you will need to rename it again manually. There is no version history or recovery option.

What characters can I use in a playlist name?

Spotify allows letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks in playlist names. There is no strict character limit, but very long names may be cut off on some devices or in search results.