Drag and drop songs to reorder them on any device
The fastest way to change the order of songs in a Spotify playlist is to drag them up or down where they sit. On a phone or tablet, press and hold a song until it highlights, then drag it to its new position. On a computer, click and hold a song title and drag it to where you want it. Release, and the playlist updates when ready.
This method works on Spotify's mobile app (iOS and Android) and the desktop app for Windows and Mac. The web player at spotify.com also supports drag-and-drop, though some older browsers may be slower. You do not need to save anything — Spotify saves the new order as soon as you release the song.
If drag-and-drop feels slow or you have a very long playlist, you can also delete a song and re-add it in the position you want, though this is more steps for the same result.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold a song on mobile, or click and hold on desktop, then drag it to its new spot in the playlist.
- The new order saves automatically — you do not need to confirm or save manually.
- Drag-and-drop works on the Spotify app for iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac, as well as the web player.
- If you own the playlist, you can reorder songs; if someone else owns it, you can only reorder it if they gave you editing rights.
Reordering on your phone or tablet
Open the Spotify app and navigate to the playlist you want to change. Scroll to the song you want to move. Press and hold the song title or the three-dot menu icon next to it until the song row highlights or a menu appears.
Once the song is selected, drag it up or down to its new position. You will see the other songs shift as you move it. When you reach the spot you want, release your finger. The song lands in its new place, and the playlist updates right away.
If you are on an older phone or the app feels sluggish, try closing other apps first. Spotify's drag-and-drop can lag on devices with limited memory, but the action will still complete once you release.
Reordering on desktop or web
Open Spotify on your computer or go to spotify.com in your browser. Find the playlist and click on it to open the song list. Locate the song you want to move.
Click and hold the song title or the area to the left of it (where the play icon appears when you hover). Your cursor will change to show you can drag. Hold the mouse button down and move the song up or down to its new position. The other songs will shift to make room. Release the mouse button, and the song stays in its new spot.
On the desktop app, this works smoothly on both Windows and Mac. On the web player, the experience is the same, though it may feel slightly slower on very large playlists (over 500 songs).
What happens if you do not own the playlist
If someone else created the playlist and shared it with you, you can only reorder songs if they turned on editing rights for you. When you try to drag a song in a playlist you cannot edit, nothing will happen — the song will not move.
To get editing rights, ask the playlist owner to go to the playlist, tap or click the three dots, and select "Make Collaborative" or look for a sharing option that lets them add you as an editor. Once they do, you will be able to reorder songs the same way.
Reordering a collaborative playlist
A collaborative playlist is one where multiple people can add, remove, and reorder songs. If you are part of a collaborative playlist, you can drag songs around just like you would in your own playlist. The changes show up for everyone in real time (or within a few seconds).
If you and a friend are both reordering the same playlist at the same time, Spotify will not let you drag the same song — one person's drag will lock it until they release. This prevents conflicts. If you see a song you cannot move, wait a moment and try again.
Troubleshooting when drag-and-drop does not work
If you try to drag a song and nothing happens, check that you own the playlist or have editing rights. If you do, try closing and reopening the app. Sometimes Spotify needs a refresh to enable dragging.
On mobile, make sure you are pressing and holding long enough for the song to highlight before you start dragging. A quick tap will not trigger the drag mode. On desktop, click and hold for a full second before you move the mouse.
If the app is very slow, restart your phone or computer and try again. Spotify's drag-and-drop feature requires a bit of processing power, and a restart often clears up lag. If you are on the web player and it is not working, try a different browser or use the desktop app instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a reorder if I move a song by mistake?
Spotify does not have an undo button for playlist changes. If you move a song to the wrong spot, you will need to drag it back to where it was. Keep track of the original order, or if you remember roughly where it was, move it back manually.
Does reordering a playlist change the order for other people who follow it?
Yes. If you own a playlist and reorder it, everyone who follows that playlist will see the new order. If it is a collaborative playlist, any change made by anyone in the group shows up for everyone.
Can I reorder songs on Spotify's free plan?
Yes. Reordering playlists works the same way whether you have a free or paid Spotify account. The drag-and-drop feature is available to all users.
What if I want to move multiple songs at once?
Spotify does not support selecting and moving multiple songs in one action. You will need to move them one at a time. For very large rearrangements, it may be faster to delete songs and re-add them in the order you want, though this is still one song at a time.
Does the desktop app work better than the web player for reordering?
The desktop app is usually slightly faster and more responsive, especially on large playlists. The web player works fine for most playlists, but if you have over 500 songs and notice lag, the desktop app may feel smoother.