Reorder songs by dragging them in the Spotify app or web player

You can change the order of songs in any playlist you created yourself. Open the playlist, then click and hold a song title (or tap and hold on mobile) and drag it to a new position. Release when the song is where you want it. The change saves when ready — you do not need to confirm or save separately.

This works the same way on the Spotify desktop app, the web player at spotify.com, and the mobile app for iOS and Android. The only playlists you cannot reorder are ones created by Spotify itself (like Release Radar or Discover Weekly) or playlists other people made that you follow but do not own.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only reorder playlists you created yourself, not playlists made by Spotify or other users.
  • Drag a song to move it on desktop or web; tap and hold to drag on mobile.
  • Changes save when ready without any extra step.
  • You can move multiple songs at once on desktop by selecting them first, then dragging the group.
  • If you cannot drag a song, check that you own the playlist and that you are not in shuffle mode.

Reordering on the Spotify desktop app

Open Spotify on your computer and find the playlist you want to change. Click on the playlist name to open it. You will see all the songs listed with numbers on the left side.

Click and hold the song you want to move. Your cursor will change to show you can drag. While holding the mouse button, move the song up or down to the position you want. A line will appear between songs to show where it will land. Release the mouse button to drop it in place.

If you want to move several songs at once, click the first song, then hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each additional song you want to move. They will highlight. Then drag the entire group to the new position.

Reordering on the Spotify web player

Go to spotify.com and log in. Click "Your Library" on the left side, then click "Playlists" to see all your playlists. Click the one you want to edit.

Find the song you want to move. Tap and hold on the song row (or right-click on desktop) until a menu appears. You should see options including "Move to" or a drag handle icon. Click the drag handle or "Move to" and select the new position, or straightforward drag the song directly to where you want it.

Reordering on mobile (iPhone and Android)

Open the Spotify app and go to the playlist. Tap the three dots (menu icon) at the top right of the playlist, then tap "Edit Playlist." The songs will now show drag handles — three horizontal lines to the left of each song title.

Tap and hold the drag handle next to the song you want to move. While holding, drag it up or down to the new position. A line will show where it will land. Release your finger to drop it. When you are done reordering, tap outside the playlist or press the back button to save your changes.

Why you cannot move a song and how to fix it

If dragging does not work, check three things. First, make sure you own the playlist — you cannot reorder playlists made by other people, even if you follow them. Second, turn off shuffle mode if it is on; some versions of Spotify will not let you drag while shuffle is active. Third, make sure the playlist is not a Spotify-made one like Release Radar, Discover Weekly, or any branded playlist.

If you own the playlist and shuffle is off but dragging still does not work, try closing and reopening the app, or log out and log back in. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents dragging until you refresh the connection.

Moving songs between playlists instead of reordering

If you want to move a song to a different playlist entirely rather than just reorder it within one, right-click the song (or tap and hold on mobile) and look for "Add to Playlist." Select the playlist you want to add it to. The song will appear in that playlist, though it will also stay in the original one unless you delete it.

To remove a song from a playlist without deleting it from Spotify, right-click it and choose "Remove from This Playlist." This keeps the song in your library and in any other playlists it is in, but takes it out of the one you are editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a reorder if I made a mistake?

Spotify does not have an undo button for playlist changes. If you moved a song to the wrong spot, you will need to drag it back to where it was. Keep track of the original order before you start moving songs if you are worried about making mistakes.

Why can I not drag songs in my Spotify playlist?

The most common reason is that you do not own the playlist — you can only reorder playlists you created. Also check that shuffle mode is off, as it can block dragging on some devices. If you own the playlist and shuffle is off, try closing the app completely and opening it again.

Can I reorder a playlist that someone shared with me?

No. You can only reorder playlists you created yourself. If someone else made the playlist, you can follow it and listen to it, but you cannot change the song order. You can create your own version by adding the songs to a new playlist you own.

Does reordering a playlist change it on other devices?

Yes. Spotify syncs playlist changes across all your devices. If you reorder a playlist on your phone, the new order will appear on your computer and any other device you use Spotify on.

Can I sort a playlist alphabetically or by artist instead of dragging?

Spotify does not have a built-in sort feature. You have to drag songs manually to arrange them the way you want. Some third-party apps claim to sort playlists, but they are not made by Spotify and may not work reliably.