Creating a playlist on YouTube TV takes three steps: open the app, find a video, and save it to a new or existing list

YouTube TV's playlist feature works differently than YouTube on a computer or phone. On your TV, you cannot create an empty playlist first and then add videos to it. Instead, you start by finding a video you want to save, then create the playlist as you save that video. Once the playlist exists, you can add more videos to it from any screen.

The process is straightforward and takes less than a minute once you know where to look. Your playlists stay with your YouTube account, so you can access them on any device — your TV, phone, computer, or tablet — and they will show the same videos across all of them.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a playlist on YouTube TV by selecting a video, pressing the menu button, and choosing to save it to a new list.
  • Playlists sync across all your devices, so a list you make on your TV appears on your phone and computer with the same videos.
  • You can add videos to an existing playlist by selecting the video and choosing the playlist name from the save menu.
  • Deleting a video from a playlist removes it from that list only, not from YouTube entirely.
  • You can rename or delete playlists from your TV, but it is often faster to manage them on your phone or computer.

Step-by-step: saving your first video to a new playlist

Start by playing or selecting any video in YouTube TV. You do not have to play it all the way through — you can pause it or stop it at any time. Once the video is on your screen, look for the menu button. On most remotes, this is the three-dot icon or the options button. Press it.

A menu will appear with several choices. Look for the option that says "Save to playlist" or "Add to playlist" — the exact wording varies slightly depending on your TV model and YouTube app version. Select it. A new menu will pop up showing any playlists you have already made, plus an option to create a new one. Choose "Create new playlist" or the plus icon.

YouTube will ask you to name the playlist. Type a name using your remote's keyboard or voice search feature. Common names are "Watch Later," "Favorites," "Comedy," or anything else that makes sense to you. Once you enter the name and confirm, the video is saved to that new playlist. You will see a confirmation message on your screen.

Adding more videos to an existing playlist

Once you have created one playlist, adding videos to it is faster. Find any video you want to save, press the menu button, and select "Save to playlist" or "Add to playlist." This time, instead of creating a new one, you will see your existing playlists listed. Select the playlist you want to add the video to, and it is done.

You can add the same video to multiple playlists. If you have a "Watch Later" list and a "Comedy" list, you can save a funny video to both. The video will appear in both playlists, and removing it from one does not remove it from the other.

Viewing and playing your playlists

To watch videos from a playlist on your TV, go to the YouTube TV home screen and look for a "Playlists" section or menu. This is usually in the sidebar or under your account menu. Select it to see all your playlists. Choose the playlist you want, and YouTube will show you all the videos in it. Select any video to start playing.

When you play a video from a playlist, YouTube TV will automatically play the next video in the list when the current one ends. This is useful for watching a series of related videos without having to select each one manually. You can stop autoplay by pressing the menu button during playback and turning off the autoplay feature.

Removing videos from a playlist

To delete a video from a playlist, open the playlist and find the video you want to remove. Press the menu button on that video and select "Remove from playlist." The video disappears from that playlist when ready, but it stays on YouTube — you are only removing it from your list, not deleting it from the platform.

Removing a video from a playlist does not affect other playlists. If the same video is in your "Watch Later" and "Comedy" lists, removing it from "Watch Later" leaves it in "Comedy."

Renaming or deleting an entire playlist

To rename a playlist, go to your playlists menu and find the one you want to change. Press the menu button on the playlist name itself, not on a video inside it. Select "Rename" or "Edit," type the new name, and confirm. The change takes effect when ready on all your devices.

To delete an entire playlist, use the same process: go to your playlists menu, press the menu button on the playlist name, and select "Delete" or "Remove." YouTube will ask you to confirm. Deleting a playlist removes the list itself, but all the videos in it remain on YouTube and in any other playlists you saved them to.

Syncing playlists across devices

Your YouTube TV playlists are tied to your Google account, so they appear on every device where you sign in. If you create a playlist on your TV, you can see it and add videos to it from your phone or computer. If you delete a video from a playlist on your phone, it is gone from that playlist on your TV as well.

This sync happens automatically and usually takes a few seconds. If a playlist does not appear on another device right away, sign out and sign back in, or close and reopen the YouTube app. Your playlists will then refresh and match what you see on your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create an empty playlist and add videos to it later?

No, not on YouTube TV. You must save a video first, then create the playlist during that save. However, once the playlist exists, you can add as many videos as you want to it. On a computer or phone, you can create an empty playlist, but on your TV, the save-first method is the only option.

What happens if I delete a video from a playlist?

The video is removed from that playlist only. It stays on YouTube and in any other playlists you added it to. Deleting from a playlist is not the same as deleting the video itself from YouTube.

Can I share a playlist with someone else?

YouTube TV does not have a built-in share feature for playlists on the TV app. You can share playlists from your phone or computer by going to the playlist, pressing the share button, and sending the link. The other person can then view and watch the videos, but they cannot edit your playlist.

Why is my playlist not showing up on my phone?

Make sure you are signed into the same Google account on both devices. Playlists only sync between devices using the same account. If you are signed in correctly, sign out and sign back in on your phone to force a refresh. The playlist should appear within a few seconds.

Can I rearrange the order of videos in a playlist?

On your TV, you cannot drag videos to reorder them. However, on a computer or phone, you can open the playlist and drag videos up or down to change their order. This new order will then appear on your TV the next time you open that playlist.