How to Make a Playlist on Spotify (Phone, PC, Shared)

A good playlist is a small piece of craft. Whether it's a Friday-night warm-up, a focus mix for deep work or the soundtrack to your shop, the first job is the same: get the thing created, named and filled. Spotify's help centre sets out the steps for the phone app and the desktop app, and I'll walk through both, then cover privacy and sharing, which is where people most often trip up.

Making a playlist on Spotify from your phone

Spotify's help describes the mobile route in a few quick moves:

1. Open the Spotify app and tap Create.
2. Choose Playlist.
3. Type a name for your playlist.
4. Tap Create to confirm.

Once it exists, you can add songs directly or pick from the recommendations Spotify offers. Give the playlist a name that tells you what it's for, because a list called New Playlist 1 gets lost quickly.

Making a playlist on Spotify from a computer

On the desktop app, the help centre's route is:

1. Go to Your Library.
2. Click Create and select Playlist.
3. Edit the details, such as the name.
4. Save it.

There's also a shortcut. Spotify says Ctrl-N on Windows or Cmd-N on a Mac does the same job, which is brilliant when you're building several lists in one sitting.

Adding and removing songs on a Spotify playlist

To add songs on your phone, open the playlist and tap Add, or use a song's menu to add it to a playlist and confirm. On a computer, right-click a song or use its three-dot menu, or simply drag tracks into the playlist.

Removing works much the same way. On desktop, right-click a song or open its menu and select Remove from this Playlist. To reorder, drag songs to the spot you want. Spotify's help notes that reordering by dragging on mobile needs Premium, so that's worth knowing if the drag handle doesn't respond.

Spotify's page doesn't state a maximum number of songs for a playlist, so I won't invent one.

Making a Spotify playlist public or private

Here's the setting that surprises people: Spotify's help says all new playlists you create are public by default. If you don't want others to find a playlist, open the three-dot menu at the top and choose Make private. Spotify says a private playlist is hidden from everyone.

If you want to share a private playlist with one person, you can send a link for view access. Spotify says shared links expire after 7 days, so you may need to send a fresh one later.

Keeping a Spotify playlist off your profile

Public and published are linked but not identical. Spotify's help says only public playlists are published to your profile, and new playlists are published by default. On mobile, you control it through your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, then Privacy and social, then Playlist visibility. On desktop, Spotify names Settings, then Social, and the toggle called Publish my new playlists on my profile.

If you published a playlist and then make it private, it stops showing for other users.

Sharing a Spotify playlist with friends who can edit

Collaborative playlists are perfect for a team, a wedding or a group trip. Spotify's help says that the collaborative option lets your friends add, remove and reorder tracks. To invite people, open the playlist, tap the three-dot icon and choose Invite collaborators, then share the link by message or social app, or copy it.

Spotify says that link is valid for 7 days, so don't be surprised if an invitation sent last week no longer works. To take someone off, tap the profile pictures below the playlist name and choose Remove as collaborator beside their name.

Spotify playlist setting	What the help centre says
Default for new playlists	Public
Make it hidden	Three dots, then Make private
Let friends edit	Turn on collaborative, then Invite collaborators
Collaboration link	Valid for 7 days
Private playlist share link	Expires after 7 days

Deleting a Spotify playlist you no longer want

If a playlist has run its course, Spotify's help says to open its menu on mobile and choose the delete option. On desktop, right-click the playlist, or use the three-dot menu inside it, and click Delete. Think before you do it, especially on a collaborative one, because your friends lose it too.

Building Spotify playlists for a business or brand

Playlists work as light, friendly content for a business. A shop can share the mix it plays in store, a coach can share a focus playlist for clients, and a podcaster can build a listening list around an episode theme. Keep the title clear, add a short note on who it's for and keep the list public only if you want strangers to find it.

If you're thinking about Spotify as part of your brand, my breakdown of how Spotify built its brand has ideas worth borrowing, and using podcasts to increase brand awareness shows how audio helps people remember you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a playlist on Spotify on my phone?

Open Spotify, tap Create, choose Playlist, type a name and tap Create. Then add songs directly or from recommendations.

How do I make a playlist on Spotify on a computer?

Go to Your Library, click Create, select Playlist, edit the details and save. Ctrl-N on Windows or Cmd-N on a Mac also works.

Are Spotify playlists public by default?

Yes. Spotify's help says all new playlists you create are public by default. Use the three-dot menu and Make private to hide one.

How do I make a Spotify playlist collaborative?

Turn on the collaborative option, then use the three-dot menu and Invite collaborators to share the link. Spotify says the link is valid for 7 days.

How many songs can a Spotify playlist hold?

Spotify's help page on creating playlists doesn't state a maximum number of songs.