Adding a video to a playlist while watching

The fastest way to save a video is to use the Save button that appears below the video player. Click the icon that looks like a bookmark or flag — it sits to the right of the Like and Dislike buttons. A menu will pop up showing your existing playlists, plus an option to create a new one.

When you click Save, YouTube when ready adds the video to whichever playlist you choose. The button will change appearance to show the video is saved. You do not have to finish watching the video or do anything else — the save happens right away.

If you do not see a Save button, you may be on a mobile device or using a different YouTube interface. On phones and tablets, look for three dots (the menu icon) below the video, then tap Save to playlist from the options that appear.

Creating a new playlist while saving

When you click Save and the playlist menu opens, look for the option that says Create new playlist or New playlist. Click it to open a small form where you can name your playlist.

Type a name that describes what the playlist is for — for example, "Cooking tutorials" or "Videos to watch later". You can also choose whether the playlist is Private (only you can see it), Unlisted (only people with the link can see it), or Public (anyone can find it). Most people choose Private for personal playlists.

After you name the playlist and choose its privacy setting, click Create. YouTube will add the current video to that new playlist when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • The Save button below any video opens a menu where you can pick an existing playlist or create a new one.
  • Creating a new playlist takes 30 seconds — you name it, choose who can see it, and YouTube adds the video right away.
  • On phones and tablets, tap the three-dot menu below the video and select Save to playlist instead of looking for a Save button.
  • Playlists can be Private (only you), Unlisted (link only), or Public (anyone can find them), and you can change this setting later.
  • You can add the same video to multiple playlists, and removing it from one playlist does not remove it from others.

Finding and managing your playlists

To see all your playlists, click your profile picture in the top right corner of YouTube, then select Your channel. On your channel page, look for a tab labeled Playlists and click it. You will see every playlist you have created, along with how many videos are in each one.

Click any playlist to open it and see all the videos inside. From there, you can rearrange videos by dragging them, remove videos by clicking the three-dot menu next to each one, or change the playlist's name and privacy settings by clicking the three-dot menu at the top of the playlist page.

Adding videos from search results or recommendations

You do not have to open a video to add it to a playlist. When you see a video in search results or in your recommendations, hover your mouse over it (on a computer) or long-press it (on a phone). A menu will appear with several options, including Save to playlist. Click or tap that option to add it without watching.

This method is useful when you are browsing and want to collect videos quickly without opening each one. The video gets added to your chosen playlist when ready, just as if you had used the Save button while watching.

What happens when you add a video to a playlist

When you save a video to a playlist, YouTube stores that information in your account. The video itself stays on the creator's channel — you are not downloading it or moving it anywhere. You are straightforward creating a link from your playlist to that video.

If the video's creator later deletes it, the video will disappear from your playlist too. If the creator makes the video private, you will no longer be able to watch it from your playlist. Your playlist is a collection of links, not a collection of files.

YouTube keeps track of which videos you have saved to which playlists. This information is part of your account data, and it stays private unless you make the playlist public.

Removing videos from playlists

To remove a video from a playlist, open the playlist and find the video you want to remove. Click the three-dot menu next to that video's title, then select Remove from playlist. The video disappears from that playlist when ready, but it stays on the creator's channel and in any other playlists where you saved it.

You can also remove videos while watching them. Click the Save button (which will show as already selected since the video is in a playlist), and a menu will appear showing which playlists contain this video. Click the playlist name to remove the video from it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a video to multiple playlists at once?

Yes. Click Save below the video, and the menu will show all your playlists. You can click each one you want to add it to. The video will be saved to every playlist you select.

What if I cannot find the Save button?

On computers, the Save button is below the video player to the right of Like and Dislike. On phones, tap the three-dot menu below the video instead. If you are signed out of YouTube, you will not see a Save option — sign in to your account first.

Can other people see my playlists?

Only if you make them public or share the link. By default, playlists are Private, meaning only you can see them. You can change this when you create the playlist or later by opening the playlist and clicking the three-dot menu at the top.

What happens if a creator deletes a video I saved?

The video will disappear from your playlist. You will see an empty space or a note that the video is no longer available. The link YouTube stored points to that video, so if the video is gone, the link no longer works.

Can I sort videos in a playlist in a different order?

Yes. Open your playlist, and you can drag videos up or down to rearrange them. On phones, tap the three-dot menu next to a video and look for a move or reorder option. The order you set is saved automatically.