YouTube playlists aren’t just about grouping similar videos together – they’re a strategic tool for increasing watch time, improving user experience and guiding your audience through your content. Whether you’re a small business, a creator, or just uploading for fun, knowing how to set up a YouTube playlist is key to making the most of your channel.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make playlists on YouTube, why they matter, and how to make them work better for your channel. We’ll also show you how to design your own YouTube video outro with Adobe Express.

Let’s get started.

Benefits of YouTube playlists.

Ever wondered how some channels get you to watch one video after another without even realising it? That’s the magic of playlists. They’re not just a neat way to organise content – they also keep viewers hooked and make your videos easier to discover.

Before we look at the benefits of a YouTube playlist and how to create one, let’s first clarify what a playlist is. A YouTube playlist is a curated collection of videos, usually on a specific topic, series, or mood, that is posted on your YouTube channel. So, if you’re a creator, you can add all your YouTube videos about your creative process to a playlist and name it “My Creative Process”, for example.

But that’s not all. YouTube users can (re)name and (re)arrange videos within a playlist and write a video description explaining what the video is about. Here you have the valuable opportunity of adding important keywords that make it easier to find your videos in the video search.

Okay, okay, we’ve already revealed some of the advantages. Let’s take a look at even more benefits of a YouTube playlist here.

Benefits of YouTube playlists for creators.

• Longer viewing time and more views: Playlists ensure that viewers watch multiple videos in a single session, which significantly increases the total viewing time – an important metric for the YouTube algorithm.
• Better discoverability: Optimising playlists for search engines can create separate ranking opportunities, allowing them to appear in more search results and appeal to a wider audience.
• Improved channel organisation: Playlists organise content into thematic collections, making it easier for viewers to find specific topics or series on your channel page.
• Higher viewer engagement: By providing curated content, you guide viewers on a journey, keep them entertained and ensure they stay on your channel longer.
• Strategic content promotion: Playlists can be used to promote your most valuable or timeless content by grouping it with newer videos, extending its lifespan and relevance.

Benefits of YouTube playlists for viewers.

• Curated content: Playlists offer a way to save and organise videos by interest, creating a personalised viewing experience.
• Ease of use: With autoplay, viewers can watch a series of related videos without having to manually search for the next one. At the same time, viewers can filter search results specifically by playlist, which helps your themed collections surface.
• Convenient sharing: You can use a single playlist link to share a collection of videos with friends.

Bottom line: Carefully curated playlists increase follower satisfaction and loyalty, which in turn helps you show more of your content to the right people through recommendations.

How to create a YouTube playlist step-by-step.

To get you – and your followers – moving, here’s how to create a playlist on YouTube from a video on desktop in a few quick steps:

1. Go to a video that you want in the playlist and click “More”.
2. Tap “Save” > “Create new playlist”. Now you can enter a speaking name for your playlist.
3. Change your playlist’s privacy setting. If the playlist is private, only you can see it.
4. Confirm with “Create” and you’re all set.

To create a playlist from a YouTube Short, just follow the same steps.

Alright, your YouTube playlist is ready and so are you. Let’s have a look on how you can manage your playlist.

Save content to a YouTube playlist.

1. Go to the YouTube video or Short that you want in the playlist.
2. Click “More” > “Save” and “Select a playlist” such as “Watch Later” – or a playlist you’ve already created.
3. All done. A pop-up confirms which playlist the video was added to.

Edit a YouTube playlist.

1. Select the playlist you’d like to edit.
2. Click “Edit” by the section you’d like to change.
3. Now you can make changes.
4. Save them after you’re done editing.

Reorder a YouTube playlist.

1. Open the playlist.
2. Drag a video up or down the playlist in your preferred order.
3. Done.

You see, creating a YouTube playlist and making changes is easy. What’s not so easy is achieving the desired engagement. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are some playlist tips for better engagement.

Playlist tips for better engagement on YouTube.

Once you’ve mastered creating a playlist on YouTube, turn that structure into momentum. These tactics make any playlist on YouTube more effective:

Use meaningful titles and keywords:

This may sound obvious, but even the best public playlist is useless if no one can find it. Include relevant keywords in your title and description so that your playlist appears in search results.

It might even be worth updating your titles and descriptions from time to time to keep them current and relevant. You can even add the date to show that it’s up to date, e.g., “How to grow your business in 2025”.

Add thumbnails that attract clicks:

Use custom thumbnails to make your playlist stand out on your YouTube channel and in search results. With Adobe Express, you can create impressive YouTube thumbnails to draw users’ attention to your content.

Collaborate with other users:

YouTube Studio allows you to add contributors to your playlists. This is particularly important for team projects or compiling content with friends. It saves time and is much more efficient.

To invite contributors, go to YouTube Studio and click on “Playlists” in the left-hand menu. Select the playlist you want to share, click “Edit” and then “Collaborate”. Then enter the email addresses of the people you want to collaborate with. Collaborators have the right to add or remove videos, change the order and edit playlist details. But you can also set different permission levels for each person.

Create YouTube playlists on specific topics:

Choose a theme or topic for your YouTube playlist. This does not only help you organise your content – especially if you have several playlists – but also helps users know exactly what to expect. For example, you could create YouTube playlists with titles such as “Product Reviews” or “Lifehacks”. Whatever topic you choose, make it interesting, inviting and keep it short. Clarity encourages viewers to discover more of your video series.

In addition, consider what interests your audience. What do viewers want to learn or see? This will also help you come up with new content ideas for your YouTube playlists. Adobe Express helps you express your ideas. With the free YouTube video maker, you can create outstanding YouTube videos in no time.

Use end screens to keep people in the loop:

Include end screens in the last 5 to 20 seconds to promote your next video or entire playlist. You can also use them to encourage viewers to subscribe and much more. Adding links to other playlists in your end screens creates a smooth transition from one video to the next. It’s like a friendly recommendation.

With Adobe Express, it’s never been easier to create engaging video outros. Learn how to create your own outro in the next section.

Create engaging intros and outros for your YouTube playlist:

Starting your playlist with a friendly intro can make a big difference. Just take 10 to 20 seconds to greet your viewers and let them know what to expect. Also important: don’t forget to add an outro at the end of the playlist with a recommendation for what they should watch next.

Use analytics to track your YouTube playlist’s performance:

And never forget: there is always room for improvement. YouTube Analytics shows you how well your playlist is performing. In YouTube Studio, you can check the watch time and clicks on videos that top your playlists. This allows you to adjust your content as needed. For example, you can strengthen weak openers while promoting high-performing videos.

And one last pro tip: If you update a video that comes early in a high‑performing playlist, re‑check its hook and description – a stronger opener can lift the entire list’s performance.

Create a YouTube outro with Adobe Express.

We’ve learned that a video outro gives you the opportunity to thank your viewers for watching, encourage them to subscribe to your channel, or make recommendations for other videos and playlists. You want to give it a try yourself? With Adobe Express, you can make video outros in no time – and no design experience needed.

1. Open Adobe Express.
2. Pick a YouTube outro template that fits the vibe of your video – you can customise everything.
3. Apply your brand kit if available. Add your own colours, fonts, and logo to ensure that the video outros in your playlist are consistent. You can also browse our extensive library and find royalty-free fonts, images and design elements.
4. Save your design for later. You can reuse it for another video outro.
5. When you’re done editing your video outro, you can add it to your YouTube videos. It’s easy with the Adobe Express video creator for YouTube.

Iterations help here, too. Take a look at which outros work particularly well, and which don’t. This will help you to create outros that engage your viewers and encourage them to keep watching.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

How do I make a playlist on YouTube?

To make a playlist on YouTube, open a video or Short, click on “More” and then on “Save” > “Create new playlist”. Enter a meaningful name with relevant keywords so that others can find your playlist more easily. Now you can set the visibility in the privacy settings. Make sure your playlist is public so others can see it. Confirm with “Create”. And you’re done. You can manage your playlist later, edit the title and description, and rearrange the videos in the playlist.

How do I delete a YouTube playlist?

To delete a YouTube playlist, go to the playlist you wish to delete. Click “More” > “Delete playlist”. Now you can confirm that you want to delete your playlist by selecting “Delete” again. But you can also remove videos from your playlist without deleting the whole playlist. To do so, open the playlist and remove items via “More” next to each video.

How can I download YouTube videos from a playlist?

To download YouTube videos from a playlist, there are two options. YouTube Premium users can save videos within the YouTube app for offline playback. External programmes or websites are required for permanent storage as files, but these may touch on legal grey areas and violate YouTube's terms of use.

Can I use Adobe Express for free?

Yes. The free plan includes professional templates, design assets and core editing tools – ideal for YouTube video outros, YouTube thumbnails and video animations for YouTube. It also contains some generative AI credits.