Apple Music makes it easy to build your music library with both custom and personalized playlists. If you don't want your favorite songs to get lost in your library or Favorite Songs section, creating your own playlists is the way to go. It's simple: go to Library > Playlists > New Playlist, give it a name, add a description or cover if you want, and then add songs. You can even create folders to organize playlists by genre, activity, or mood, so everything stays easy to navigate.
It doesn't stop there. Besides your own playlists, Apple Music has special types of playlists that serve a purpose. Genius and Smart playlists can help you discover music you might have forgotten or create a nostalgic vibe. Collaborative playlists are perfect if you want to mix things up with friends or family and build a playlist together. You can really see how creating a playlist works, use it for daily listening, and even back it up so you always have access.
Part 1. How to Create a Custom Playlist on Apple Music
This is the playlist you make when you want exactly the vibe you're thinking of — a mix for a workout, a road trip, or just your Sunday chill. Tap the + New Playlist button, give it a name, and start adding songs. You control the order, the mix, and the feels.
On iPhone/iPad/Android
Step 1 Open the Apple Music app on your device.
Step 2 Tap the Library tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap Playlists.
Step 3 Tap New Playlist at the top of the screen. On iPad, you may need to scroll to the bottom to see this option.
Step 4 Enter a name for your playlist and add a description if you want to note the theme or mood.
Step 5 Tap Add Music, search for songs or albums, and tap + Add next to each track you want to include.
Step 6 When you've added all the songs, tap Done (or the checkmark √) to save your playlist.
Step 7 Go back to the Playlists section to see your new playlist along with your existing ones. Tap it to play or edit anytime.
On Mac/Windows
Step 1 Open the Music app on Mac or iTunes / Apple Music on Windows.
Step 2 In the sidebar, click Playlists to see your library.
Step 3 Right‑click on an empty area under Playlists (or go to File > New > Playlist) and select New Playlist.
Step 4 Enter a name for the playlist. On Mac, you can also add a description for easier organization.
Step 5 Drag songs or albums from your library into the playlist, or click the + Add Music button if available.
Step 6 Your new playlist now appears under Playlists in the sidebar. Click it to view, play, or rearrange songs.
Part 2. How to Create a Smart Playlist on Apple Music
Smart Playlist is for when you want a playlist that updates itself. Pick rules like recently added songs, a favorite genre, or tracks you play most, and Apple Music keeps it fresh as your taste changes. It's a playlist that runs itself while you keep listening.
On Mac
Step 1 Open the Music app on your Mac.
Step 2 In the menu bar, choose File > New > Smart Playlist.
Step 3 In the dialog, click the first rule's menu to select a criterion, like Genre, Rating, or Last Played.
Step 4 Click the + button to add more rules and refine which songs are included.
Step 5 Check Live updating so the playlist automatically updates when new songs meet your criteria.
Step 6 Click OK to create the Smart Playlist.
Step 7 In the sidebar under Playlists, find your new Smart Playlist and click it to view the songs.
On Windows
Step 1 Open Apple Music or iTunes on your PC.
Step 2 Click the + button next to Playlists in the sidebar, then select New > Smart Playlist.
Step 3 Choose your first criterion, like Genre, Year, or Love.
Step 4 Click Add Rule to add additional filters if needed.
Step 5 Make sure Live updating is checked so the playlist stays current with your library.
Step 6 Click OK to save the Smart Playlist.
Step 7 Your new Smart Playlist now appears under Playlists in the sidebar.
Part 3. How to Create a Genius Playlist on Apple Music
Have a track you love? Genius builds a playlist of songs from your library that go well with it. It's like having a personal DJ helping you discover hidden gems without endless scrolling.
On Mac
Step 1 Open the Music app on your Mac.
Step 2 In your library, find a song you want Apple Music to base a Genius Playlist on.
Step 3 Right‑click the song (or go to File > New > Genius Playlist).
Step 4 Wait a moment while Apple Music finds similar tracks and builds the playlist.
Step 5 When it appears under Playlists, click it to view and play the selection.
On Windows
Step 1 Open Apple Music or iTunes on your PC.
Step 2 Select a song in your library to base the Genius Playlist on.
Step 3 Right‑click the song and choose New Genius Playlist, or use File > New > Genius Playlist.
Step 4 Let Apple Music generate the playlist automatically.
Step 5 Locate the new Genius Playlist in the sidebar to play or edit it.
Part 4. How to Create a Collaborative Playlist on Apple Music
Want to make a soundtrack with friends? Open a playlist for collaboration, share it, and anyone can add or reorder songs. You can even react with emojis. Perfect for parties, trips, or just sharing music together.
On iPhone/iPad/Android
Step 1 Open the Apple Music app and tap Library, then Playlists.
Step 2 Tap New Playlist to start a fresh playlist.
Step 3 Enter a name, add a description (optional), and tap Create.
Step 4 In the playlist view, tap the collaboration icon (person silhouette) at the top.
Step 5 Turn on Approve Collaborators if you want to control who can join.
Step 6 Tap Start Collaborating, then choose how to share the invite link (Messages, AirDrop, email, etc.).
Step 7 Once others join via the link, they can add, remove, and reorder songs in the playlist.
On Mac/Windows
Step 1 Open the Music app on Mac or Apple Music / iTunes on Windows.
Step 2 In the sidebar, click Playlists, then right‑click and choose New Playlist.
Step 3 Name the playlist and press Enter to save it.
Step 4 Open the playlist you just made.
Step 5 Click the collaboration icon (or More (…) > Collaborate).
Step 6 Turn on Approve Collaborators to control access.
Step 7 Click Start Collaborating, then copy and share the invite link with friends.
Step 8 Contributors can add or remove songs once they join via the link.
Part 5. How to Create a Favorite Songs Playlist on Apple Music
This one is automatic. Every song you mark as a favorite goes here. It's the go-to shuffle for your most-loved tracks without thinking, so you can play only what you actually like.
On iPhone/iPad/Android
Step 1 Open the Apple Music app.
Step 2 Play a song you like and tap the star or Favorite icon.
Step 3 Repeat this for any other songs you want to add.
Step 4 Tap Library, then Playlists.
Step 5 Scroll to find the Favorite Songs playlist Apple Music generates.
Step 6 Tap it to open and play all your favorited tracks.
On Mac
Step 1 Open the Music app on Mac.
Step 2 Play a track and click the star or heart icon.
Step 3 Do this for every song you want in the list.
Step 4 In the sidebar, click Playlists.
Step 5 Click Favorite Songs to see all tracks you've marked.
Part 6. How to Create a Playlist Folder to Organize Your Playlists on Apple Music
If your library has too many playlists, folders are your friend. Group them by genre, mood, or activity so you can find what you want faster. Adding emojis to folder names makes them stand out and easy to spot.
On iPhone/iPad/Android
Step 1 Open the Apple Music app and tap Library, then Playlists.
Step 2 Tap the + (plus) button at the top right and select Create New Folder.
Step 3 Enter a name for the folder and tap Create.
Step 4 To move playlists into the folder, touch and hold a playlist.
Step 5 Tap Move to… and select the folder you just created.
On Mac
Step 1 Open the Music app.
Step 2 In the menu bar, go to File > New > Playlist Folder.
Step 3 Type a name for the folder and press Return.
Step 4 Drag playlists into the folder to organize them.
On Windows
Step 1 Open Apple Music / iTunes.
Step 2 In the sidebar, right‑click on a blank area under playlists.
Step 3 Choose New Playlist Folder and name it.
Step 4 Drag playlists into the folder, or right‑click a playlist, choose Move Playlist, and select the folder.
Part 7. How to Manage Your Apple Music Playlists
Once you have a few playlists, it helps to keep them organized. Knowing how to add, edit, download, and sync songs across devices keeps everything accessible and ready to play.
Add Songs to Playlists
Adding songs to playlists is easy and works on any device. On iPhone or iPad, find a song you like, tap the More button next to it, then choose Add to Playlist. You can select an existing playlist or create a new one right there. On Mac or Windows, drag songs from your library into the playlist in the sidebar, or right-click the track and choose Add to Playlist. This works for single songs, full albums, or multiple selections. If you add music often, consider using Smart Playlists to automatically collect songs based on rules you set.
Edit Playlists
You can change a playlist anytime. Open it and tap Edit on iPhone or iPad. From here, you can reorder songs by dragging them, remove tracks using the minus button, or change the playlist's name or description. On Mac or Windows, drag songs up or down to rearrange them, or right-click a track and choose Remove from Playlist. Editing is helpful when your tastes change or you want a playlist to flow better for a workout, study session, or party.
Remove Duplicate Songs
Duplicates can appear when importing music from different sources. Apple Music does not remove them automatically, but you can clean them up manually. On Mac or Windows, open the playlist, then click File > Library > Show Duplicate Items, or hold Shift and select Show Exact Duplicate Items to find and remove duplicates. On iPhone or iPad, sort the playlist by Song Title to spot duplicates, then remove extras manually. This keeps playlists tidy and avoids repeats when shuffling.
Download Playlists for Offline Listening
To listen without using mobile data, download playlists for offline listening. Tap the Download button, a cloud with a downward arrow, on iPhone or iPad, or click the same icon on Mac or Windows. Songs will be stored on your device so you can play them anywhere. Keep in mind that downloaded playlists take up storage, so check your device space if you download many songs.
Pin Your Favorite Playlists
Pinning playlists keeps them at the top of your Library for quick access. On iPhone or iPad, swipe right on a playlist and tap Pin. On Mac, right-click a playlist in the sidebar and select Pin to Library. You can also go to Settings > Apps > Music > Downloads > Download Pins to control if pinned playlists are downloaded automatically for offline listening.
Back Up Playlists
Playlists can be backed up using iCloud Music Library or Sync Library. This is not a true backup but ensures your playlists are identical across all devices. When enabled, playlists are stored in Apple's cloud and available on any device using the same Apple ID. On Mac, go to Music > Preferences > General and check Sync Library. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Music and turn on Sync Library. This protects your playlists if you change devices or reinstall the app.
Sync Playlists Across Devices
With Sync Library on, any changes you make appear across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC. Add a song on your phone, and it will appear on your computer. Remove a track on Mac, and it disappears from your phone. This keeps your library consistent without extra effort.
Delete Playlists You No Longer Need
When a playlist is outdated, deleting it is simple. On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the playlist and tap Delete. On Mac or Windows, right-click the playlist and select Delete from Library. Deleting a playlist does not remove the songs from your library. They remain available unless you delete them individually.
Pro Tip: How to Prevent Your Apple Music Playlists from Disappearing
One of the biggest worries for Apple Music subscribers is losing playlists or an entire library when a subscription ends. The safest way to avoid this is to back up your library beforehand, so every track, album, and playlist stays accessible.
A reliable way to do this is by converting your Apple Music or iTunes library into local files on your computer. With ViWizard Apple Music Converter, you can turn songs, albums, playlists, or your whole library into MP3 or other common audio formats. This keeps important details like song titles, artists, albums, and playlists intact. Once converted, you can store the files on your computer, external drives, or cloud storage, or play them on any device without using Apple Music. While it takes a little effort, this is the most reliable way to protect your music and keep full control of your collection.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
Free Trial Free Trial* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.
- Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
- Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
- Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
- Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details
Step 1Install and Launch the Converter
First, download and install a trusted Apple Music converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Open the program and sign in with your Apple Music account. Signing in gives the software access to your full library, including playlists, albums, and any songs that may have playback issues.
Step 2Choose Output Format
In the Preferences, select the audio format you want for your converted files, such as MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC. You can also adjust the sound quality by setting the bit rate or sample rate. Make sure the program preserves song details like titles, artists, album artwork, and playlists so your library stays organized after conversion.
Step 3Select Playlists, Albums, or Songs
Browse your Apple Music library from within the converter and choose what you want to save. You can pick individual songs, entire albums, or complete playlists. This is especially useful for tracks affected by DRM, syncing problems, or temporary glitches, ensuring they are ready for offline use.
Step 4Convert and Access Your Music
Once you've selected your music, click the Convert button to start. When the process finishes, open the output folder to find your converted files. Your songs are now in a standard, DRM-free format, ready to play on any device. You can organize them further, copy them to external drives, or add them to media players without needing the Apple Music app.
Conclusion
With the ability to create a playlist on Apple Music, you can always create a music library that reflects your individual taste and style. With ViWizard Audio Converter, you can download your entire music library with all your playlists offline.
You May Be Interested
Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
Leave a Comment (0)