When a close friend recently packed up and moved for a year to Australia, I let a series of hand-crafted playlists convey the emotions neither of us were comfortable sharing. From the homemade compilation cassettes of the '80s and burned CD anthologies of the '90s to the digital setlists of today, arranging and distributing favorite songs remains a widely practiced art form.
Rather than simply hoping for a string of hits on the radio or fumbling around a music-streaming service, why not compile a set of tunes you know you love into a customized playlist for working out, taking a road trip, or cleaning the house?
All you need is a Spotify subscription (free or paid) and an internet-powered device to get started.
How to Get Spotify
First thing's first: Download Spotify on your mobile devices (iOS or Android), PC, or visit open.spotify.com to access the web player.
Existing users can log in, while newbies must choose between a free, ad-supported account, or the $9.99-per-month Premium version. The latter offers perks that'll make building a playlist a bit easier, like a la carte listening and unlimited skips. The screenshots below are from a Premium account. (To avoid the app tax, sign up for Premium on the web and then sign in on the app.)
Spotify Review
4.5 OutstandingHow to Make a Playlist on the Spotify App
(Credit: PCMag/Spotify)Tap Your Library
Tap the plus (+) icon in the top-right corner
Select Playlist
Name the playlist and tap Create
Tap Add to this playlist to search for artists, songs, etc.
How to Add Songs to a Spotify Playlist
(Credit: PCMag/Spotify)You have a couple options for adding songs to an existing playlist:
Your Library > [select a playlist] > Add to this playlist
Three-dot icon on the top right > Add to playlist
Three-dot icon next to individual track > Add to playlist
When listening to a song, press the plus (+) button, which will add the track to your liked songs. Tap Change to add it to other playlists or remove it from liked songs, if necessary.
How to Edit a Spotify Playlist
(Credit: PCMag/Spotify)Spotify offers several playlist-editing options. Maybe you need to rename a playlist or make it private. Reminder: Artists can see the names of your public playlists. You cannot, however, see who viewed or liked your public playlist on Spotify, only how many likes it has. Tap the three-dot menu on your playlist and select Make private. Or select Edit, where you can tap into the playlist name and type a new one. To re-order songs, press and hold on the hamburger menu next to a song and drag it up or down to where you want it. (Tap the minus button to remove a song.)
Other options include removing a playlist from your taste profile (aka, the listening history Spotify uses to serve up similar songs), and merging it with another playlis.
How to Share a Spotify Playlist
(Credit: PCMag/Spotify)Playlist curators can share their creations, whether that's a "He Writes the Songs" Barry Manilow tribute or a "Call Me By Lil Nas X's Name" mix. Tap the three-dot icon > Share on a song or playlist to send it via Messages or WhatsApp, post it on Instagram Stories, or send it via social networks like Snapchat, Facebook, or Twitter.
Brave souls can also ask friends to add to a playlist by inviting them to become collaborators. Tap the three-dot menu > Invite collaborators and send out invites. (They'll have to click the link within seven days to gain access.) If they have terrible taste, you can revoke their access to a collaborative playlist.
How to Delete a Playlist on Spotify
(Credit: PCMag/Spotify)To delete songs, tap the three-dot menu next to an individual track and choose Remove from this playlist. To erase an entire playlist, tap the three-dot menu under the title and tap Delete playlist.
How to Create a Spotify Playlist on Desktop
(Credit: PCMag/Spotify)On the left menu of the desktop app, click the plus button next to Your Library and select Create a new playlist.
Click My Playlist #X up top.
Enter a name for the playlist and hit Save.
Click the box underneath Let's find something for your playlist and type in a song or artist.
Once you add a song, Spotify will make suggestions on what to add next. Click Add next to the song. To add a song you're listening to, click the three-dot icon, select Add to playlist and pick a playlist. Reorder songs or episodes by dragging and dropping them into the position you want.
If you're saving a group of playlists for a special occasion occasion (Last Fling Before the Ring, Road Trippin', 90s Dance Party) or mood (Songs to Cry to In the Shower, Let the Good Times Roll, Just Vibes), Spotify supports folders on the desktop app or web player. Next to Your Library on the left menu, click the plus button and select Create a playlist folder.
How to Find Good Playlists on Spotify
Bored with your Spotify favorites? Here's how to uncover new tracks, artists, and genres on the music-streaming app and freshen up your playlists.
