How to Make a Playlist on Spotify (and Boost Your Streams)

Making a playlist on Spotify takes less than a minute, but making one that people actually follow takes a bit more strategy. In this guide you will learn how to make a playlist on Spotify on your phone and on your computer, how to customize it with a cover and description, how to share it or make it collaborative and, if you are an artist, how to use playlists to boost your own streams.

How to make a playlist on Spotify (mobile app)

1. Open the Spotify app and tap Your Library.

2. Tap the + button at the top and choose Playlist.

3. Give your playlist a name and tap Create.

4. Tap Add to this playlist or use the search bar to find songs, then tap the + next to each track.

5. You can also add any song while you listen: tap the three dots (⋯) next to the track and choose Add to playlist.

How to make a playlist on Spotify (desktop and web player)

1. Open the Spotify desktop app or the web player.

2. Click the + button next to Your Library and select Create a new playlist.

3. Click the playlist name to rename it and add a description.

4. Use the search box at the bottom of the playlist ("Let's find something for your playlist") to add songs, or drag tracks straight into the playlist.

More details are available in the Official Spotify Guide to Creating Playlists.

How to customize your playlist

• Name: make it descriptive and searchable, for example "Chill Indie Pop for Studying" instead of "My Mix". Spotify search reads playlist titles.

• Description: tap the three dots and choose Edit to add a short description with the mood, genre and a few artist names.

• Cover image: upload a square image (at least 300 x 300 px) from the same Edit menu. Free tools like Canva make it easy to design one.

• Order: put your strongest songs at the top; most listeners decide in the first few tracks.

Public, private and collaborative playlists

• Public vs. private: open the playlist menu (⋯) and choose Make public or Make private. Only public playlists can appear on your profile and in search.

• Collaborative playlists: tap the Invite collaborators icon (a person with a +) and share the link; everyone you invite can add, remove and reorder songs.

• Blend: create a Blend to mix your taste with a friend's into a shared playlist that updates automatically.

How to share a Spotify playlist

• Tap Share in the playlist menu to copy the link or post it straight to Instagram Stories, WhatsApp or TikTok.

• Embed the playlist on your website with the Spotify embed player. Here is How to Embed a Spotify Playlist.

• Every playlist has a Spotify Code that people can scan from the app, which is handy for posters and merch.

How artists can use playlists to boost their streams

If you make music, your own playlists are a free promotion channel. Done well, they keep listeners on your profile and send streams to your songs every week.

1. Build themed playlists for your niche. Mix your songs with well-known artists in the same genre, so fans of those artists discover you.

2. Update them regularly. Fresh playlists rank better in search and give followers a reason to come back.

3. Feature them on your artist profile and pin one as your Artist Pick in Spotify for Artists.

4. Pitch your unreleased music to Spotify editors at least seven days before release. See Submit Music to Spotify Playlists.

5. Get on independent curator playlists with real listeners. These placements build momentum that helps trigger Release Radar, Discover Weekly and Radio.

6. Never pay for bot playlists. Fake streams are detected and removed, and they can cost you your royalties.

Frequently asked questions

How many songs can a Spotify playlist have? Up to 10,000 tracks, but playlists of 30 to 100 songs are easier for listeners to follow.

Can I make a playlist without Premium? Yes. Free users can create, edit and share playlists; Premium adds offline downloads and ad-free listening.

Why does my playlist not appear in search? Make sure it is public, has a clear name and description, and give Spotify a few days to index it.

Do playlist followers increase my streams? Only if they are real people. Followers who actually listen create the saves and repeat plays that the algorithm rewards.

Get your music on curated playlists

Creating your own playlists is a great start, but placements on established playlists with real audiences are what make streams grow. Our team pitches your music to curators that match your genre.

🚀 Spotify playlist pitching service

Related reading: How to Get More Spotify Streams Without Cheating · How Much Does Spotify Pay Per Stream in 2026? · How to Get Sponsors for Your Music Project