You can make a YouTube playlist from videos published by other channels as well as your own. Start from a video’s watch page, save it to a new playlist, then repeat the save step for each video you want to include.
The playlist holds links to selected YouTube videos; it does not make you their owner or change their availability. You can make the list public, unlisted or private, subject to YouTube’s account and content restrictions.
Can a playlist include videos from other channels?
Yes. YouTube’s playlist controls let you save an eligible video from its watch page to a playlist you create, whether that video was published by you or another channel. You do not need to upload or own the video to curate it in your list. YouTube Help describes a playlist as a collection of videos in its playlist creation and management guide.
That distinction matters if you are gathering material for a class, a devotional sequence, a study session or a set of local news reports. The playlist is your chosen order of videos, but each video remains on its original channel. If its owner removes it, makes it private, or otherwise changes its availability, your playlist cannot override that choice.
A playlist you create is different from saving another creator’s existing playlist. If you save that existing list to your You tab or Library, you keep a route to the creator’s collection; you have not made a new playlist containing only your own selection. If you want to choose some videos from it, open those videos one by one and save them to a new list.
Create a playlist from a video on desktop
The clearest route is to begin on the watch page of the first video you want. This works just as well for a video from another channel as it does for your own. Use YouTube in a desktop browser and sign in to the account that should own the playlist.
On the video’s watch page, select More, then Save, then Create new playlist. Enter a name that will help you recognise the list later. Choose a privacy setting, then select Create. The video you started from is saved into the new playlist.
YouTube may adjust the exact placement or wording of controls over time, and layouts can differ by account or screen size. If the save control is displayed directly rather than under More, use the available save option and look for the choice to create a new playlist. The important point is to start with the intended video and create the playlist in the save flow, rather than making an empty list and then wondering where the first video went.
Choose a useful name before sharing. “Morning bhajans for the home” tells a viewer more than “Playlist 1”; “Class 4 revision: fractions” can be easier to identify when you have several lists open. A description is optional, but a brief note can explain what links the selections or which order makes sense.
You can also create a playlist in the YouTube app from a video’s watch page. The app flow is to tap More and Save, choose New playlist, enter a name and privacy setting, then create it. For a playlist that should start with one specific video from another channel, this direct watch-page route is simpler than building a list from watch history.
Add videos from other channels
Once the playlist exists, open the next video you want on its own watch page. Select More and Save, then choose the playlist by name. Repeat for each additional video. You are adding each eligible video individually, so take a moment to check the playlist name in the save menu if you have several similar lists.
This method is useful when the videos come from different channels or cover different parts of a topic. For example, you might put a short introduction from one channel before a longer explanation from another, followed by a practice session. The playlist gives viewers a route through those videos without merging their channels or changing their original titles and descriptions.
If the order matters, YouTube lets you reorder videos in a playlist by dragging them. Open the playlist and use its available ordering controls; the controls can vary across devices. YouTube notes that reordering is not available for playlists containing only Shorts, so do not plan a Shorts-only list around manual ordering. Check the official playlist instructions for current interface details.
For a group project, YouTube also supports playlist collaborators. The owner must make the playlist public or unlisted before inviting contributors. Collaborators can then search for videos within the playlist and save additions there, subject to YouTube’s permissions. This is different from sharing a link with a group: a link lets people watch an accessible playlist, but does not by itself give them editing rights. See YouTube’s collaborator guidance before planning a shared curation workflow.
If you are collecting videos because you later intend to use material in an always-on stream, keep those tasks separate. A YouTube playlist organises videos for viewing on YouTube; it does not itself turn videos from other channels into material you can rebroadcast. For a distinct workflow using video you have permission to use, see this guide to making a 24/7 stream from recorded yoga classes. For this article’s task, the native playlist controls are enough.
Choose playlist visibility
Set visibility according to how people should find and use the playlist. The choice affects access to the collection, not ownership of its individual videos. A public list is suitable when you want people to discover it; an unlisted list is for sharing by link; a private list is for your own viewing.
| Setting | Who can access it | What it is useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Anyone can watch and share it | Discovery through YouTube, and showing the playlist on your channel |
| Unlisted | Anyone with the link can watch and share it | Sharing with a group without having it appear in search or on your channel as a public playlist |
| Private | Only you can view it | Personal organisation and selections you are not ready to share |
A public playlist may appear in search, recommendations, related videos, on your channel and in subscriber feeds. Choose it when that visibility is part of the purpose. It is not a guarantee that YouTube will surface the list in any particular place.
An unlisted playlist is not private. Anyone who has its link can watch it and pass the link on. It can suit a class or family group where you do not need public discovery, but do not use it for material that should be accessible only to you. For a private playlist, viewers cannot use the URL to gain access; the URL cannot be shared as a way around the privacy setting.
There is another practical consideration: if a playlist includes private videos, other viewers cannot access those videos unless they have separately been invited to view them. A shareable playlist setting does not make private videos public. If you are preparing a list for an audience, check the access status of the videos as well as the playlist’s own visibility.
YouTube documents the visibility choices and notes that a daily limit applies to the number of public playlists a channel can create across YouTube and YouTube Music. Advanced features may affect that limit. If you encounter a creation restriction, check the current YouTube privacy and playlist guidance rather than assuming a temporary interface issue. Availability of features can also depend on account settings, including supervised-account restrictions.
Find and manage the playlist
After creating a list, open the You tab or Library area in YouTube and look for your playlists. Labels and navigation can vary between the desktop site and the app. Opening the playlist lets you check that the first video is present, review the order, remove selections you no longer want and copy the playlist link when you are ready to share it.
If the playlist is difficult to identify, improve its title rather than relying on memory. A title that names the audience or purpose is useful when you are switching between a private reference list and a public one. A short description can say whether viewers should watch in order, or explain that the list gathers independent videos from several channels.
To save someone else’s whole playlist for later, use that playlist’s save control and find it in your library. That action preserves a link to the existing collection; it does not copy all the individual videos into a new list that you own. If you want your own selection and order, make a new playlist and save the desired videos individually.
The same distinction helps when a source playlist changes. Saving another creator’s list means your library points to their list, which they continue to manage. A playlist you create lets you choose your own sequence, but the videos still depend on their original channels and availability. If a particular video matters, check it again before sharing the list with a group.
What to do if a video cannot be added
First, make sure you are trying from the video’s watch page and using the Save control. A documented limitation affects some videos or channels marked Made for Kids: when you are on the YouTube homepage, adding may not be possible there. YouTube says you can still add content from search results, so search for the video, open the relevant result, and try saving it from that route.
If it still does not appear in the playlist, check that you chose the right list and that you are signed into the account that owns it. You can reopen the watch page and repeat the save action, then visit the playlist to confirm the result. If a control is missing or unavailable, the cause may be an account restriction, device-specific interface, or content availability rather than a mistake in the playlist name.
A video can also become unavailable after you saved it. It may have been removed, made private, or restricted by its publisher. Your playlist cannot restore access or bypass the channel’s settings, and another viewer may see a different result depending on their access. Consider finding a public replacement or removing the unavailable entry if it interrupts the sequence.
If what you want is the whole collection from another channel, save that creator’s existing playlist rather than trying to add its contents as a group. If you need only selected items, save each eligible video individually to your own list. For a continuous programme made from files you control, a playlist of YouTube watch pages is a different tool; the playlist-file guide for a YouTube music radio stream covers a separate use case.
Share the playlist
Before copying the link, confirm the visibility setting and test the list from the perspective of its intended viewers. Public playlists can be discovered and shared broadly. Unlisted playlists can be watched by anyone who has the link, so send that link only where you intend. A private playlist is for you; sharing its URL will not grant other people access.
Use the playlist’s share control or copy its URL, then send it through the channel that suits your audience. For a class or community, explain whether viewers should follow the order or simply browse. If the list contains a private video, tell recipients that they may not be able to view that item unless they have been invited to it separately.
If other people need to contribute videos rather than just watch, invite them as collaborators and make sure the playlist is public or unlisted first. Review the invitations and permissions in YouTube’s controls, and remember that contributors are helping manage a list whose visibility is already shareable. A public or unlisted status is a prerequisite for collaboration, not a requirement that you make every playlist that way.
One final distinction is useful for creators who run a continuous YouTube channel. A curated playlist can help people navigate existing videos, while an always-on broadcast is a separate publishing task. If you are exploring that separate task, start with this overview of software for turning a podcast playlist into a YouTube live stream. StreamNeo is relevant when the specific problem is keeping a video you have prepared running as a 24/7 YouTube broadcast without leaving your own computer on; it does not change who owns or may use videos in this playlist.
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FAQ
Can I add a video from another channel to my playlist?
Yes, if the video is available to add. Open its watch page, choose More and Save, then select your playlist. The video remains on its original channel.
Does an unlisted playlist mean only invited people can watch it?
No. Anyone with the link can watch and share an unlisted playlist. Use private visibility if you want only yourself to view the playlist.
Why can’t I add a Made for Kids video from the homepage?
YouTube says that adding some Made for Kids videos or channel content may not be possible from the homepage. Try finding the video in search results and saving it from there; availability can still depend on account and content restrictions.
How do I keep another channel’s whole playlist for later?
Save that existing playlist to your You tab or Library. This keeps a route to the creator’s list; it does not create a new playlist of selected individual videos. To make your own selection, create a new list and save each video to it.