To feature one playlist on your YouTube channel homepage, open YouTube Studio and add a Single playlist section to the Home tab layout. Choose the playlist, arrange the section where you want it, then click Publish; the layout change does not take effect until you publish it.
YouTube does not call this action a pin. The practical equivalent is a playlist shelf in your channel’s Home tab, which you can move up or down as part of the layout. The steps below cover the Studio workflow and how to confirm that viewers can see the result.
What “pin a playlist” means on YouTube
When someone asks how to pin a playlist, they usually mean they want one collection to be easy to find when a viewer visits the channel homepage. In YouTube Studio, you do that by adding a playlist section to the Home tab. It is a shelf in the page layout, not a separate pin control.
That distinction matters because adding or moving the section in Studio is not, on its own, a published change to the channel. You need to publish the layout after editing it. Until then, viewers may continue to see the previously published homepage arrangement.
A playlist shelf can bring a group of videos together in one visible place. For a devotional channel, for instance, it might make a morning bhajan collection easier to reach; a study channel might feature recorded lessons in order. It does not alter the playlist itself or turn its videos into a live broadcast. If your aim is to play recorded videos continuously as a YouTube live stream, that is a separate workflow, covered in how to stream a playlist of videos on YouTube Live.
YouTube documents the Home tab as a place for a channel trailer, featured video and channel sections. Its channel layout guide describes the layout controls and the available sections. The names and placement of controls can change, so if a label differs slightly in your Studio account, use the current official guidance rather than looking for a “pin” button.
Open Studio for the channel you manage
Sign in with the Google account that has permission to manage the channel. If you manage more than one channel, check that Studio is displaying the correct one before changing its homepage. A playlist shelf added to one channel’s layout will not feature the playlist on another channel.
Open YouTube Studio, then use the left-hand menu to select Customization. From there, open Home tab. You should now be looking at the channel’s homepage layout, with controls for the Home tab and its sections. The YouTube channel customization overview is useful if you need to confirm where customization settings live.
Before editing, make sure the playlist you intend to feature is already available on the channel. It helps to know its exact title, especially if you have several collections with similar names. If you run a channel with a large video archive, first decide which collection makes the clearest entry point; the approach in turning a radio show archive into a 24/7 talk channel also illustrates why organising material into useful collections matters to viewers.
If you cannot see the expected controls, check which channel is selected and whether you are signed in with an account that can manage its customisation. Do not try to fix a missing playlist shelf by editing video descriptions or individual playlist settings: this task is about the Home tab layout in Studio.
Enable the Home tab if needed
The playlist section belongs on the Home tab, so that tab needs to be enabled. In Customization > Home tab, look for the Home tab toggle. If it is off, turn it on before adding a section. YouTube’s layout guidance explains that the Home tab is where creators arrange a trailer, featured video and sections for channel content.
Turning on the Home tab and adding a playlist section are separate parts of the work. Enabling the tab makes the homepage layout available; it does not automatically place the playlist you have in mind. You still need to add the section, select the playlist and publish the result.
If the tab was disabled, take a moment to review what else the layout will show. YouTube provides a default arrangement that includes sections such as Short videos, Uploads, Created playlists and public subscriptions. You can have other sections in the layout too, so the first view need not be limited to the playlist you are adding. YouTube Help currently documents up to 12 custom Home tab sections, in addition to the default sections; check the official layout instructions for the current details.
Think about the homepage as a small set of choices rather than a storage area for everything on the channel. If a visitor arrives for one particular series, a focused playlist can be a better first step than a long list of unrelated shelves. The playlist should be coherent enough that a person who has not visited before understands what they will find by opening it.
Add a single-playlist section
In the Home tab’s Layout area, select Add section. YouTube presents section types; choose Playlists, then choose Single playlist. This creates a shelf intended to feature one playlist. The control labels are worth following precisely: selecting a playlist as a section is different from choosing a general video section or simply making a playlist public.
If you want one collection to stand out, Single playlist is the direct fit. If you want a shelf that presents more than one collection, choose Multiple playlists instead. The YouTube playlist shelf instructions explain the playlist section options. Choose the format that matches what you want the visitor to browse; a multi-playlist shelf is not a way to pin one collection more firmly.
After you add the section, Studio will prompt you to choose the playlist. If you have not yet created the right collection, pause and prepare it first rather than selecting a vaguely similar playlist as a placeholder. A playlist built around a clear purpose—such as “Evening aartis” or “Class 8 chemistry lessons”—gives viewers a useful expectation before they open it.
Adding the shelf to the editor is not the final step. The section is part of a layout change, and it will need to be published after you have chosen the playlist and checked its position. If you are making several changes at once, keep track of each one so you know what you are publishing.
Choose the playlist
Select the intended playlist from the picker in Studio. Read the title carefully before confirming, particularly if your channel has both older and newer collections with similar names. If the playlist you expect is missing, do not assume the shelf control is broken; verify that you are on the right channel and check that the playlist exists there and is available to feature.
A useful choice is not always the newest playlist. Pick the one that best serves a first-time visitor or the regular viewer you most want to help. A local news channel might feature a playlist of explainers that gives newcomers context; a lofi channel might choose a collection that represents the station’s listening mood. The shelf is a route into the playlist, so the playlist title and its videos should match the promise you want the homepage to make.
Check that the playlist itself is in a sensible order. The homepage shelf does not repair an awkward sequence inside the playlist. For example, if the first item is an old announcement and the collection is meant to introduce a series, reorder the playlist before sending viewers to it. Keep in mind that shelf position and playlist video order are different things: dragging a shelf changes its place on the Home tab; changing the playlist’s order changes the sequence of videos within it.
For a channel that runs a continuous stream, the homepage playlist and the live broadcast can serve different purposes. The shelf can help someone browse an archive while a separate stream plays; it does not set up a broadcast or keep one running. If your channel uses a video sequence for a continuous stream, see how to schedule separate YouTube playlists for multiple stream keys in OBS for that distinct kind of setup.
Reorder the section and publish
Once the playlist is selected, look at its place among the other Home tab sections. To move it higher or lower, use the section’s vertical handle to drag it to the position you want. Place it according to what visitors should encounter first, rather than treating any one position as a permanent pin location.
A simple way to decide is to imagine a viewer arriving without context. If the playlist is the main reason they should explore the channel, put it near the top. If a channel trailer or featured video provides a better introduction, keep that first and place the playlist below it. A devotional channel may want a short welcome video first and a bhajan shelf next; a study channel may prefer its lesson playlist immediately after an introductory section. The right order depends on the channel’s purpose.
Review the layout before applying it. Confirm that the section shows the intended playlist, that it is in the intended position, and that any other changes in the editor are deliberate. Then click Publish. If you reorder the shelf later, publish again to apply that new layout. YouTube’s channel layout instructions describe publishing the Home tab changes.
You can also edit or remove a section from the Home tab layout if you change your mind. Removing a shelf from the layout is not the same as deleting the playlist itself; it changes what is featured on the homepage. Before removing one, check whether you want to keep the playlist available through other routes on the channel.
If you maintain a channel around a continuous recorded programme, routine changes to its public presentation are separate from keeping the broadcast itself running. For example, the practical choices in how to use a 24/7 YouTube stream to grow a Hindi podcast channel concern the stream and its audience, while this shelf arrangement helps visitors browse the channel page.
Check the channel homepage
After publishing, open the channel homepage as a viewer would and confirm that the playlist shelf appears in the expected place. If possible, check while signed out or in a private browser window, because the editor view and a public-facing view answer different questions. The Studio layout tells you what you configured; the channel page lets you confirm what visitors see.
Check the shelf title and the visible playlist items. Make sure the intended collection is shown, not a similarly named one, and that the first items make sense in the context of the shelf. If the result differs from what you expected, return to YouTube Studio > Customization > Home tab, inspect the section and its order, then publish any correction.
Do not assume that a missing change means you need to add another duplicate shelf straight away. First refresh the channel page, check the right channel, and verify that you clicked Publish after the final layout edit. If you made several edits, check them together in Studio rather than repeatedly adding sections until something appears. A tidy layout is easier to understand and maintain.
Keep an eye on the page after future changes to your channel. You may later feature a new collection, add a trailer or reorganise sections. Revisit the homepage as a viewer after publishing those changes so the shelf still sits in a useful place and continues to point to the right playlist.
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FAQ
Is there a pin button for YouTube playlists?
No. YouTube’s workflow is to add a playlist section to the channel Home tab and, if needed, move that section in the layout. You must publish the layout for the change to appear on the channel homepage.
Can I show more than one playlist in a shelf?
Yes. When adding a section, choose Multiple playlists for a shelf containing several collections. Choose Single playlist when you want that section to feature one collection.
Why can’t I see the playlist on my homepage?
Check that the Home tab is enabled, that you selected the intended playlist, and that you published the layout after adding or moving the section. Then open the channel page as a viewer and confirm you are looking at the same channel you edited.
Can I change the shelf’s position later?
Yes. Return to YouTube Studio > Customization > Home tab and drag the section by its vertical handle to a new position. Publish the layout again to apply the change.