You've spent hours—maybe even days—curating the perfect collection of videos. It’s a masterpiece. Whether it’s a selection of 80s synth-pop gems, a rigorous 12-week fitness transformation series, or a list of coding tutorials that actually make sense, you’re ready to let it out into the wild. But then you hit a wall. You click around, and suddenly you’re staring at privacy settings that feel like they were written in a different language.
Honestly, knowing how to share a playlist on YouTube should be the easiest part of the whole process. Yet, people constantly struggle with links that don't work or "private" videos that nobody else can see. It's frustrating. You want to send your creation to a friend, a client, or your entire social media following, and you want it to work the first time.
YouTube changes its interface more often than most people change their oil. What worked in 2023 might look totally different today. If you're looking for the most straightforward, no-nonsense way to get your curated content into someone else's hands, you're in the right place. We aren't just talking about hitting a share button. We're talking about making sure your hard work is actually accessible.
The one thing everyone misses when learning how to share a playlist on YouTube
Before you even think about copying a URL, you have to check your privacy status. This is the number one reason shares fail. YouTube gives you three options: Public, Unlisted, and Private. If your playlist is set to "Private," you can send the link to the Queen of England and she still won't be able to open it. Only you can see it.
"Unlisted" is the sweet spot for most people. It won't show up in search results, and it won't appear on your channel's public page, but anyone with the link can watch it. It’s perfect for sharing with family or for professional internal use. Then there's "Public," which basically shouts your taste in video content to the entire world. If you want to grow a following or help people find your resources via Google search, keep it public.
To fix this, head to your "Library" or "You" tab (depending on which version of the app you're stuck with this week). Click on the playlist. Look for the little pencil icon or the word "Edit." You'll see a dropdown menu right under the title. Pick your poison. If it’s set to private, change it to unlisted or public immediately. Without this step, the rest of this guide is basically useless.
Sharing from your phone: The mobile shortcut
Most of us are doing this on the go. You’re at the gym, you find a killer workout playlist, and you want to text it to your lifting partner. Open the YouTube app. Tap on the "You" tab at the bottom right. Scroll down until you find your playlists and tap "View all" if it's buried.
Once you open the specific playlist, look for the arrow icon pointing to the right. That’s your golden ticket. When you tap that, a tray slides up from the bottom of your screen.
YouTube will suggest people you’ve interacted with recently, but usually, you just want the link. Tap "Copy link." Now it’s on your clipboard. You can paste it into a WhatsApp group, an Instagram DM, or even an old-school email. It’s fast. It’s efficient. It just works.
If you want to share directly to a specific app like Twitter (X) or Facebook, those icons are right there too. Just be careful with Facebook—sometimes their internal browser strips away some of the YouTube functionality, making the playlist look a bit wonky.
The desktop method for the power user
Working on a laptop? It's even easier, but there are a few extra bells and whistles you might actually use.
Navigate to YouTube. On the left-hand sidebar, you’ll see your playlists. Click the one you want. Now, look at the big banner on the left side of the screen where the playlist title and your name are. You’ll see that same curved arrow icon. Click it.
A pop-up appears. You get the short URL (like youtu.be/playlist...). But here’s the pro tip: if you’re a blogger or a business owner, you might want to use the "Embed" option. This isn't just a link; it’s a snippet of code that lets the entire playlist live inside your website.
Why embedding is a game changer
When you embed, people don't have to leave your site to watch your content. They stay on your page longer, which is great for your own site's SEO. Plus, the playlist player on a website allows users to toggle through the videos without ever seeing the distracting "recommended" sidebar on YouTube’s main site. It keeps them focused on your message.
How to share a playlist on YouTube for collaboration
Did you know you can let other people add videos to your playlist? This is huge for wedding planning, group projects, or just making a "best of" list with friends.
- Open your playlist on a desktop.
- Click the three dots (the "More" menu) next to the share arrow.
- Select "Collaborate."
- Toggle the switch that says "Collaborators can add videos to this playlist."
- YouTube will generate a special "Collaborate link."
This link is different from the regular share link. Anyone with this specific URL can add or remove videos. Use this with caution. You don't want your carefully curated "Focus Music" list being flooded with screaming goat videos because you shared the collab link on a public forum. Once people have added their videos, you can turn the link off, and the videos they added will stay there, but they won’t be able to add any more.
Troubleshooting the "Video Unavailable" nightmare
You sent the link. Your friend clicks it. They see a big grey box that says "1 video is unavailable."
This happens because playlists are just collections of links. If the original creator of a video deletes it, makes it private, or gets hit with a copyright strike, that video vanishes from your playlist. As the sharer, it makes you look a bit disorganized.
Before sharing, do a quick scan. If you see "Deleted video" or "Private video" in your list, hover over it and click the "X" or the trash can icon to remove it. It keeps the experience clean for the person on the receiving end.
Also, check for "Age Restricted" content. If your playlist has a video that requires a 18+ sign-in, and you share it with someone who isn't logged in (or is using a restricted school/work account), they’ll get blocked. You can’t fix YouTube’s global rules, but you can warn your recipient.
Making your shared links look professional
If you’re sharing how to share a playlist on YouTube as part of a business pitch or a resume, a raw YouTube link looks kind of messy. It's a long string of random characters.
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Use a link shortener like Bitly or even a "link-in-bio" tool. This allows you to rename the link to something like bit.ly/MyPortfolio2026. It looks cleaner. It builds trust. People are more likely to click a link that tells them exactly where they are going.
Another trick? Start the playlist at a specific video. If you have 50 videos but want your friend to see the 10th one first, navigate to that 10th video inside the playlist. When you click "Share" from the actual video player page, check the box that says "Start at [time]." This doesn't always work for the playlist order, but it ensures the player opens on the right piece of content.
Sharing to Smart TVs and Game Consoles
Sometimes you aren't sending a link to a person; you're sending it to a device. If you’re logged into the same Google account on your phone and your TV, you don't even need to "share" in the traditional sense.
Just open the playlist on your phone and look for the "Cast" icon (the rectangle with Wi-Fi bars in the corner). Tap it, select your TV, and boom—your playlist is now a big-screen experience. If you’re at a friend's house, you can "Link with TV Code." Go to the YouTube app on the TV, find "Settings," then "Link with TV Code." Enter that code into your phone's YouTube app under "Watch on TV." Now you’re the DJ for the night.
The weird truth about YouTube Music playlists
Don't forget that YouTube and YouTube Music are basically the same house with two different front doors. If you create a playlist in YouTube Music, it shows up in your regular YouTube library.
If you share a link from YouTube Music, the recipient will be prompted to open it in the Music app. If they don't have it, it might open in a browser. For the best compatibility, if you're sharing a mix of music and video, share it from the main YouTube site. It's the most universal "wrapper" for your content.
Next Steps for Your Playlist Strategy
- Audit your privacy settings: Open your top three playlists right now and make sure they aren't accidentally set to "Private" if you intend for others to see them.
- Clean the dead weight: Remove any "Deleted video" placeholders that might be cluttering your list and making your curation look dated.
- Test the link: Open an Incognito or Private window in your browser and paste your playlist link there. If you can see the videos without logging in, your share is successful and ready for the world.
- Try a collaboration: Invite one person to a test playlist to see how the "Collaborator" interface works before using it for a major project.
By following these specific steps, you ensure that your audience actually sees what you want them to see. Sharing isn't just about the link; it's about the access, the organization, and the final presentation. Now go get your content out there.