This article explains how to create a playlist directly on your iPad using the Music app. Instructions cover iPads running iOS 12 and later iPadOS versions.

What to Know

  • Launch the Music app > tap Library > New. On the New Playlist screen, enter a name for the playlist.Optionally, add a photo and description to your playlist > tap Done.Tap Edit > Add Music and browse the music offerings. To add a song, tap the plus sign (+).

Create a New Playlist on iPad

Before you can organize your songs into playlists, you’ll need an empty playlist.

  • On the iPad Home screen, tap the Music app.
  • If Music doesn’t open in Library view, go to the bottom of the screen and tap Library.
  • Tap New.
  • In the New Playlist screen, enter a name for the playlist.
  • Optionally, tap the Camera icon to take a photo or select an image from your photo library. Also optional, add a description of the playlist.
  • Tap Done to save the empty playlist.

Add Songs to a Playlist

Now that you’ve created a blank playlist, populate it with music in your library.

On the iPad Home screen, tap the Music app.

If Music doesn’t open in Library view, go to the bottom of the screen and tap Library.

Tap New.

In the New Playlist screen, enter a name for the playlist.

Optionally, tap the Camera icon to take a photo or select an image from your photo library. Also optional, add a description of the playlist.

Tap Done to save the empty playlist.

  • Go to the Library, select the playlist, then tap Edit.
  • Select Add Music.
  • Tap a category to browse by artists, albums, songs, music videos, and other options.
  • To add a tune to the playlist, tap the plus sign (+) next to the song. The plus changes to a checkmark when the song is added.
  • When you’re finished adding songs, tap Done.

Remove Songs From a Playlist

If you want to remove tracks you added to a playlist:

Go to the Library, select the playlist, then tap Edit.

Select Add Music.

Tap a category to browse by artists, albums, songs, music videos, and other options.

To add a tune to the playlist, tap the plus sign (+) next to the song. The plus changes to a checkmark when the song is added.

When you’re finished adding songs, tap Done.

  • Go to the Library, tap the playlist you want to modify, then select Edit.
  • Tap the Minus sign (-) next to the song you want to remove, then tap Delete. This doesn’t remove the song from your iTunes library.
  • When you finish removing tracks, tap Done.

Go to the Library, tap the playlist you want to modify, then select Edit.

Tap the Minus sign (-) next to the song you want to remove, then tap Delete. This doesn’t remove the song from your iTunes library.

When you finish removing tracks, tap Done.

If you want to create a playlist based on a specific artist, album, or genre, tap that category. When you do this, you only see songs that are relevant.

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