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How to make collaborative Spotify playlists friends can add to

Want to make music playlists with your friends? Here’s everything to know about collaborative playlists on Spotify.

Spotify logo blurred background
Image: KnowTechie

Quick Answer: To make a collaborative Spotify playlist, go to Your Library > Playlists, click the “+” and select “New Playlist.” Give it a name and click “Create.” To make the playlist collaborative, click the dots next to the name and select “Collaborative Playlist.”

Spotify is arguably one of the best music streaming platforms. But it’s better shared with friends, so knowing how to make collaborative playlists on Spotify never hurts.

Don’t know how? We’ll show you how to make collaborative Spotify playlists through its mobile and desktop apps if you don’t know where to start.

Then we’ll show how you can convert private playlists you’ve created into collaborative ones. Ready to start?

Short on time? Jump ahead

How to make a collaborative Spotify playlist on desktop

To create a collaborative playlist on Spotify, follow these steps:

Spotify desktop app
Image: KnowTechie

If you prefer to use Spotify through the desktop app, making an existing playlist collaborative is only a couple of clicks away. Here’s how:

1. Launch the Spotify desktop app

2. On the left panel, right-click the playlist you want to make collaborative

3. Click on Collaborative playlist to start sharing the playlist

Creating collaborative playlist
Image: KnowTechie

Your playlist is all set, and now others can add to it. Further below, we’ll show you how to share the playlist with friends and family.

Important: Spotify playlist is set to collaborative

Spotify collaborative playlist icon
Image: KnowTechie

There are two ways to make sure the playlist is set to collaborative mode:

  • There is a special icon beside collaborative playlists (shown above)
  • If you right-click on the playlist, you can see that there is a tick next to the Collaborative playlist

Note: You can make the playlist private again by right-clicking on the playlist name and unchecking the collaborative playlist setting.

How to create a Spotify collaborative playlist on Windows and Mac

Although the title mentions the Windows PC app, you can follow the same steps below on your Mac to create collaborative playlists on the Spotify app:

1. Open the Spotify app

2. On the left pane, click on the Create playlist menu option

Spotify create playlist
Image: KnowTechie

3. Under the name of the playlist, click the three-dot (more) icon

Collaborative playlists
Image: KnowTechie

4. Select the Collaborative playlist

Now you and your friend can modify the playlist together.

How to create a collaborative Spotify playlist on your phone

You can still create a collaborative Spotify playlist if you prefer to use Spotify from the mobile app (Android and iOS).

We’ll show you how below:

1. Open the Spotify app on your phone

Launch spotify app
Image: KnowTechie

2. Go to the Library tab by tapping the tab on the bottom

Go to library tab
Image: KnowTechie

3. Tap and hold the playlist that you want to make collaborative

4. When the menu appears, tap Make collaborative

Tap on make collaborative
Image: KnowTechie

5. If Spotify applies the changes successfully, it will display a message that says, “Marked playlist as collaborative.”

Note: You can make the playlist private again by right-clicking on the playlist name and unchecking the collaborative playlist setting.

READ MORE: What is Spotify Live, and how does it work?

You can change it back and make your playlist private again. Go to the playlist, tap, and hold so the menu appears. Then, tap the Make non-collaborative playlist option.

How to share a Spotify collaborative playlist on desktop

Spotify on macbook
Image: Unsplash

Now that you have created a collaborative playlist, it’s time to let your friends know they can add their favorite songs too.

1. On the Spotify app, go to your library and find the collaborative playlist on the left pane

Hwo to share a collaborative playlist on spotify
Image: KnowTechie

2. Click on the collaborative playlist, so the app shows it on the right pane

Playlist on desktop music app
Image: KnowTechie

3. Select the more (three-dot) icon

Spotify collaborative playlist share
Image: KnowTechie

4. Click Share

Spotify share collab playlist
Image: KnowTechie

5. Now, you can embed the link to a web page or copy the URL to share it via social media or other means

And that’s how you can snag the link for your new collaborative playlist. Keep reading below if you prefer to use the mobile app.

Sharing a collaborative playlist on the Spotify mobile app

Like any other playlist, you can share a collaborative playlist. Here’s how:

1. Open the Spotify app

2. Go to the Library tab by tapping the icon at the bottom of the UI

Streaming service mobile app library
Image: KnowTechie

3. Open the playlist that you want to share and tap the three-dot menu

Spotify share playlist on mobile app
Image: KnowTechie

4. Then, find Share and tap that

Spotify share collab playlist on mobile app
Image: KnowTechie

5. Select one of the methods to share your playlist with friends and family

Share options on streaming app
Image: KnowTechie

Note: You can make the playlist private again by right-clicking on the playlist name and unchecking the collaborative playlist setting.

Adding songs to a collaborative playlist on Spotify

Once you’ve made a playlist collaborative, you and others can add or remove songs to and from the playlist.

The steps are similar to adding songs to any other playlist. Here’s how to add songs to collaborative playlists:

How to add songs to a Spotify playlist using the desktop app

Search for a song and drag and drop it into the desired playlist. Alternatively, you can:

1. Go to the song, click the three dots next to the song

2. Select Add to playlist from the menu

Adding songs to a spotify playlist using the desktop app
Image: KnowTechie

3. Select the collaborative playlist from the list

You’ve now successfully added a song to our collaborative playlist.

How to add songs to a collaborative Spotify playlist on the mobile app

Follow these steps to add a song to a Spotify playlist through your phone:

1. Go to the song that you want to add to the collaborative playlist

2. Tap the More icon (the three dots)

Adding songs to a collaborative playlist on the spotify mobile application
Image: KnowTechie

3. Tap Add to playlist

Tap add to playlist in spotify
Image: KnowTechie

4. Select the collaborative playlist

Spotify will notify you that it has added the song to the playlist.

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Collaborative Spotify playlists take music streaming to the next level

Spotify Radio was a breakthrough when it came out because it would suggest songs similar to what you like and listen to.

However, artificial intelligence or machine learning can replace a human’s touch. That’s why collaborative playlists are so great.

Whether you prefer the desktop or the mobile Spotify app, you can start making and sharing collaborative playlists today.

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For the past seven years, I've been tinkering with smartphones, laptops, power banks, printers and writing reviews about them. When I'm not writing, you can bet I'm devouring information on products that are making their first foray into the market, demonstrating my unquenchable thirst for technology.

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