How to create playlists and smart lists with VLC step by step

If you use VLC daily to watch movies, series or listen to music, you'll be interested in knowing how to get the most out of its features. playlists and smart playlistsAlthough at first glance it may seem like a simple player, underneath it's a true Swiss Army knife for organizing all your multimedia content, both local and on your network. streamingIPTV or even YouTube links.

Throughout this guide you will see how Create, save, manage, and share playlists in VLC en Windows, macOS and AndroidHow to use IPTV lists, how to work with links instead of files, what list formats it supports, its usual advantages and limitations, and how to fix the most common errors when a list stops working or gets jumbled up for no reason.

VLC Media Player and its playlists: what you can do

VLC Media Player is a multimedia player open source, free and cross-platform, available for Windows, LinuxmacOS, Android and iOSIt has earned its fame because it handles practically everything: SD, HD, 4K videos, DVD, Blu-ray, audio files, subtitles, tags, streaming, Chromecast broadcasting and even advanced features such as web server, format conversion and more.

Within that entire arsenal, the playlists They are one of the most useful tools for everyday life. With them, you can group episodes of a series, related movies, entire albums, or individual songs into a single queue and play them all continuously without having to open each file individually.

However, VLC playlists are not the same as those on platforms like Spotify or YouTubeThere's no cloud database or magic synchronization here: the player simply saves references to the files or links you specify, along with their exact location. This has its advantages, but also some significant limitations that we'll discuss later.

VLC can work perfectly as traditional music playerBut its original focus is video. Therefore, the concept of a playlist is designed more for playing content from beginning to end than for creating a sophisticated music library with recommendations, online album art, or statistics, as is the case with other services.

How to create playlists in VLC on PC (Windows and Linux)

On a computer, whether running Windows or Linux, you have several ways to generate one custom playlist in VLCThey are all based on the same principle: add files to the list window, sort, and then save if you want to reuse that selection later.

Create a list by dragging and dropping files

The quickest way is to take advantage of your own playlist viewOpen VLC and go to the "View > Playlist" menu. A main area will be displayed where the items you add will appear.

From the File Browser (Win + E on Windows), simply locate the songs, videos, or folders you're interested in, select them, and drag them directly into the VLC window. Each file you drag will be added to the end of the current list, so you can build your queue exactly as you want, mixing music, chapters, or movies.

If you add too many things or include a file by mistake, you can remove items from the list No problem: right-click on the file and choose the option to remove it, or select it and use the Delete key. VLC doesn't delete the file from the disk, it just removes it from the list.

Create a list from "Open multiple files"

Another very convenient way is to use the menu «Media > Open multiple filesWhen you open this option, you'll see a button with a "+" sign that lets you add as many files as you want. You can mix both audio and video and add them in blocks.

In that same window you can delete files added by mistake Before creating the final playlist, you clear the selection before playing anything. When everything is ready, click "Play" and VLC will generate a playlist on the fly with the items you've added.

If you like the selection and think you'll repeat it often (a compilation of films, a series marathon, or a music session for a party), the best thing to do is save it as a reusable list so you don't have to build it from scratch every time you open VLC.

Save playlists on PC

With the playlist already open in VLC, go to the menu «Media > Save Playlist(or "File > Save Playlist" on macOS, as we'll see later). A window will open for you to choose the name, location, and format of the file that will contain your playlist.

By default, VLC usually suggests the format XSPFwhich is a fairly standard type of XML playlist compatible with other players. If you prefer, you can also save it in M3U or M3U8which are very popular, especially in audio and IPTV playlists. It even allows you to save the playlist as a file. HTMLUseful if you want to generate a page with links.

From that moment on, to enjoy that list again you will only have to double-click on the playlist file on your system. If opening it launches a player other than VLC, you can force the association: right-click on the list, "Properties", click the "Change" button under "Opens with..." and select "vlc.exe" as the default program.

Create and manage playlists in VLC for macOS

En MacThe operation is very similar, with the difference that some options are renamed to «Archive" instead of "Medium". The idea remains the same: you open the content you want, organize it, and then save it as a reusable list.

To assemble your multimedia selection, open VLC and add files via one of these paths: «File > Open File» and select songs or videos, drag from Finder to the central VLC window, or use "Open Media" to locate the content on disk.

Once you have all the items loaded, go to «File > Save playlist"Give it a descriptive name (for example, "Music to study" or "X saga marathon") and choose the folder where the list file will be saved.

If you later want expand the list with new topicsSimply open the playlist in question, click in the empty area below the items, and use the "Add File" option to add new tracks. You can also drag songs from Finder directly into the VLC window with the playlist open.

To delete a specific song from the listSelect it, press the delete key, or right-click and choose "Delete." Just like in Windows, it only disappears from the playlist: the original file remains intact in its folder.

Playlists in VLC for Android

On Android, VLC works somewhat differently because it focuses primarily on the part of audio to create playlistsAlthough you can play video without problems, playlists as such are intended for music and other audio content.

When you open the app for the first time, VLC scans the storage From your mobile device, search for multimedia files. To work with lists, go to the section "Audio" From the side menu or the bottom bar, you'll see tabs like songs, albums, artists, etc.

To create a new playlist, select the songs you want, tap on the three points from each track and select "Add to playlist". If you don't have one yet, select "Create new playlist", give it a name, and confirm.

From now on, you can add more songs by doing the same thing: select the song, press "Add to list" and choose the playlist already createdTo play it, go to the "Playlists" tab, reload if necessary, tap on the one you want and the content will start playing in the established order.

IPTV and link-based lists with VLC

One of VLC's strengths compared to other players is that it not only handles files from the disk, but also network links and IPTV listsAnd including Connect VLC to a NASIn other words, you can use it to watch channels that broadcast over the internet without installing specific IPTV applications.

Play IPTV lists with VLC

If you already have one IPTV list in file or URL formatThe process for loading it is simple. Open VLC on your PC, go to the "Media" menu, and select "Open Network Stream." A window will appear with the "Network" tab active.

You have two options: drag the IPTV list file to the window or directly enter the URL where the playlist is hostedThe best option is to use the remote address, because the list is updated on the server and you don't have to download a new file every time the channels change.

After pasting the URL or loading the file, press "Play" and VLC will begin to display the first channel on the IPTV listTo see the full list of channels, click on the three horizontal lines icon located next to the playback controls.

From that panel, you can double-click on any channel to jump directly to it. As long as the URL is valid and the internet connection is good, VLC will behave like a Simple but very effective IPTV client, without strange banners or dubious apps.

Create playlists based on links (YouTube, IPTV, and more)

In addition to loading pre-made IPTV lists, VLC allows you to create your own. manually create link playlistsThis works for individual IPTV channels as well as YouTube videos or other content accessible via URL.

To do this, open VLC on your PC, go to "View > Playlists" and, in the right columnSelect "Playlist" as the active list. In the empty area on the right, right-click and choose "Open advanced".

In the window that appears, go to the tab «Red"And paste the URL of the IPTV channel, YouTube video, or online content you want to add into the text box. Remember to paste the direct address of the content, not the URL of another playlist."

If you check the box «Show more options"In some cases, you can specify the exact minute and second you want the playback to start and end, which is useful if you're only interested in a specific fragment of a long video, especially in YouTube-type content.

When you've finished adding links, click on «Select"And you'll see them all listed in the playlist window. At this point, the list works, but the names often look quite ugly or undescriptive, especially with IPTV channels that only display the URL."

Rename and save link lists

To better identify each link, place the mouse over the element you want to change, right-click and select «InformationIn the "Title" field you can write a more understandable name, such as "La 1 HD", "News Channel X" or "YouTube chill playlist".

If the links are from YouTube, in many cases VLC will handle it. automatically obtain the metadata (video title, author, etc.) the first time you play the content, so you won't have to fill in the information manually one by one.

Once you have your link list set up to your liking, don't forget Save it before closing VLCIf you don't, the playlist will disappear and you'll have to build it from scratch. To save it, go to the "Media" menu and select "Save Playlist" or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Y.

The file will normally be saved in format .xspfwhich is simply a structured XML text file where links and their names are stored. The interesting thing is that this same file can be converted to other formats such as .m3u, used by many apps IPTV, or be reused on other compatible media players.

File formats and VLC playlist compatibility

One of the great things about VLC is that you'll practically never run into a «unsupported formatWhen opening a video or audio file, the player comes loaded with codecs to play both the most common formats and less frequently used ones, and this also extends to playlists.

When you add files to a list using the "+" button or by dragging from the file explorer, it usually happens that no compatibility errors appearAnd if for some reason you have a rare format that causes problems, VLC itself includes a conversion function to switch from one codec to a more standard one.

In the case of playlists, VLC allows save lists in various formats to adapt them to your intended use. From the "Save playlist" box, you can choose between XSPF, M3U, M3U8, and even HTML.

The XSPF format is ideal if you want to maintain good compatibility with modern players and preserve metadata, while the formats M3U and M3U8 They are a classic in audio and IPTV lists, especially if you are going to share them with friends or load them into specific apps.

HTML format doesn't store the files themselves, but rather a kind of navigable index with linksThis can be useful if you want to publish a list on an intranet or in an environment where the browser directly opens the content, provided it has access to the paths or URLs that have been used.

Manage and better view your lists: display modes

When a list gets large, with dozens or hundreds of topics, it becomes crucial to be able to view its content comfortablyVLC includes several playlist view modes to help you manage it better.

In the playlist window, right-click and select «Playlist view modeYou'll see that you can switch between different configurations, ranging from a very simple text list to views that include covers or miniatures if the content contains that information.

This way you can choose the mode that best suits what you're doing: a compact list for a huge music playlist, a view with covers to identify albums at a glance, or a more visual representation if you work primarily with videos.

Advantages and limitations of playlists in VLC

VLC playlists have a lot potentialBut it's important to be clear about what they can and can't do, especially if you're coming from services like Spotify, where everything is in the cloud and controlled by an online database.

When you save a playlist in VLC, a file (XSPF, M3U, etc.) is created that stores the exact path and name of each file or the link. The program does not copy or integrate the videos or songs into the list: it simply records where they are so they can be played later.

This implies that, if move a file to another folderIf you rename or delete it, the next time you open the playlist, VLC won't find it. You'll see messages like "File not found," or the player will simply skip to the next item without playing anything.

The same applies if you change computers or operating systems: for an old list to continue working, you must maintain the same folder structure and paths that you had when you created it, or edit the list file to correct the locations, which can be somewhat laborious if there are many items.

The positive aspect is that saving the playlist in a lightweight file allows you to easily create backupsIf you reinstall the system, simply restore your music or video folders to the same location and your playlists will be back to life without any major issues.

Common errors with VLC playlists and how to fix them

Although creating playlists in VLC is relatively simple, it's normal to run into some issues. recurring problems when using them daily. Luckily, almost all of them have a simple solution if you know where to look.

The most typical error is opening an XSPF file and receiving the message «File not foundOr you might notice that VLC skips a track without playing it. This is usually because the original files have been moved, renamed, or deleted since the playlist was created.

To fix this, you can open the XSPF file with a simple text editor, such as Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on macOS. Inside, you'll see several tags where the following appear: the complete paths of each elementIf they have changed, you will need to update them manually so that they point to the correct folders.

Another common problem is that, when you reopen a list you had carefully ordered, the elements are reproduced in another order or even randomly. In many cases, it's simply because, after reordering by dragging, you forgot to save the playlist again, so VLC continues using the previous order.

It's also worth checking if you have the option enabled. random reproduction in the "Playback" menu. If it's checked, the playlist will play out of order regardless of what the XSPF file does, so you must uncheck "Shuffle" to respect the original order.

In the case of link-based lists (YouTube, IPTV, etc.), errors are usually related to the connectivity or URL expirationIf a channel stops playing, first check your internet connection. If it's working, the link is probably no longer valid or the server has changed its address, so you'll need to find a new URL and refresh the list.

Practical tips for sharing and preserving your VLC playlists

If you want to share a playlist with someone else, the easiest way is to take advantage of the fact that playlist files take up very little space and can be shared. send via email, messaging, or Bluetooth No problem. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Since the list only saves paths and file namesFor it to work on another computer, the same content must exist in the same locations. Ideally, you should create a folder where you save both the media files and the list file, and then share the entire folder.

This way, the other person will only have to place that folder on their computer and, if necessary, edit the playlist file once to point to the new base routeIn the case of link lists, sharing XSPF or M3U is even easier, because it only contains URLs and does not depend on the disk.

To preserve your lists long-term, get into the habit of doing regular backups of the folders where you store your media and playlist files. If you ever reinstall the system or change computers, you'll only need to replicate that structure and your playlists will continue to work without too many surprises.

By understanding how VLC handles routes, list formats, and network links, you can set up a very powerful playlist collection For music, video, IPTV and streaming, tailored to your taste and without relying on external services, enjoy a lightweight, free and incredibly flexible player.

Related article:

Ultimate Guide to Adding and Managing IPTV Lists in VLC: Everything You Need to Know to Watch Free TV

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.