How to Merge Playlists on Spotify

At some point, every Spotify user becomes an accidental playlist hoarder. You start with “Morniby “Morning Coffee but I Have Emails,” and suddenly your library looks like a tiny museum dedicated to caffeinated indecision.

The good news: you can merge playlists on Spotify without rebuilding every list song by song. Spotify does not currently use a single button labeled “Merge Playlists,” but it does let you copy an entire playlist’s tracks into another playlist. That means you can combine workout mixes, road-trip collections, old favorites, party playlists, and genre folders into one cleaner, easier-to-manage playlist.

This guide explains how to merge Spotify playlists on desktop, mobile, and the web player. You will also learn how to avoid duplicates, preserve your preferred song order, organize large music libraries, and decide whether a collaborative playlist or Spotify Blend makes more sense than a traditional merge.

an You Merge Playlists on Spotify?

Yes, but Spotify treats merging as a copy-and-add process rather than a true file merge. You choose a destination playlist, then add all tracks from one or more source playlists into it.

For example, imagine you have these playlists:

• Friday Night Drive
• Summer Windows Down
• Gas Station Snacks and Regret

You can create one new playlist called Road Trip Essentials, then copy songs from all three lists into it. Your original playlists remain untouched unless you delete them later. Think of it like moving books onto one shelf while keeping the old shelves available until you are sure you do not need them.

This is important because merging playlists does not permanently move tracks. Spotify copies them into the destination playlist. That makes the process safer, especially when you are cleaning up an old library or combining playlists created years apart.

efore You Merge Spotify Playlists

Choose Your Destination Playlist First

Before transferring anything, decide where the merged songs should live. You have two main choices:

• Add tracks to an existing playlist.
• Create a brand-new playlist specifically for the merged collection.

Creating a new playlist is usually the cleaner option. It gives you a fresh starting point, prevents accidental clutter, and makes it easier to compare the new version with your old playlists.

For example, instead of merging “Indie Favorites,” “Late Night Songs,” and “Songs I Forgot Existed” into one of the old lists, create a new playlist called Indie After Dark. It feels more intentional and dramatically reduces the chance of turning one playlist into a musical junk drawer.

Decide Which Playlist’s Song Order Matters Most

When you add one playlist into another, the copied songs usually appear after the tracks already in the destination playlist. This matters if your playlists are carefully arranged for a workout, party, dinner, long drive, or dramatic staring-out-the-window session.

If Playlist A has the perfect opening sequence, make it the destination playlist first. Then add Playlist B, Playlist C, and any other source playlists afterward. That way, your strongest opening tracks stay at the top.

Check Who Owns the Playlist

You can usually copy songs from playlists you follow, but you can only edit a destination playlist if you own it or have permission to edit it. If a friend created the destination playlist, you may need them to make it collaborative before you can add tracks yourself.

Spotify collaborative playlists allow invited people to add, remove, and reorder tracks. That can be useful for group trips, parties, school events, or shared music projects, although it also means someone may add twelve versions of the same song at 2:14 a.m.

ow to Merge Playlists on Spotify Desktop

The desktop app is usually the fastest way to merge playlists, especially if you are combining large lists. Spotify on Windows and Mac gives you keyboard shortcuts for selecting many songs at once, which is much easier than tapping individual tracks on a phone.

Step 1: Create or Open the Destination Playlist

Open Spotify on your Windows PC or Mac. In the left sidebar, select the playlist where you want all merged songs to go.

If you want a fresh playlist, click the create playlist option, give it a clear name, and save it. Try naming it based on purpose rather than vague feelings. “Gym Cardio 2026” is easier to find later than “Vibes.” Your future self will appreciate the organization, even if your present self insists chaos is a personality trait.

Step 2: Open the Source Playlist

Open the playlist you want to copy songs from. Click any track inside the playlist so Spotify knows you are working with the song list rather than the playlist title.

Step 3: Select All Tracks

Use the following keyboard shortcut:

• Windows: Ctrl + A
• Mac: Command + A

This selects every track in the playlist. For a smaller merge, hold Ctrl on Windows or Command on Mac while clicking individual songs. You can also use Shift to select a continuous range of tracks.

Step 4: Add the Tracks to Another Playlist

After selecting the songs, right-click the highlighted tracks. Choose Add to playlist, then select your destination playlist.

You may also be able to drag the selected songs directly onto the destination playlist in the left sidebar. Drag-and-drop is handy when you want to move quickly, although it can feel slightly stressful the first time because nobody enjoys wondering whether they just sent their favorite songs into the digital void.

Step 5: Repeat for Every Playlist You Want to Combine

Open the next source playlist and repeat the process. Continue until all desired playlists have been copied into your destination playlist.

Once the merge is complete, review the destination playlist. Check the song count, scan for duplicates, and play the first few tracks to make sure the order makes sense.

ow to Merge Playlists on Spotify Mobile

You can merge Spotify playlists on an iPhone or Android phone without using a computer. Mobile merging is convenient for smaller playlists, although the desktop app is usually faster when you are handling hundreds of songs.

Step 1: Open Your Spotify Library

Open the Spotify app and go to Your Library. Select the playlist you want to copy into another playlist.

Step 2: Open the Playlist Menu

Tap the three-dot menu near the playlist title. On some devices, the dots may appear below the playlist name; on others, they may appear near the upper-right corner.

Step 3: Choose “Add to Other Playlist”

Select Add to other playlist or a similarly named option. Spotify will then show your available playlists.

Step 4: Select the Destination Playlist

Choose the playlist where you want the copied tracks to go. You can also create a new playlist from this screen if you want a clean merged version.

Step 5: Repeat as Needed

Repeat the process for every playlist you want to combine. For small edits, you can also open an individual song’s three-dot menu and choose Add to playlist.

Mobile merging works well when you are combining two short playlists, building a quick travel mix, or adding a friend’s favorite songs to a shared collection. For a massive library cleanup, desktop is usually less painful for your thumbs and your patience.

ow to Merge Spotify Playlists in the Web Player

The Spotify web player can also help you merge playlists when you are using a school computer, work computer, borrowed laptop, or any device where installing the desktop app is not ideal.

Open Spotify in your browser, sign in, select the source playlist, and use the same general approach: choose tracks, open the track menu, then select Add to playlist. The web player can be useful for smaller merges, though the desktop app usually gives you more comfortable controls for sorting, selecting, and organizing a large music collection.

How to Avoid Duplicate Songs When Merging Spotify Playlists

Duplicates are the most common side effect of merging playlists. This happens because the same song may appear in multiple source playlists. You might have one track in “Running Music,” “Pop Favorites,” and “Songs That Make Me Feel Like the Main Character.” Merge all three, and suddenly that song is auditioning for a three-song residency.

Use a Fresh Destination Playlist

A new destination playlist makes duplicate checking easier. You can see exactly what has been added and avoid confusing old tracks with newly copied ones.

Merge in Smaller Batches

Instead of combining ten playlists all at once, merge two or three at a time. Check the results before adding more. This is especially useful if your playlists overlap heavily.

Sort and Review the Playlist

After merging, sort your playlist by title or artist when possible. This can help similar tracks appear near each other, making duplicates easier to spot.

Keep in mind that different album versions, remasters, live recordings, acoustic editions, and deluxe releases may look similar but are technically separate tracks. That is not always a mistake. Sometimes you genuinely need both the studio version and the live version where the singer sounds like they are performing during an electrical storm.

Do Not Delete the Original Playlists Immediately

Wait until you have checked the merged playlist before deleting old playlists. Listen through the beginning, middle, and end. Confirm that important songs transferred correctly and that the order still works.

Once you are satisfied, you can archive old playlists in folders, rename them as backups, or delete the ones you no longer need.

hould You Merge, Collaborate, or Use Spotify Blend?

Merging playlists is best when you want one permanent playlist that you control. But Spotify has other playlist features that may fit your situation better.

Use a Merged Playlist When You Want Control

A standard merged playlist is ideal when you want to organize your own music library. You decide the name, track order, cover image, and who gets access.

Use a Collaborative Playlist When Multiple People Need to Edit

A collaborative playlist is better for group events, shared houses, road trips, school clubs, or parties. Friends can add songs directly instead of sending you twenty screenshots and expecting you to decode their music taste like an archaeologist.

Use Spotify Blend When You Want Discovery

Spotify Blend is not a traditional playlist merge. Instead, it creates a shared playlist based on participants’ listening habits and updates over time. Blend is useful when you want fresh recommendations influenced by more than one person’s taste.

For example, a merged playlist is better for preserving a carefully built party set. A Blend is better for discovering what happens when one person loves indie rock and another listens to K-pop, jazz, and mysterious electronic music with album covers that look like a moonscape.

hen a Third-Party Playlist Tool Makes Sense

For most people, Spotify’s built-in tools are enough. You can merge a few playlists manually in minutes, and you do not need to connect another app to your account.

Third-party playlist tools can be useful when you have dozens of playlists, need advanced duplicate detection, want to compare track lists, or are moving music between streaming services. However, be careful before granting any external service access to your Spotify account.

Only use services you trust, review the permissions they request, and avoid giving broad editing access unless you understand why it is needed. A playlist cleanup should not turn into an unexpected digital scavenger hunt through your private library.

Common Problems When Merging Spotify Playlists

You Cannot Find “Add to Other Playlist”

Update Spotify first. Menu labels and icon locations can change between app versions and operating systems. If the mobile option is missing, try using the desktop app or web player.

You Cannot Edit the Destination Playlist

You may not own the playlist. Create a new playlist under your account, or ask the owner to make the playlist collaborative.

The Songs Are in the Wrong Order

Spotify usually adds copied songs after the existing tracks in the destination playlist. Rearrange tracks manually after the merge, or start with the playlist whose order matters most.

Your Playlist Feels Too Large

Large playlists can become difficult to browse, search, and maintain. Consider splitting a giant playlist into practical categories such as “Morning,” “Gym,” “Travel,” “Focus,” or “Throwbacks.” A playlist should feel useful, not like an attic full of unlabeled boxes.

Real-World Experiences With Merging Spotify Playlists

The Workout Playlist That Became a Junk Drawer

A common playlist-merging experience starts with good intentions. Someone creates a running playlist, then a lifting playlist, then a “motivation” playlist full of songs that are motivating only if your primary fitness goal is dramatically walking away from a slow-motion explosion. Eventually, the playlists overlap so much that no one remembers which list has the good warm-up songs.

Merging the playlists into one master workout mix can solve the clutter, but the best result usually comes from preserving structure. Keep a main playlist called Workout Library, then create smaller versions such as Cardio 30 Minutes, Heavy Lifting, and Cooldown. The merged playlist becomes your source shelf, while the smaller playlists become your grab-and-go options.

The Road Trip Playlist That Needed a Better Beginning

Road trip playlists reveal why song order matters. A playlist may include great songs, but if it starts with three slow tracks, the first hour of driving can feel like everyone is being gently escorted into a nap. When merging multiple travel playlists, start with the list that has the best opening energy.

Then add the rest of the playlists underneath it. Afterward, move a few songs around manually. A good road trip playlist often needs an opening burst, a calmer middle section, and a few crowd-pleasers near the end when everyone is tired, slightly sunburned, and negotiating over snacks.

The Friend Group Playlist That Needed Boundaries

Collaborative playlists are fantastic until everyone gets access. One friend adds carefully selected songs. Another adds every track from a single artist. A third contributes a seven-minute song that begins with silence and somehow becomes the emotional centerpiece of the night.

For this situation, merge the best tracks into a personal final playlist after the event. Keep the collaborative playlist alive for group contributions, but build a separate curated version for regular listening. That way, you preserve the memories without being surprised by a random novelty song every time shuffle decides to test your resilience.

The Old Playlist Archive That Was Worth Saving

Many people hesitate to merge or delete old Spotify playlists because those playlists hold memories. A playlist from sophomore year, a summer vacation, a first job, or a certain phase of life can feel more like a time capsule than a song list.

Instead of deleting everything, create an archive folder. Keep the original playlists there, then merge favorite tracks into a new “Best of the Era” playlist. You get the convenience of one polished playlist while still preserving the original musical snapshots. It is the digital equivalent of keeping old photos in a box without hanging every single one on the wall.

The Duplicate Hunt That Became Surprisingly Useful

Duplicate songs can be annoying, but reviewing them can also improve a playlist. When two versions of the same song appear side by side, you may notice that one is a live recording, a remaster, an acoustic version, or a remix you forgot existed.

Instead of deleting duplicates automatically, listen briefly and choose the version that fits your playlist’s mood. A quiet study playlist may need the acoustic version. A party playlist may need the remix. A nostalgic playlist may need the exact original version you played endlessly years ago, even if its audio quality is slightly questionable and the cover art looks like it was designed during the MySpace era.

Final Thoughts

Merging playlists on Spotify is simple once you understand the system: choose a destination playlist, copy tracks from your source playlists, review the result, and clean up duplicates or ordering issues afterward.

The desktop app is usually the fastest choice for large playlist merges because it supports selecting many songs at once. Mobile is perfect for quick merges, small playlists, and on-the-go organizing. Whether you are building a master music library, organizing a party soundtrack, or rescuing years of scattered playlists from digital chaos, Spotify gives you enough tools to create one playlist that actually makes sense.

And once you finish, give the final playlist a name you will still understand six months from now. “Songs” is technically accurate, but it is also the playlist equivalent of naming a folder “Stuff.”

Research synthesized from Spotify Support, Spotify Community, Lifewire, How-To Geek, Business Insider, Tom’s Guide, Android Authority, TechRadar, Google Play, Apple App Store, Soundiiz, and Billboard.