How to Copy a Spotify Playlist

Copying a Spotify playlist lets you duplicate an existing playlist—your own or someone else’s—so you can edit, reorganize, or save a backup without altering the original. You’ll need a Spotify account (free or Premium) and either the desktop app, web player, or mobile app. The process takes about a minute and doesn’t require any third-party tools.

What You’ll Need

• A Spotify account (free or Premium)
• Access to the Spotify desktop app, web player (open.spotify.com), or mobile app
• The playlist you want to copy (must be public or shared with you)

Step-by-Step

1. Open the playlist you want to copy. In the desktop app or web player, find it in your library or search for it. On mobile, tap the playlist to open it.
2. Select all songs. In the desktop app or web player, click the first song, then scroll to the last song and hold Shift while clicking it. On mobile, tap the three-dot menu (⋯) at the top of the playlist and choose “Select” (or “Multi-select” on some versions), then tap each song to select it.
3. Copy the selected songs. On desktop/web, right-click (or Ctrl-click on Mac) any highlighted song and choose “Copy” from the context menu. On mobile, after selecting songs, tap the three-dot menu again and select “Copy” (or “Add to playlist” depending on your version).
4. Create a new playlist. On desktop/web, click “New Playlist” in the left sidebar (or use the “Create Playlist” button). On mobile, go to “Your Library” → “Playlists” → “Create Playlist”. Give it a name, for example “Copy of [Original Name]”.
5. Paste the songs. Open the new empty playlist, then right-click (desktop/web) and choose “Paste”. On mobile, tap and hold in the playlist area and select “Paste” (or use the three-dot menu → “Paste”). The songs will appear instantly.
6. Verify the copy. Scroll through the new playlist to confirm all songs are present. If any are missing, repeat the copy/paste or use the alternative method below.

Alternative method (drag and drop): On desktop/web, open the original playlist and the new playlist in separate windows (right-click the playlist → “Open in new window”). Select all songs (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac), then drag them into the new playlist window. This works even for very long playlists.

Common Mistakes

• Not selecting all songs – If you click just one song and copy, you’ll only copy that single track. Always use Shift+click or Ctrl+A to select everything.
• Copying from a private playlist you don’t own – You can’t copy a playlist that is set to “Private” unless you have a direct link and it’s shared with you. The owner must make it public or share it.
• Pasting into the wrong playlist – Double-check that you’re pasting into the newly created playlist, not the original, or you’ll end up with duplicates.
• Using the mobile app’s limited selection – On mobile, the “Select” option may not appear if the playlist is very long or if you’re using an older app version. Use the desktop or web player for reliable copying.

Tips

• Keep the original intact – Copying is non-destructive; the original playlist remains unchanged, so you can experiment freely.
• Use “Add to Playlist” for a quick copy – On mobile, after selecting songs, you can choose “Add to Playlist” and select an existing playlist (or create a new one) instead of copy/paste.
• Copy playlists from other users – If you find a public playlist you like, you can copy it to your library using the same steps. This is great for discovering new music without losing your own playlists.
• Sort or edit after copying – Once copied, you can reorder, delete, or add songs freely without affecting the original.
• Use “Duplicate” on desktop (if available) – Some Spotify versions have a “Duplicate” option when you right-click a playlist. If you see it, that’s the fastest way to copy.

Troubleshooting

Copy/paste doesn’t work (desktop/web): Make sure you’re using the right-click context menu, not the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V may not work). If right-click doesn’t show “Copy”, try the drag-and-drop method instead.

Songs are missing after pasting: This can happen if some tracks are unavailable in your region or have been removed from Spotify. The copy will only include songs that are currently available. Check the original playlist to see if any songs have a greyed-out play button.

“Select” option not visible on mobile: Update the Spotify app to the latest version. If it’s still missing, use the desktop or web player to copy the playlist, then sync it to your phone.

Playlist is private and you can’t copy it: If you’re not the owner, ask the owner to make it public (Spotify → Playlist → ⋯ → “Make Public”). If it’s your own private playlist, you can still copy it—just open it and follow the steps.

Paste option is greyed out: This usually means the clipboard is empty or you haven’t selected any songs. Go back to the original playlist, select at least one song, and copy again.

New playlist doesn’t appear in your library: Refresh the app or log out and back in. On mobile, pull down to refresh your library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy someone else’s playlist? Yes, if it’s public or shared with you. Open the playlist, select all songs, and copy them into a new playlist.

Does copying a playlist transfer the owner’s likes or ratings? No, only the song list is copied. Any personal notes, descriptions, or collaborative settings are not transferred.

Will the copy update automatically if the original changes? No, it’s a one-time snapshot. If the original adds or removes songs, you’ll need to copy again to reflect the changes.

Can I copy a playlist to another Spotify account? Yes, but you’ll need to log into the second account and paste the songs there. The copy is tied to whatever account you’re logged into when you paste.

Is there a limit to how many songs I can copy? Spotify playlists can hold up to 10,000 songs, so you can copy up to that many. Copying very large playlists may take a few seconds, but it works.

Can I copy a playlist using a third-party app? Yes, there are third-party tools, but they often require extra permissions and may violate Spotify’s terms. The built-in method is safer and works on all platforms.

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