Hey music lovers! Ever get annoyed that your Apple Music playlists are in a random order? Do you want to know how to sort your playlists the way you want? Maybe you want to listen to your favorite tunes in a specific sequence, like by title, artist, or even release date. Well, you're in luck! Apple Music offers a few ways to organize your playlists to suit your listening preferences. This guide will walk you through the steps to achieve playlist perfection. Let's dive in and get those playlists in tip-top shape!

Why Sort Your Apple Music Playlists?

Before we get into the how, let's talk about the why. Why bother sorting your playlists in Apple Music, you ask? Well, there are actually several good reasons:

• Improved Listening Experience: Imagine you're curating a playlist for a road trip. Sorting by artist or album can create a smoother, more cohesive listening experience. Or perhaps you are making a playlist for studying and want the songs ordered by tempo.
• Easy Navigation: When you have a large playlist, finding a specific song can be a pain. Sorting alphabetically by title makes it a breeze to locate the track you're craving.
• Personalized Flow: Sometimes, you just want to hear your favorite songs in a particular order. Whether it's based on mood, energy level, or some other personal criteria, sorting allows you to create a truly customized listening flow.
• Discovering Hidden Gems: Sorting by date added can help you rediscover songs you added a long time ago and might have forgotten about. It's like a little trip down memory lane!

Ultimately, sorting your Apple Music playlists is all about taking control of your music library and making it work for you. It's about crafting the perfect listening experience for every occasion. In this guide we will cover the different ways that you can sort your playlist, so you can create the ultimate flow.

Sorting on macOS

If you're an Apple Music user on a Mac, you have a few options for sorting your playlists. Here's how to do it:

Method 1: Using the Sort By Menu

This is the most straightforward way to sort your playlists on macOS. Here's how it works:

1. Open Apple Music: Launch the Apple Music app on your Mac.
2. Select the Playlist: In the sidebar, click on the playlist you want to sort. Make sure you are signed in, otherwise you may not see your playlists.
3. View Options: Click on the "View" menu in the top menu bar.
4. Choose Sort By: Hover over the "Sort By" option. This will open a submenu with various sorting criteria.
5. Select Your Criteria: Choose how you want to sort your playlist. Your options include:
   • Name: Sorts the songs alphabetically by title.
   • Artist: Sorts the songs alphabetically by artist name.
   • Album: Sorts the songs by album title.
   • Time: Sorts the songs by duration.
   • Date Added: Sorts the songs by the date they were added to the playlist.

Once you select your sorting criteria, Apple Music will automatically rearrange the songs in your playlist according to your choice. This is a quick and easy way to get your playlist in order!

Method 2: Drag and Drop

For a more manual approach, you can also sort your playlists by dragging and dropping songs into the desired order. This method gives you complete control over the sequence of tracks.

1. Open Apple Music: Open the Apple Music app on your Mac.
2. Select the Playlist: In the sidebar, click on the playlist you want to sort.
3. Enable Manual Ordering: This is a key step! In the top menu bar, go to "View" > "Sort By" > "Manually". This unlocks the ability to rearrange the songs.
4. Drag and Drop: Now, simply click and drag the songs to your desired positions within the playlist. A blue line will indicate where the song will be placed when you release the mouse button.

This method is perfect for creating a specific flow or arrangement that can't be achieved through automatic sorting criteria. Keep in mind that this sort option is saved and will be how it is organized until you change it.

Sorting on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Unfortunately, Apple Music on iOS (iPhone and iPad) doesn't offer the same sorting options as the macOS version. You can't directly sort a playlist by title, artist, or other criteria on your iPhone or iPad. However, there's a workaround! While limited, you can still reorder songs inside the playlist manually, or add songs to a brand new playlist in the order you want to listen to them in.

Method 1: Manual Reordering

This is useful to reorder a couple of songs but can be cumbersome for very long playlists.

1. Open Apple Music: Launch the Apple Music app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select the Playlist: Go to your Library tab and tap on the playlist you want to sort.
3. Edit Playlist: Tap the "Edit" button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
4. Reorder Songs: You'll see three horizontal lines to the right of each song title. Touch and hold these lines, then drag the song to its new position in the playlist.
5. Tap Done: Once you've finished reordering, tap "Done" to save your changes.

Method 2: Creating a New Sorted Playlist

If you have a specific order in mind, this is a pretty effective method. The key is that it requires you to start from scratch with a brand new playlist, or by adding songs from another existing playlist.

1. Create a New Playlist: Tap the "+ New Playlist" button in your library.
2. Add Songs in Desired Order: Search for the songs you want to add and add them in the order you desire. It may be useful to have a list of songs already pre-ordered in a note or a piece of paper.
3. Name Your Playlist: Give your playlist a descriptive name.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are a few common issues you might encounter while sorting your Apple Music playlists, along with potential solutions:

• Changes Not Syncing: If you've sorted a playlist on your Mac but the changes aren't showing up on your iPhone or iPad, make sure that iCloud Music Library is enabled on all your devices. Go to Settings > Music and toggle on "Sync Library."
• Sort Order Resetting: If your playlist keeps reverting to a different sort order, double-check that you haven't accidentally selected a different sorting criteria. Also, ensure that you've saved your changes after manually reordering songs.
• Can't Manually Reorder: If you're unable to drag and drop songs in a playlist on your Mac, make sure you've enabled manual ordering by going to "View" > "Sort By" > "Manually."
• Missing Sort Options on iOS: As mentioned earlier, iOS doesn't offer the same sorting options as macOS. You'll need to rely on manual reordering or creating a new playlist in the desired order.

Conclusion

While Apple Music's sorting options might not be as robust as some other music services, you can still effectively organize your playlists to create the perfect listening experience. Whether you're using a Mac or an iOS device, the tips and tricks outlined in this guide will help you get your playlists in order. So go ahead, experiment with different sorting methods and discover new ways to enjoy your favorite music! Happy listening, guys!