How to create collaborative playlists in Apple Music on iPhone

Key Takeways

• With collaborative playlists in Apple Music, collaborators can add or remove songs in a playlist and react to them with different emojis.
• To create collaborative playlists in Apple Music on iPhone, go to Library > Playlists > Choose a playlist or create a new one > Three-dot menu > Collaborate > Toggle on Approve Collaborators > Select Start Collaboration > Share link

iOS 17 adds a plethora of new and exciting features to Apple Music, such as the ability to crossfade between tracks, view song credits, better SharePlay integration, and more. But the one feature that excites us is the ability to make collaborative playlists. If you find this feature interesting, here’s how to create a collaborative playlist in Apple Music on your iPhone.

What are collaborative playlists in Apple Music?

Collaborative playlists in Apple Music allow you to add, remove, or reorder songs with others who have access to the playlist. This can be an enjoyable and effortless way to explore new music, create themed playlists for your house parties, or simply listen to music with your friends and family.

You can easily Invite other Apple Music users to join a collaborative playlist. Once they’re in, everyone can add, reorder, or remove songs. In Now Playing, everyone can use emojis to express how the music makes them feel.

If you’re using an older version of iOS, you’ll have to share a copy of the playlist manually. To create a collaborative playlist, follow the steps detailed below.

How to make a collaborative playlist in Apple Music on iPhone

1. Open the Music App on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the Library tab → Tap Playlists.
   If you don’t see this option, tap Edit → Select Playlists.
3. Create a new playlist or open an existing playlist.
   
   
4. Open the three-dot menu from the top-right → Select Collaborate.
   Alternatively, you can directly tap the Collaborate button up top.
5. Toggle on Approve Collaborators → Tap Start Collaboration.
   If Approve Collaborators is Off, anyone can join without approval.
6. Select an option from the share sheet to share the link to collaborate.
   You may tap the Collaborate button to add people down the line.
   
   

Once you create a collaborative playlist in Apple Music, you can easily add someone to the playlist, remove existing collaborators, or stop sharing the playlist entirely. Here’s how you can do this in Apple Music on your iPhone.

Add or remove songs in a collaborative playlist on Apple Music

1. Open the Music app on your iPhone → Then open an existing Collaborative Playlist.
2. Tap the three-dot icon → Select Edit.
   
   
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3. Once you tap on Edit, you can do one of these things:
   • To add songs: Tap Add Music → Find songs → Tap the plus icon.
     
     
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   • To remove songs: Tap the red minus icon (-) → Then tap Delete.
     
     
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   • To reorder songs: Drag the three lines next to a song up or down.
     
     

React to songs in a collaborative playlist on Apple Music

Apple Music’s collaborative playlists let you and your friends give thumbs up or down (among other emojis) to specific songs, adding a layer of shared music appreciation.

1. Open the Music app on your iPhone → Then, open an existing collaborative playlist.
2. Play any song from the collaborative playlist → Tap Now Playing.
   
   
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3. Tap the emoji button next to the song’s name → Select an emoji.
   You may tap the plus button to access more emojis for reactions.
   
   
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4. To see reactions from other collaborators, tap the emoji beside songs.
   
   

How to add or remove collaborators in Apple Music on iPhone

1. Open the Music App → Navigate to the Library tab → Tap Playlists.
   If you don’t see the option for Playlists, tap Edit → Select Playlists.
2. Open an existing Collaborative Playlist.
   
   
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3. Tap the Collaborate button on the top-right corner.
4. Share an invite for the playlist as a link, or use the QR code.
   
   
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5. When you receive a request for new collaborators, you can either:
   • Tap the green button to accept a request and add collaborators.
   • Tap the red button to reject a request and remove collaborators.
6. If you want to remove a collaborator, slide right to left → Tap Remove.
7. If you want to stop sharing the playlist altogether, you may tap Stop.
   
   

Wrapping up…

Collaborative playlists in Apple Music offer several benefits over traditional playlists. Thanks to Collaborative playlists, you can now easily share your favorite music with your friends and family, discover new songs, or create shared playlists for events or house parties while collaborating in real-time.

Try a collaborative playlist on Apple Music, and let us know what you think about this new feature in the comments section below.

Also read:

• Best Apple Music tips and tricks for iPhone
• How to add custom artwork to Apple Music Playlists
• How to use Favorites in Apple Music on iPhone
• How to view full-screen lyrics in Apple Music on iPhone, iPad and Mac