How to create a Smart Playlist with iTunes

Creating a Smart Playlist

You can choose to have a playlist automatically created from specific songs in your library using Smart Playlists. You can create a Smart Playlist that includes only certain types of music, songs with high ratings, or songs that match other criteria. For example, you could create a playlist that's no more than 3 gigabytes (GB) in size, and includes only your highest rated jazz songs.

1. From the File menu, choose New Smart Playlist.
2. To have iTunes add songs that match specific criteria, make sure "Match the following rule" is checked, then make your selections from the pop-up menus.
   
   
   
   • For example, you might want iTunes to only add songs that are by a particular artist, or songs with at least a four-star rating.
   • To add additional matching criteria, click the Add (+) button.
   
    
3. To make the playlist a specific duration or size, select "Limit to" and make your selections from the pop-up menus.
4. To include only songs that have a checkmark beside them in your library (and that match your conditions), select "Match only checked songs."
5. To have iTunes continually modify your Smart Playlist as songs are added to or removed from your library, make sure "Live updating" is selected.
6. To create your Smart Playlist, click OK, then name the playlist in the Source list.

Any songs in your library that match the settings you chose are added to the playlist. A Smart Playlist icon has a gear symbol on it.