Create, edit, and delete Smart Playlists in Apple Music on Windows
You can create a Smart Playlist that automatically organizes songs into playlists based on criteria you specify. Whenever you add items to your music library that meet the criteria of a Smart Playlist, the Smart Playlist is automatically updated to include them.
For example, you could create a Smart Playlist that includes your most highly rated rock songs that were released before 1990 or after 2000. When you add songs to your library that meet the criteria, they’re automatically added to the Smart Playlist.
Smart Playlists you create have this icon next to them.
Create a Smart Playlist
In the Apple Music app on your Windows computer, select the Add button next to Playlists in the sidebar, then choose New Smart Playlist.
Specify the criteria.
Set the first rule: Select the first pop-up menu, choose an option (such as Genre, Favorite, or Year), then complete the rule using the other available menus or fields (they vary depending on your choice in the first pop-up menu).
For example, to include rock songs, choose “Genre” from the first pop-up menu and “contains” from the second one, then type “Rock” in the text field. Any rock song is automatically included.
Add or remove rules: To set additional rules, select the Add button . To remove a rule, select the Remove button .
Nest rules: To specify another set of criteria within a rule, press the Alt key, then select the Nest button .
For example, to include your most highly rated rock songs released before 1990 or after 2000, you can add two nested rules.
Set the scope of multiple rules: If you have at least two rules, a pop-up menu appears at the top of the Smart Playlist dialog that lets you choose whether an item must meet any or all of the criteria to be included in the Smart Playlist.
For additional control over the Smart Playlist, set any of the following options:
Limits: To limit the size and contents of the Smart Playlist, select the Limit checkbox and choose options. For example, limit the Smart Playlist to 2 hours, with songs that were most recently added.
Match only checked items: Select the “Match only checked items” checkbox to include only items that have a checkmark next to them in the library. See Prevent a song from playing.
Live updating: Select the “Live updating” checkbox to have Apple Music update this Smart Playlist as items in your library are added, removed, or changed.
Select OK.
Your new Smart Playlist appears with your other playlists in the sidebar. Whenever you select your Smart Playlist in the sidebar, items that match its criteria are listed.
At the top of the main window, enter a name for the Smart Playlist.
Edit Smart Playlists
You can’t add or remove items directly from a Smart Playlist. To change which items are included in the playlist, you must change its criteria.
In the Apple Music app on your Windows computer, select a Smart Playlist in the sidebar.
Note: If you want to change the order of the items in a Smart Playlist, select the Sort pop-up menu in the top-right corner, select View As, then choose a sort order. When you choose to sort by Playlist or Songs, you can reorder songs by dragging.
Select Edit Rules, then change, add, or remove rules or controls.
Select OK.
Rename Smart Playlists
In the Apple Music app on your Windows computer, select a Smart Playlist in the sidebar.
Select the Smart Playlist name at the top of the window, then enter the new name.
Delete Smart Playlists
In the Apple Music app on your Windows computer, select a Smart Playlist in the sidebar, select the More button on the right, then choose Delete from Library.
Only the Smart Playlist is deleted; items that were included in the Smart Playlist remain in your music library and on your computer.