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How to use Apple Music's smart playlists

If you have a huge Apple Music library, finding the right song can be time-consuming. Apple Music Smart Playlists automatically group songs based on rules you choose and update those playlists over time. Here's how to create Apple Music Smart Playlists.

 

Guide to creating smart playlists in Apple Music

You'll create smart Apple Music playlists on your Mac or Windows, then enable syncing to open them in other Apple Music apps.

Open the Apple Music app on your Mac or Windows, then click File > New > Smart Playlist.

How to use Apple Music's smart playlists Picture 1

 

Then they create rules for the smart playlist they are creating, such as song genres….

To add a rule, click the + sign; to delete a rule, click the – sign; then select Any or All to choose if you have multiple rules.

After adding the rules to the playlist, click OK and then rename the playlist in the sidebar.

We should establish simple rules first, such as quickly finding favorite songs or songs that match our mood. You can refer to some rules like:

  1. Most played songs (your favorite playlist): Number of plays / greater than / 10 (or 25)
  2. Recently added music (new music only): Date added / within / the last 30 days
  3. Relaxing or focused music playlists by genre: Genre / Includes / Relaxing (or Ambient Music, Lo-fi, Classical Music)

Please note that smart playlists do not appear on the Apple Music web browser.

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Micah Soto
Share by Micah Soto
Update 24 January 2026