Applies to these editions of Windows Vista

Create or change an auto playlist in Windows Media Player

An auto playlist in Windows Media Player is a type of playlist that changes automatically according to criteria you have specified. You can use auto playlists to play different combinations of music in your library, burn grouped items to a CD, or sync to a portable device. You can create your own auto playlists as well as creating your own regular playlists. For more information about playlists, see Windows Media Player playlist: frequently asked questions.

Show all

To create an auto playlist

Auto playlists provide you with a lot of flexibility to help you find, organize, and play just the music that you want to listen to, according to criteria you set.

  1. Click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click Create Auto Playlist.

  2. In Auto Playlist name, type a name for the playlist.

  3. Select the criteria that you want to use for the auto playlist. The following steps illustrate how you would set up an auto playlist that contains songs that you have rated to 4 or 5 stars:

    • In the criteria list, verify that Music in my library is displayed.

    • Click Click here to add criteria, and then click My Rating.

      The Player automatically adds Is At Least 4 Stars. When you play this playlist, any music that you have rated to be 4 stars or higher will be included in the playlist.

  4. To remove a criterion, click it, and then click Remove.

To edit an auto playlist

  1. Click the Library tab, and then click the Playlists view in the Navigation pane.

  2. In the Details pane, right-click the auto playlist Picture of the auto playlist icon you want to edit, and then click Edit.

To save a copy of an auto playlist as a regular playlist

The contents of an auto playlist are updated every time you open the auto playlist. If you want to preserve the current set of contents in an auto playlist, you can save a copy of the auto playlist.

  1. Click the Library tab, and then click the Playlists view in the Navigation pane.

  2. If the List pane is not displayed, click the Show List pane button Picture of the Show List pane button. If there are items in the List pane, you can remove them by clicking the Clear List pane button Picture of the Clear List pane button.
  3. In the Details pane, right-click the auto playlist Picture of the auto playlist icon you want to save, and then click Add to "Untitled Playlist".

  4. Click Save Playlist, and then type a name for the playlist.