How to make a playlist on Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or HyperOS, have powerful multimedia capabilities that often remain underrated. Device owners regularly face the need to structure their music library, so as not to waste time searching for specific compositions while jogging, traveling in transport or working. Standard Android operating system tools in conjunction with proprietary add-ons allow you to create flexible playlists without installing additional software.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can group audio files, from the built-in Music app to third-party solutions, learn how to sort tracks by genre, mood or artist, and understand how to manage file metadata to correctly display information. Competent organization of the media library is the first step to comfortable use of the smartphone as the main source of sound.

Before we get into technical action, it’s worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and the device’s regional binding. However, the basic logic of working with the file system and media libraries remains the same across the Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi model range. Let’s look at the basic methods that will help you to clean up audio files.

Use of the built-in Music application

The most obvious and often ignored tool is the regular app, which is pre-installed on every device, and it has a deep functionality that allows you not only to listen, but also to effectively manage the collection. To create your own list, open the app and go to the Tracks tab, where all the music you find on the device is displayed.

Then select the songs you want to play. To do this, click on the menu icon (usually three dots or a gear) in the upper right corner of the screen and select the option "Select tracks." Once activated, simply tick the songs that should be included in your new album. This action is key for further grouping.

Once all the files are marked, revisit the action menu (often hidden under the "More" button or three dots at the bottom of the screen) and find "Add to the playlist." The system will prompt you to select an existing list or create a new one. Enter the desired title, such as "Gymnasium" or "Favourite", and confirm the action with the "OK" button.

• 🎵 Open the Music app and go to the track library.
• 📂 Use the Multiple Choice function to label files.
• ➕ Click "Add to Playlist" and enter the name of the new folder.
• 💾 Check the list creation in the corresponding menu tab.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file from your phone’s memory, it will automatically disappear from all playlists you’ve created, as shortcuts lead to the physical location of the track.

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For quick access to frequently used lists, add the Music widget to your desktop by selecting the display of specific playlists in the widget settings.

Work with Google Play Music and YouTube Music

Xiaomi smartphone owners often use Google’s ecosystem to sync the media library between devices.YouTube Music apps or the outdated but still functional Google Play Music (if available in your area) let you create cloud playlists. This is especially handy if you plan to listen to music not only from your phone, but also from a tablet or computer.

The process of creating is a little different from local file management. Open an application, find the right track, album or artist. Click on three dots next to the title of the song and select "Add to a playlist." The system will suggest creating a new list or adding a track to an existing one, the main advantage of this approach is independence from local storage.

It is worth noting that for full operation of cloud functions requires a stable Internet connection and authorization in the Google account. Local files can be uploaded to the cloud through the function "Download Music", which will allow you to mix tracks from the memory of the device and streaming directory in the same playlist.

Configure third-party players: PowerAmp and VLC

The standard solutions don’t always meet the requirements of audiophiles, so many Xiaomi users install advanced players, PowerAmp and VLC for Android are considered leaders in this niche, and these applications have their own databases that are independent of system libraries, which gives more flexibility in managing lists.

In VLC, the process is as simple as possible: in the Audio section, select Tracks, select the desired files with a long press, and then add them to the new playlist through the menu. PowerAmp offers a more complex but powerful interface. Here you can create lists directly from the library, drag and drop tracks or use the context menu. It is important to properly configure the folder scanning in the application settings so that it sees all your files.

A feature of third-party players is the ability to edit tags on the fly. If tracks aren't sorted correctly, you can change the metadata (ID3 tags) right inside the application, which automatically updates the order in the playlists. This is critical for large collections where sorting by default is incorrect.

• 🛠 Download and install the selected player from the official store.
• 📁 Allow the application to access all files on the device.
• ⚙️ Configure the scan folders in the program parameters.
• 🎶 Create a playlist through the library’s internal menu.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party players on MIUI be sure to give permission to auto-start and work in the background, otherwise the music may become silent when the screen is locked.

Creating lists through the file manager

The unique feature of the MIUI shell is the integrated file manager, which also knows how to work with audio. This method is suitable for those who are used to working directly with the file structure and do not like unnecessary interfaces. Open the Files app and go to the Music category.

So here you'll see all the audio files sorted by folder, and you can create a new folder at the root of the storage, call it, for example, RoadTrip, and move the tracks there, and many players think of physical folders as ready-made playlists, which is a rigid way of organizing that doesn't depend on application databases.

Alternatively, you can use the Favorites feature, in the file manager, you can mark tracks with an asterisk, and then in some players (including the standard one), choose to display only selected songs as a separate list, which is a quick way to assemble a mix without creating new structures.

For advanced users, you can sort files by different parameters directly in the manager. Click on the sort, select "By name", "by date" or "by size." Although this will not create a playlist in the classical sense, it will streamline playback if you turn on the folder sequential mode.

Metadata management and sorting

Often the problem with creating a playlist is not the lack of a function, but the incorrect metadata of the files. If the track does not have the "Album" or "Artist" fields, it can get lost in the general pile of "Unknown Artist." For this task, Xiaomi conveniently uses a built-in tag editor or specialized applications like Star Music Tag Editor.

Changing the tags allows you to group songs by artist or album automatically. When you create a playlist based on an album, the system collects all the tracks with the corresponding tag. It eliminates the need to manually select hundreds of songs. Just edit the information about the file, and it will fall into place.

You should also pay attention to tag encoding. If you see Krakozabras instead of Russian letters, the playlist may not form correctly. In player settings or when editing tags, select UTF-8 or Windows-1251 encoding to ensure that the Cyrillic alphabet is correctly displayed.

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Quality metadata is the foundation of easy navigation, and take the time to edit tags once to enjoy perfectly sorted music.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the simplicity of the process, Xiaomi users may face a number of common problems, one of the most common is that a playlist is created but empty. This is usually due to files being protected by DRM or in a hidden folder where the application does not have access. Check the access rights in the privacy settings.

Another problem is that lists disappear after a reboot or system update, which is typical of cached data, so to avoid loss, use the playlist export function (if supported by a player) or store music in cloud services linked to an account.

If the music is played randomly despite sorting, check to see if the Shauffle mode is activated. In a standard Xiaomi player, this button is in the playback interface and may be accidentally touched.

• 🔍 Check if Wi-Fi Only is enabled to download the cover.
• 🔄 Clear the cache of the Music app through your phone settings.
• 📂 Make sure that the files are not moved to the Hidden folder".
• 🔋 Turn off aggressive energy savings for media applications.

⚠️ Note: When you clean up the Music app data, your created playlists may be deleted if they are not synced with your Mi or Google cloud account.