How to create a music playlist on a Xiaomi smartphone: 5 proven ways

Creating playlists on Xiaomi smartphones is a task that seems simple only at first glance. MIUI, The device model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T) And the process of the music application that you use can be very different, and you can take a few clicks somewhere, and you have to use workarounds or third-party services somewhere.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to create playlists on Xiaomi in the future. 2026 From the standard Mi Music app to Google Play Music, Spotify, even a file manager. MIUI 14/15, where the interface has undergone changes, and common errors that may cause tracks to be left unadded or missing after a reboot.

If you're faced with no "Create a Playlist" button, or if the songs you add disappear, you'll find solutions here, and for those who prefer automation, we've prepared a guide to create dynamic playlists by genre or mood.

1. Creating a playlist in the standard application "Mi Music"

Mi Music (or Mi Music) is a regular player on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO. Despite its minimalist interface, it supports the creation of playlists, but with a number of limitations. MIUI 15 The algorithm for sorting tracks has changed, and now songs in the playlist can be duplicated if they are stored in different folders.

To create a playlist:

  1. Open the Mi Music app (note icon on white background).
  2. Go to the Playlists tab (bottom of the screen).
  3. Click on the + icon in the upper right corner.
  4. Enter the name of the playlist (such as β€œTraining” or β€œSleeping”) and click Ready.
  5. Now add tracks: tap on three dots next to the song β†’ Add to the playlist β†’ select the created.

Important: If you don’t see the Playlist tab, update the app through the Play Store or check the display settings in Mi Music β†’ Settings β†’ Interface.

All tracks are uploaded to the phone’s memory (not in the cloud)

The app is updated to the latest version

Settings include displaying local files (Settings) β†’ Show audio files)

No duplicate songs in different folders (may cause errors)

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Problem: After the phone reboots, the playlist is empty? MIUI 14, caching-related. Solution:

⚠️ Attention! If the playlist is reset, move all music files to one folder (like Music) and restart the application. Also check if access to the Mi Music storage is disabled in Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Permits.

2. Alternative method: through the file manager

If a standard application is buggy or you need to quickly group tracks without unnecessary clicks, you can create a playlist right in the file manager. MIUI And it doesn't require the Internet.

Instructions:

  1. Open Files (Standard Xiaomi Manager)
  2. Go to the music folder (usually Internal Storage) β†’ Music or MIUI β†’ Music).
  3. Select tracks by holding your finger on the first file, then tap on the rest.
  4. Press More (three dots) β†’ Add to the playlist β†’ Create a new one.
  5. Give me a name and save it.

The advantage of this method is that the playlist will be available in Mi Music and other players (for example, Poweramp or other players). VLC). But there's a nuance:

File formatIs it supported?Note
.m3u, .m3u8Yes.Standard playlist format, read by most players
.plsPartially.It may not open in M Music, but it works in Winamp or AIMP
.wpl (Windows Media)No.Not supported on Android
.xspfYes.Used in Spotify and some online services

If you are migrating playlists from PC to Xiaomi, convert them to format.m3u through programs foobar2000 Or online converters, otherwise the phone might not recognize the file.

3. Playlists in Google Play Music and YouTube Music

For Xiaomi owners who use Google services, creating playlists is made easier by cloud synchronization, but since the end of Google Play Music in 2020, YouTube Music has become the main tool.

YouTube Music (Relevant to YouTube) MIUI 14/15):

  • πŸ“± Open the YouTube Music app (download from the Play Store if it isn't available).
  • πŸ” Find the track through search or in the Library section.
  • πŸ“‹ Click on three dots next to the song β†’ Save to playlist. β†’ New playlist.
  • 🎡 Select a title (e.g., β€œHits 2026”) and click Create.

Google Play Music (an outdated method, but still works for downloaded files):

  • πŸ“ Download music to Google Play Music via the web version (music.google.com).
  • 🎼 In the mobile application go to the Library β†’ Songs.
  • πŸ”„ Highlight the tracks β†’ Click Add to Playlist.

Note: Google Play Music has been completely replaced by YouTube Music since 2026, but previously downloaded tracks remain available.

YouTube Music

Spotify

Yandex Music

VK Music

Local files on the phone

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4. Dynamic playlists by genre or mood

If you're tired of manually adding tracks, you can set up automatic playlists that will be updated to the specified criteria, and apps like Poweramp, Musicolet or BlackPlayer will do this.

Example of settings in Poweramp:

  1. Install Poweramp from Play Store (there is a free version).
  2. Open the Library. β†’ Playlists.
  3. Press. + β†’ Autoplayer.
  4. Make rules, for example: 🎡 Genre: Rock or Electronics ⭐ Ratings: 4-5 star ⏳ Duration: from 3 before 5 minute

Save the playlist – it will update automatically when you add new tracks.

Advantages of dynamic playlists:

  • ⏱️ Save time – no need to add songs manually.
  • πŸ”„ Update when the library changes (for example, after downloading a new album).
  • πŸŽ›οΈ Flexible settings: you can filter by year of release, bitrate, even by text in the track title.

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To make the dynamic playlist work correctly, make sure that all tracks have the correct tags (artist, album, genre). MP3Tag on PC or Star Music Tag Editor on Android.

5 Playlists on Spotify and other streaming services

Spotify is one of the most popular music listening services, and it works on Xiaomi without any complaints, but there are nuances with offline playlists and caching.

How to create a playlist in Spotify:

  1. Open the Spotify app and log in.
  2. Go to your library. β†’ Playlists.
  3. Click Create a playlist.
  4. Add the title and description (optional).
  5. Find tracks through search and click + (playlist).

For offline listening:

  • πŸ“΄ Activate Offline mode in playlist settings (premium subscription required).
  • πŸ“± Make sure that in the settings β†’ Storage is enough space (Spotify caches tracks to a folder) Android/data/com.spotify.music).

Problem: Is the playlist not downloading?

⚠️ Attention, Xiaomi with MIUI 14/15 It can trigger battery optimization for Spotify, which interrupts the boot. Add the app to the exceptions: Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ All applications β†’ Spotify β†’ No restrictions.

Similarly, playlists are created in:

  • 🎧 Yandex Music: Library β†’ Playlists β†’ Create.
  • 🎡 VK Music: My profile β†’ Playlists β†’ New.
  • 🍎 Apple Music: Library β†’ Playlists β†’ +.

6. Problem Solving: Playlist is not saved or is lost

Xiaomi users often face playlists being reset after an update MIUI These are the main reasons and ways to fix them:

Problem.Reason.Decision
Playlist is empty after rebootingMi Music's cache resetMove the music to one folder (such as Music) and restart the app
Tracks are duplicated in the playlistThe same file is in several folders.Remove duplicates or use the file manager to find repeats
You can't add tracks to the playlist.Files in a format that is not supported by Mi Music (e.g..flac or.ape)Convert to.mp3 or.m4a via Audacity or Online-Convert
Playlist is not synchronized with cloudNo access to Mi Account or Google AccountCheck the synchronization settings in Settings β†’ Accounts

If the problem is not solved, try:

  • πŸ”„ Reset the settings of Mi Music (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Mi Music. β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the data).
  • πŸ“₯ Install an alternative player (e.g., Musicolet or VLC).
  • πŸ”§ Update MIUI up to the latest version (in new builds bugs with playlists are often corrected).
How to recover Lost.Dir and lost playlists?
If the playlist is missing after a crash, check the Lost.Dir folder on the internal drive, which can store recovered files, including playlists in the format.m3u. Transfer them manually to the Music folder and open through the player.

7. Creating a playlist for training or jogging

For sports, a regular playlist may not be suitable β€” it is important that the pace of the music coincides with the rhythm of the movements. On Xiaomi, this can be adjusted using the Mi Fit app (for Mi Band) or specialized services.

Method 1: via Mi Fit

  • πŸƒ Connect Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch to your phone.
  • 🎡 In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile β†’ Music for training.
  • πŸ“‹ Select a ready-made playlist or create a new one by specifying a target pace (for example, 120-140 BPM run).

Method 2: Using RockMyRun or Jog.fm

  • πŸ“± Install RockMyRun from Play Store.
  • 🎧 Select a genre and target tempo (e.g. Pop, 130) BPM).
  • πŸ”„ The app will generate a playlist that can be exported to Spotify or YouTube Music.

For Xiaomi with MIUI 15 also available integration with Google Fit:

  1. Activate synchronization in Settings β†’ Google β†’ Fit.
  2. In Google Fit, select Goals β†’ Music for training.
  3. Connect Spotify or YouTube Music to automatically play play playlists when you start your workout.

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For accurate timing of music, use metronome-based applications (such as Soundbrenner or Pro Metronome) to sync. BPM tracks with your pulse or steps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about playlists on Xiaomi

πŸ” Can I create a playlist of songs from YouTube?
Yes, but not through standard means. Use apps like Snaptube or NewPipe to download YouTube audio in a format.mp3, And then add files to the playlist through Mi Music or file manager, and note that downloading music from YouTube may violate copyright.
πŸ“± Why Mi Music doesn't have a Playlist tabΒ»?
This may be due to: An outdated version of the application (update via Play Store); Disabled display of local files (Settings) β†’ Show audio files; regional restrictions (Mi Music is stripped in some countries); if the tab doesn't appear, install an alternative player, such as Musicolet.
πŸ”„ How to transfer the playlist from iPhone to Xiaomi?
The most reliable way: Export a playlist from iTunes or Apple Music to the format.m3u. Transfer the file to Xiaomi via Google Drive or cable. Open the file via Mi Music or VLC. For streaming services (like Spotify), use tools like Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic to move playlists between platforms.
🎡 Can I make a playlist of tracks from different services (Spotify) + localization)?
Direct import is not possible, but there are workarounds: Use Poweramp or Musicolet – they support simultaneous playback of local files and streaming music (via plugins). Download tracks from Spotify to offline (Premium users only) and add them to the playlist along with local files. Note: mixing sources can lead to sync problems.
πŸ”• How to hide a playlist from other phone users?
Methods depending on the service: Local files: transfer the playlist (.m3u) in a hidden folder (for example,.hidden_music) Use a file manager with a file hiding function (e.g. Solid Explorer). Spotify/YouTube Music: Make the playlist private in the settings (Edit the playlist) β†’ Mi Music: There is no built-in concealment feature, but you can rename the playlist to a non-obvious title (e.g., a playlist, sys_temp_1).