Modern smartphones, especially Xiaomi devices, have long been powerful multimedia centers that store thousands of tracks and enjoy your favorite music anywhere. However, standard file organization by folder is often uncomfortable when you want to quickly turn on tracks for workouts, sleep or parties. This is where playlisting comes to the rescue, which allows you to structure audio files according to personal preferences, ignoring the physical location of files in the device’s memory. Creating playlists on Android shells, such as MIUI or HyperOS, can vary depending on the player application used, which often raises questions among users who have switched from other brands.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways of grouping music, ranging from standard system tools to advanced third-party solutions. You will learn not only to create lists, but also to properly configure them, sync them and display them on the main screen for instant access. Understanding the logic of how Xiaomi audio libraries work will allow you to turn a chaotic collection into a new one. MP3-Files in a perfectly organized media library.
It's worth noting that the process can vary depending on the version of the operating system and the model of your gadget, whether it's a budget Redmi or a flagship Xiaomi. We'll look at universal algorithms of action that are relevant for most current firmware versions. Ready to experiment with settings is the key to personalizing your device.
Use of the standard application "Music"
The most obvious and affordable way to organize tracks is to use a pre-installed application, often called Music or Mi Music. This player is deeply integrated into the MIUI and HyperOS system, which ensures stable operation and no conflicts with energy saving. The application interface may seem overloaded due to built-in online services, but the basic functionality of local file management is implemented here as convenient and logically as possible.
To get started, you have to open the app and go to the tab that handles the local tracks, and this is usually done through the bottom menu, where you have to select "Traces" or "Locals." Once you see the full list of all the audio files on the device, you can start grouping. It's important to understand that the playlist in this context is a virtual pointer that doesn't move files physically, but only creates a new logical category for them.
The process of creating a new playback folder requires several sequential steps, first you need to find a menu button, which is often hidden under three dots or a list icon in the upper right corner of the screen, and that's where the basic library management tools are hidden.
- 🎵 Click on the menu icon (three dots or stripes) in the top corner of the screen.
- ➕ Select the option “Create a playlist” or “New Playlist».
- 📝 Enter the desired title for your collection, such as “Sport” or “Relax».
- ✅ Confirm the creation, after which the system will suggest adding tracks.
Once you create an empty container, you need to fill it with content, and you can do this in two ways: select tracks from the list you want to create right away, or add them later, going to the folder you created, and the flexibility of the system allows you to rename the list at any time, or delete it if it is no longer relevant.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the playlist in the standard application, only the list itself is deleted, your music files remain in the phone’s memory intact.
Creating lists through “Conductor” and file manager
An alternative method that is often overlooked is to work with the file system directly through standard Explorer, which is especially relevant if the built-in player for some reason does not see the metadata of the tracks or does not work correctly. Xiaomi file manager has enough functionality for basic sorting and shortcut creation, although it is less focused on multimedia than specialized applications.
The method is to manually select a group of files and save them as a select set. Open the Explorer app and go to the folder where the music is stored, usually /Internal storage/Music or /Internal storage/Download. Allocating multiple files simultaneously opens up additional options in the lower action menu.
However, it’s worth noting that the standard file manager doesn’t always know how to create native.m3u playlists that all players understand. Most often, it suggests adding selected tracks to Favorites within its ecosystem or opening them in another application. For full playlists, it’s better to use the Add In feature in the context menu of dedicated files, if it’s available in your version of MIUI.
Why can't playlists be created?
If you plan to use this method often, it makes sense to create a separate folder with a clear name where you will manually copy or move tracks for certain situations. This is an old, “grandfather” method that nevertheless works seamlessly on any device, regardless of the version of the operating system.
Customization of third-party players: Poweramp and Musicolet
Standard tools don’t always meet the requirements of audiophiles, so many Xiaomi owners prefer to install third-party applications. Poweramp and Musicolet are already market leaders, which offer advanced algorithms for sorting and managing playlists. Installing such software gives full control over the library, allowing you to ignore system limitations.
Poweramp is famous for its powerful equalizer and customization flexibility. Playlist creation here takes place through library menus. You can create "smart playlists" that automatically fill with tracks according to specified criteria (such as the Rock genre and the release year "after 2020"). This eliminates the manual addition of each track.
Musicolet is remarkable for being completely offline and requiring no permissions to access the network, which increases security. The interface here is more conservative but functional. The creation of a new group of tracks is done through the side menu, where you select Playlists and click on the plus.
When using third-party software, it is important to properly configure folder scanning, so if the application does not see your music, you need to specify the path to the directories with audio files in its settings, which ensures that all tracks are available for addition to the lists you create.
- 📂 Open the library settings in the selected player.
- 🔍 Make sure the music folder is included in the scan list.
- 🔄 Click the “Update” or “Scan again” button».
- 🎧 Go to the playlists section and create a new one.
Adding tracks from different folders to one list
One of the most common tasks is to put together tracks that are physically scattered across different device daddies, like downloaded files in Download, recorder records in Recordings, and ringtones in Ringtones, which standard players can solve without moving files.
To implement this, you need to use the “Add to playlist” function. Go to the general list of all tracks (usually the “All tracks” or “Library” tab). Using the selection function (pressing a finger on the first track, then marking the others), select the desired songs from different sources.
Once selected, click on three dots (action menus) and select Add to Playlist, which will suggest a list of existing folders or create a new one, which allows you to create thematic collections without ignoring the folder structure on the disk, a approach that is highly valued by users with a large library.
| Action. | Standard player | Poweramp | Conductor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creation of a list | Through the track menu | Through the library. | Not supported* |
| Addition of tracks | Mass excretion | Smart rules. | Copying files |
| Editing | Rename | Full management | Only files. |
| Sorting | By name/date | By tag/genre | Named after the file. |
Important to know: Some Android system restrictions may prevent access to the Android/data folder in new OS versions, so store music in root folders for unimpeded access.
Managing and editing existing playlists
Creating a list is just the beginning. Over time, the content will change: some tracks will get bored, others will want to hear more often. Editing allows you to delete songs, change their order or rename the list itself. In most Xiaomi players, this is done through a long press on the title of the playlist or through the control menu inside it.
Sorting tracks within the list can be automatic (by alphabet, by artist) or manual. Manual mode is especially convenient for creating sequences where play order is important, for example, for mixes or podcasts. Just drag the tracks for a hamburger icon (three stripes) next to the title of the composition.
☑️ Checklist of the perfect playlist
And remember, playlist covers, you can have a unique image for each list in advanced players, which makes navigation easier visually, and it's a trifle, but it greatly improves the user experience when you're managing a large collection.
Output playlists on the desktop and widgets
For maximum comfort, you should bring your favorite music to the home screen, and the MIUI and HyperOS shells allow you to place widgets of players of various sizes, which eliminates the need to open the application every time to switch tracks or run the desired list.
To add a widget, tap long across an empty desktop space and select "Widgets." Find your music app in the list. Usually, widgets with a play button, a list of recent tracks, or a direct launch of a specific playlist are available. Choose the appropriate size and place it on the screen.
⚠️ Warning: Widgets can consume extra battery power as they constantly update the information on the screen.If energy savings are a priority, use minimal-sized widgets.
You can also configure automation scenarios, for example, when you connect a Bluetooth headset, the phone can run a specific playlist itself, and to do this, in a standard Security app or through third-party snails like MacroDroid, you create a rule: "If device X is connected, then launch the Music application and turn on the Y playlist."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did the new playlist disappear after the system update?
Can you sync playlists between your Xiaomi phone and your computer?
How to restore a deleted playlist?
Why doesn’t the phone see new tracks in the playlist?
💡
Creating playlists is the best way to organize music space on Xiaomi, saving time searching for tracks and allowing you to enjoy music in any context.