> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pikselsystems.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build and manage content playlists

> Create playlists, add media items, set per-item durations, reorder with drag and drop, and assign playlists to screens.

Playlists are ordered collections of media items that play back-to-back on your screens. You control the order of items, how long each one displays, and which screens or schedules use each playlist. A playlist can contain any mix of images, videos, and YouTube videos from your media library.

## Creating a playlist

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Playlists section">
    Navigate to **Playlists** in the dashboard sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new playlist">
    Click **New playlist**. Enter a name for the playlist and set a default duration in seconds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the playlist">
    Click **Create**. The playlist is created and you are taken to the playlist builder.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Default duration

When you create a playlist, you set a `default_duration` in seconds. This value applies to any item in the playlist that does not have its own duration specified. For example, if you set a default duration of 10 seconds, every image without a custom duration will display for 10 seconds before the next item plays.

<Note>
  For video files, the playback duration is determined by the video's own length, not the playlist default or per-item duration setting.
</Note>

## Adding media items to a playlist

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the playlist builder">
    Select a playlist from the list to open its builder view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a media item">
    Browse your media library and click **Add** on any item to append it to the playlist.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set an optional duration">
    After adding an item, you can enter a custom `duration_seconds` value for that specific item. Leave it blank to use the playlist default duration.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Reordering items

Drag and drop items in the playlist builder to change their playback order. The new order takes effect immediately after you save.

## Updating an item's duration

You can change the playback duration for any individual item without affecting the rest of the playlist.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the item in the playlist builder">
    Open the playlist and locate the item you want to update.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit the duration">
    Click the duration field next to the item and enter a new value in seconds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Confirm the change. The updated duration applies the next time the item plays.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Use per-item durations when you want some items — such as promotional images — to display longer than the playlist default while keeping shorter transitions for other content.
</Tip>

## Assigning a playlist to a screen

You can assign a playlist directly to a screen from the playlist list, or from the screen's detail page. Direct assignment sets the default playlist for that screen — this is what plays when no schedule or smart rule is active.

See [Screens](/features/screens) for how to assign a playlist from the screen detail view.

## Deleting a playlist

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the playlist">
    From the playlists list, open the playlist you want to delete.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete the playlist">
    Click **Delete** and confirm the action.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Deleting a playlist unassigns it from all screens that were using it as their default playlist. It also deletes all schedules that reference the playlist. The media items inside the playlist are not deleted — they remain in your media library.
</Warning>