How To Create A Playlist On Google Drive

How to play music from Google Drive

Last Updated on August 7, 2020

You can use your Google Drive as a music streaming service. Following this guide, you will learn how to play music from Google Drive, create playlists and use other useful features.

Installing the right app for Google Drive

If you haven't installed the "Music from Drive" app for Google Drive, go to the G Suite Marketplace and click install. Or go to the gdrivemusic.com and click the "Sign in with Google" button.

Another way is search an app from Google Drive interface. In your Google Drive click "Settings">"Manage apps">"Connect more apps" or right-click on any file in Google Drive "Open with">"Connect more apps". In search input enter "Music from Drive". Go to the "Music from Drive" app page and install it.

After installing, you will see a "Music from Drive" app in your Google Drive.

google drive settings - manage apps

Adding audio files

There are two ways to add files to the player.

1. Adding files directly from Google Drive

You can set "Music from Drive" as default app in Google Drive (see first screenshot on this page) and open one audio file in app by double-clicking on the file. Or you can add the files you need through the Google Drive context menu: "Open with">"Music from Drive".

2. Adding files using Google Picker

Also you can add files from "Music from Drive" app interface. Click the "Add audio files" button and select audio files in Google Picker.

add files picker

drive picker

After closing the tab or after reloading the page, open files remain in the player. In both cases, the files are added to the end of the list of songs in the player. Thus, you can listen to songs from different folders and create playlists. To clear the player of all songs or close the current playlist, click the "Clear player" button.

clearing player

You can also open files from "Shared drives" and the "Shared with me" folder.

See supported audio formats on About page.

Playlist

"Music from Drive" has supports playlists.

Creating playlist

Add songs, arrange them in the order you want, and click the "Create playlist" button. In the modal window, enter the name of the playlist and click the "Create playlist" button.

All playlists are saved on your Google Drive in a special folder called "Hidden app data". Only the application that created this folder has access to it. You will not see playlists on your Google Drive, this is done for data security.

Editing playlist

To open the playlist, click the "Open playlist" button, then "Show Playlists" and click on the playlist you want to open.

playlists list

After you open the playlist, you can edit it. Delete unnecessary songs or add new ones using the "Add audio files" button, move the songs in the list in the desired order and click the "Edit playlist" button. In the modal window, if necessary, it is possible to rename the playlist or leave the current name. Click "Edit Playlist."

Adding songs to playlist

There are several options for how to add songs to the playlist.

The first option is to open the playlist and make changes as described in the previous section 'Editing playlist'. Another option is the ability to add songs that are currently open in the player to an existing playlist or replace all the songs in it. You can see this feature if you click the 'Create playlist' button.

And the last option, you can immediately add any one song from the songs that are currently open in the player to any playlist. Click on the 'Add to playlist' button. On smartphone and tablet, touch and hold on a song to see this button.

add song to playlist

You can get a link to the current files in the player. That, you can share with friends the playlist created from files in 'Shared drives' and 'Shared with me' folder. On the Help page, see the solution to the issue that may arise when using this feature.

Removing playlist

If you want to completely remove the playlist, in the list of playlists opposite the playlist you want to remove, click the "Remove" button.

You can also delete all your playlists together. In your Google Drive click "Settings">"Manage apps". Opposite "Music from Drive" click "Options"> "Delete hidden app data".

music from drive hidden app data

Useful features

Also, "Music from Drive" has other useful features similar to most music players for a desktop.

Such as moving songs in a list, repeating a song or the entire list, playing randomly.

Understand how to use it all should not be difficult.