Key Takeaways

  • YouTube Music is testing a new “Find in playlist” button on iOS so you can search inside playlists.
  • Only a tiny group of users seem to have it right now, and it rolls out from Google’s servers, not just an app update.
  • The tool works in your playlists, but it does not yet work in auto-made radio mixes.
  • Playlist search could finally fix the endless scrolling problem in huge work, gym, or study playlists.
  • The feature also helps YouTube Music catch up with Spotify and Apple Music, which already offer strong playlist search tools.

Endless scrolling is not fun.

You open a playlist with hundreds of songs. You just want one track. However, you keep swiping and swiping, hoping to spot it.

Now, YouTube Music is quietly testing a way to fix this. A new “Find in playlist” button is starting to appear for a small number of iOS users. It is a tiny change on the screen, but it could be a big change in how you use your music.

First, let us look at what is new.

YouTube Music is testing a search box that works inside a single playlist. In the test, some iOS users see a “Find in playlist” button when they open one of their playlists.

When you tap it, a search field appears. You can then type the name of a song, artist, or album. The app filters the playlist and shows only matching tracks.

Right now, this test:

  • Works in playlists saved in your library.
  • Does not work in radio-style mixes that YouTube Music builds on the fly.
  • Seems limited to a very small number of accounts.

So, this is not a full launch yet. It is more like a peek at where the app is heading.

Why Playlist Search Matters So Much

If you use YouTube Music every day, you may lean on a few giant playlists. One for focus, one for workouts, one for commuting, and maybe one for sleep.

Without playlist search:

  • You scroll a long list to find a single track.
  • You may give up and search the whole service instead.
  • You waste time jumping between tabs and menus.

With playlist search, you can:

  • Jump straight to the song you want.
  • Check if a track is already in a playlist.
  • Quickly clean out duplicates or songs you no longer like.
  • Treat playlists as a real “library,” not just a big bucket.

Other services have offered this for years. Spotify, for example, lets you search inside a playlist by pulling down to reveal a search bar on mobile or using a key shortcut on desktop. Apple Music also lets you filter a playlist on Mac with a simple search field.

Because of that, YouTube Music users have long felt they were missing a basic tool. This test shows Google has heard that feedback.

How the “Find in Playlist” Button Works

The test is small, but the idea is simple. Here is how it works for the lucky few who have it:

  1. Open the YouTube Music app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to Library and tap one of your playlists.
  3. Look for a “Find in playlist” option in the playlist view.
  4. Tap it to open a search field.
  5. Type a song name, artist, or album.
  6. Watch the list shrink down to only the matching tracks.

You can then tap the song you want and start playing right away.

For now, this does not help with:

  • Auto-generated radios.
  • System-made mixes that keep changing order.

However, it still removes a lot of friction for playlists you build and manage yourself.

Who Has Access Right Now?

This rollout is very limited.

Reports so far say:

  • It is only showing up for some iOS users.
  • One user who shared a screenshot was running YouTube Music version 8.45.3 on an iPhone.
  • Users on Android and other iOS devices often do not see the button, even on the same app version.

This suggests a server-side A/B test. That means:

  • Updating the app alone will not force the feature to appear.
  • Google turns it on for select accounts from the backend.
  • The company can quietly test and tweak it before a wider launch.

Because of this, you should not worry if you do not see it yet. Many new YouTube Music features start with a small test group and then spread slowly.

How This Fixes the Endless Scrolling Problem

The Digital Trends report calls out the main pain point clearly: without search, big playlists become a slog.

Here is how this feature helps:

  • Less time hunting: You search once instead of scanning hundreds of song titles.
  • More control: You can treat a long playlist like a small folder and quickly find what you need.
  • Faster mood changes: When you want to switch to a specific vibe or artist, you get there in seconds.
  • Cleaner playlists: It becomes easier to spot repeated tracks or old songs you no longer want.

Also, this feature could help people who use YouTube Music as a full library, not just for casual listening. For them, playlists often replace old-school “local folders” or downloaded MP3 collections. A search bar is a key tool in that style of use.

How It Compares to Spotify and Apple Music

YouTube Music is not the first app to think about playlist search.

  • Spotify already lets you search inside playlists on both desktop and mobile. On a phone, you can usually pull down the playlist view to reveal a search box. On desktop, you can use a standard search shortcut to filter the list.
  • Apple Music lets you filter your library and playlists on Mac and iOS. You can search within your own collection, not just across the whole service.

Because of this, many power users saw YouTube Music as behind on basic library tools. The new “Find in playlist” test helps close that gap.

However, the real benefit will only show up if Google ships this to everyone, on both iOS and Android.

Even if you do not have the test yet, you can still make big playlists easier to live with.

Here are some simple tips:

  • Split monster playlists: Instead of one 1,000-song list, create smaller lists by mood, year, or energy level.
  • Use clear names: Call playlists things like “Morning Focus,” “Late Night Chill,” or “90s Rock Favs” so they are easy to spot.
  • Pin your top playlists: Keep your daily-use lists at the top of your library, if the app view allows it.
  • Prune on the go: When a song no longer fits, remove it right away instead of waiting.
  • Check other tools: On desktop, some browser extensions can help you search or sort long YouTube Music playlists until native tools arrive.

These habits keep your library tidy now, and they will work even better once playlist search is widely available.

Did You Know?

YouTube Music offers access to over 100 million songs across playlists, albums, remixes, live shows, and videos. That is more than many older “download and store” music collections ever held.

YouTube Music playlists can show up in both the YouTube Music app and regular YouTube, which makes them useful for both audio-only listening and music videos.

With this much content, even a small search box can have a big impact.

Conclusion

YouTube Music’s new playlist search test is a small feature with big potential.

It turns endless vertical scrolling into a quick search. It helps power users treat playlists as serious libraries, not just long lists. It also pushes YouTube Music closer to its main rivals in everyday usability.

Right now, the test is tiny and limited to some iOS users. However, it shows that Google is paying attention to basic tools, not only flashy AI and discovery features.

If “Find in playlist” rolls out widely, it could become one of those quiet updates that people rely on every day, especially if they live inside a few giant playlists.

FAQs

What is the new playlist search feature in YouTube Music?

It is a test feature called “Find in playlist.” When you open one of your playlists, you may see a button that lets you search inside that list. You can type a song, artist, or album and quickly filter the tracks in that playlist.

Who can use “Find in playlist” right now?

So far, only a small group of iOS users seem to have it. Reports mention the feature appearing on YouTube Music version 8.45.3, but it is a server-side test. This means Google chooses which accounts see it, even if many people share the same app version.

Does playlist search work on Android or on radios?

For now, reports suggest that the test is iOS-only. It also does not work on radio-style mixes that YouTube Music generates automatically. It is focused on playlists that you have saved in your library.

How is this different from searching the whole YouTube Music app?

Normal search looks across the entire service: songs, albums, artists, videos, and playlists. Playlist search only looks inside one playlist at a time. This is useful when you know the song is in a specific list and you want to find it without leaving that screen.

Why is this feature a big deal for YouTube Music users?

Many users rely on large playlists for daily life, like work, study, or gym sessions. Without playlist search, they have to scroll through long lists to find a single track. With “Find in playlist,” they can jump to the right song in seconds, similar to what Spotify and Apple Music already offer.

Do I need to update my app to get the feature?

You should keep your app updated for many reasons. However, in this case, an update alone may not be enough. The test is controlled on Google’s servers, so the company decides which accounts see “Find in playlist.” A wider rollout would likely appear in future app builds for many more users.

References