Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

To create a collaborative Apple Music playlist on iPhone, open a playlist in the Music app, tap Collaboration, choose whether to approve join requests, tap Start Collaborating, then send the invitation. Collaborators can add, remove, and reorder songs, and react to tracks with emoji.

Set up the collaboration and invite people

1. Use a new or existing playlist

You can start with a playlist you already made or create a new one in the Music app. Apple’s steps require an Apple Music subscription and a current iPhone or iPad software version. Availability varies by country or region. Apple’s iPhone guide explains the playlist controls.

2. Open Collaboration

Open the playlist in Music and tap Collaboration at the top. If the control is not visible, check that the playlist is open in the Music app rather than relying on ordinary playlist sharing.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

3. Choose whether to approve people

Turn on Approve Collaborators if you want to review requests before people join. With approval enabled, invitees request to join and you can accept or decline. With approval disabled, a person with the invitation link can join. Apple’s iPhone guide puts it plainly: “If you don’t turn on this option, anyone with the link can join the collaborative playlist.” Apple Support also notes that collaborators may share the link, so treat it as an access credential. In Apple’s cross-platform instructions, approval is on by default for users aged 13 to 17. Apple’s collaboration instructions cover that age-specific setting.

#1 Best Overall
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
  • Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
  • The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
  • Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.

4. Start collaborating and send the invitation

Tap Start Collaborating, then choose a listed method such as Messages, Mail, or AirDrop to share the invitation. Tell invitees to open it and tap Join Playlist. If approval is required, they can tap Request to Join and wait for you to respond.

5. Invite more people later

Open the playlist’s collaboration controls and use Share Invite Link or the QR-code option. The link has the same access implications as the original invitation: if approval is off, anyone who gets it can join.

Rank #2
Sale
Apple iPhone 16, 128GB, Pink - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 3561mAh Battery
  • 128GB 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
  • Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
  • 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
  • Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.

Manage access to the playlist

6. Review join requests

When collaborator approval is enabled, open the collaboration-management screen for the playlist to review incoming requests. Accept people you want to include and decline requests you do not recognize or approve.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

7. Remove one collaborator

If someone should no longer have access, use the owner controls on the collaboration screen to remove that person. This ends that person’s participation without ending collaboration for everyone else.

Rank #3
Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
  • Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
  • Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
  • Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
  • Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID

8. Stop collaboration entirely

When you no longer want anyone to edit the playlist collaboratively, use the control to stop collaboration. This is different from removing one person: it ends the shared editing arrangement for the playlist.

9. Leave someone else’s playlist

If you joined another person’s collaborative playlist and want to stop participating, open its Collaboration controls and choose the option to leave. The owner’s controls manage other people; leaving is the participant’s way to withdraw.

Rank #4
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
  • There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
  • This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
  • Product may come in generic Box.

Add, remove, and reorder songs

10. Add a song

  1. Open the collaborative playlist and tap More.

  2. Tap Edit, then choose Add Music.

  3. Search for a track and tap Add.

11. Remove a song

Open More > Edit in the playlist and remove the track you no longer want. Collaborators have permission to remove songs as well as add them, so agree on shared-playlist etiquette if the group needs a stable track list.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

12. Change the track order

In More > Edit, drag the reorder control beside a song to move it to a different position. This lets the group shape the listening sequence instead of merely adding tracks to the end.

Best Value
Apple iPhone 16e, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
  • 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
  • Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
  • Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
  • Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

React to a song

13. Choose an emoji from Now Playing

  1. Play the song in the collaborative playlist.

  2. Open Now Playing.

  3. Tap Reactions and choose an emoji.

Reactions are attached through the Now Playing screen; they are separate from editing the song list. Apple documents the route in its collaboration instructions.

Fix missing collaboration controls

14. Update iOS

If Collaboration is unavailable, make sure the iPhone is running the latest iOS version. Apple likewise advises keeping iPad software current when using an iPad.

15. Check subscription and regional availability

Confirm that the account has an Apple Music subscription and that collaborative playlists are available in your country or region. Apple’s eligibility guidance says children under 13 cannot collaborate. Apple Support lists the subscription, software, age, and availability requirements.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Collaborative playlist versus ordinary sharing

Sharing a playlist on an Apple Music profile is not the same as creating a collaborative playlist. Ordinary sharing lets others access the playlist, but does not by itself give them the collaborative editing controls to add, remove, and reorder songs. Start Collaboration from the playlist’s Collaboration control when you want shared editing.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.; Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
$300.00
Bestseller No. 3
Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU; Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
$403.99
Bestseller No. 4
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.; Product may come in generic Box.
$262.00

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.