In today’s ever-evolving landscape of online content, YouTube remarkably has solidified its position as a powerhouse platform. With over 2.6 million active monthly users, YouTube has become a go-to platform for content creators, marketers, and individuals looking for entertainment, education, or information.
However, a common frustration among YouTube creators is when their playlists do not show up in search results as expected. Many users reported that they were not able to view playlists in the search results. A black screen appears when opening the playlist section. Others say whenever they try to search filters to find playlists, the platform says ‘no results found’.
Playlists help users organize their content and enhance the viewer’s experience.
However, sometimes you might encounter the frustrating issue where your YouTube playlists are not showing up in search results.
The reasons for YouTube playlists not showing up In Search Results can be due to privacy settings, cached data, and, changes in YouTube algorithm.
How To Fix YouTube Playlists Not Showing Up In Search Results?
To fix YouTube playlists Not Showing Up In Search Results, adjust privacy settings, optimize title and description, clear cache and data, restart your device and, stay updated with YouTube’s algorithm. If none of the fixes work, contact the YouTube Help Centre to solve this issue.
1. Adjust Privacy Settings
If your playlists are set to “private” or “unlisted,” they won’t show up in search results. To resolve this, Change the privacy settings of your playlists to “public” to make them accessible through search results.
- Open YouTube. Go to Your Account
- A pencil icon to edit the playlist will be there. That is the Channel Settings icon. Tap on it.
- In Channel settings, Toggle off the privacy option by tapping on it. Now, your playlists will be visible to everyone.
2. Optimize Playlist Title And Description
Incomplete or Misleading Titles and Descriptions can affect the visibility of playlists. Ensure your playlist titles and descriptions accurately reflect the content within. Follow the steps given below to optimize your playlist titles and meta descriptions:-
- Go to “YouTube Studio.”
- Click “Playlists” on the left sidebar.
- Select the playlist you want to optimize.
- Click the pencil icon to edit the playlist.
- Under “Playlist details,” revise and optimize the title and description with relevant keywords.
- Save your changes.
Following these steps can help you revise and optimize your playlist titles and descriptions with relevant keywords to improve search visibility.
3. Clear Browser Cache And Data
Clearing cache and cookies can resolve display issues caused by corrupted or outdated data in your browser. Below are the steps to clear cache and data for YouTube on your browser:
For Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
- Hover over “More tools.”
- Select “Clear browsing data.”
- In the pop-up window, choose a time range. To clear all data, select “All time.”
- Ensure the “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data” boxes are checked.
- Click “Clear data.”
Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox.
- Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
- Click “Options.”
- In the left sidebar, select “Privacy & Security.”
- Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section.
- Click on “Clear Data…”
- Ensure the “Cached Web Content” and “Cookies and Site Data” boxes are ticked.
- Click “Clear.”
Safari (Mac):
- Open Safari.
- Click on “Safari” in the menu bar.
- Select “Preferences.”
- Go to the “Advanced” tab.
- In that window, go to the “Privacy” tab.
- Click on the “Manage Website Data” button.
- In the “Manage Website Data” window, you will see a list of websites with stored data. To remove all data, click “Remove All.” To remove data for a specific website, search for it in the search bar, select it, and then click “Remove” or “Remove All.”
- Confirm the action when prompted.
4. Clear YouTube Cache And Data On Mobile
To clear cached data on your mobile, follow these steps:-
On Android:
- Open the “Settings” app on your Android device.
- Go to “Apps” or “Application Manager”. Find YouTube here and tap on it.
- Now, scroll down and look for the “Storage” or “Storage Usage” option. Tap on it.
- Now, Tap on the “clear cache” and “clear data” options. Confirm by tapping “OK.”
On iOS:
- Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and find “YouTube” in the list of installed apps. Tap on “YouTube.”
- In the YouTube settings, you will see options like “Cellular Data Usage,” “Background App Refresh,” and “Storage.” Tap on “Storage.”
- On the next screen, you’ll see two options: “Downloaded Videos” and “Clear Watch History.” Tap on “Clear Watch History.”
- A confirmation dialogue will appear, asking if you want to clear your watch history. Confirm your choice by tapping “Clear Watch History.”
5. Stay Updated With YouTube’s Algorithm
YouTube frequently updates its search and discovery algorithms to improve user experience and content relevancy. These updates can affect how your playlists are ranked and displayed in search results. By staying informed about these changes, you can adapt your content strategy to align with YouTube’s current search algorithm.
To do that you can follow the suggestions below.
Engage with Your Audience – Encourage viewer engagement by responding to comments, likes, and shares. A highly engaged audience can boost your content’s visibility in search results.
Upload Consistently – Regular uploads are favored by the algorithm. Maintain a consistent posting schedule to improve your content’s chances of being discovered.
Subscribe to YouTube’s Official Channels – Subscribe to Creator Insider and “YouTube Creators” to receive updates and insights about algorithm changes.
Visit the YouTube Creator Blog – YouTube maintains a blog specifically for creators, where they post official announcements and in-depth information about algorithm updates and platform changes. So, Regularly visit the YouTube Creator’s Blog.
6. Restart Your Device
Restarting your device is a simple yet effective solution to fix various issues, including YouTube playlists not showing up. So, try to restart your device and then access the playlist section again.
Here are the steps for both computer and mobile:
On a Computer/Laptop:
- Save your work and close all open applications.
- Click the “Start” or “Apple” menu.
- Select “Restart” or “Shut Down.”
- Wait for your computer to turn off completely, then turn it back on.
- Open your web browser, go to YouTube, and check if the playlists are now visible.
On Mobile (iOS/Android):
- Unlock your device.
- Press and hold the power button.
- Choose “Restart” or “Reboot” from the menu that appears.
- Wait for your device to restart.
- Open the YouTube app and check if the playlists are now visible.
7. Contact Youtube Support
If you have exhausted yourself trying every fix possible and still nothing works, it’s a good idea to contact YouTube support for assistance. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the official YouTube Help Center.
- Explain your problem in detail with the issues faced. Remember to always provide clear and detailed information about the problem. This helps them to understand and address your issue effectively.
- Submit your request.
- After submitting your request, you should receive a response from YouTube support, and they will assist you in troubleshooting and resolving the issue. Be patient, as response times may vary.
You can also check out forums and the YouTube community for any further guidance.