Modern smartphones have turned into powerful multimedia centers capable of storing thousands of music tracks. However, without proper organization, this collection quickly turns into chaos, where finding the right composition takes minutes. One of the most popular solutions for putting things in order is an audio player AIMPwhich combines a minimalistic interface and advanced functionality.
A key function that makes listening to music comfortable is the ability to create your own playlists. This allows you to group tracks by mood, genre or artist, creating unique sets for different situations. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available ways to create and manage playlists in the mobile version of the application.
Preparing a media library and navigating the interface
Before you start creating lists, you need to make sure that the application has access to the device’s file system. AIMP does not create copies of files, but only indexes existing tracks, therefore Access rights are critical. When you first launch the app, you will be prompted to select folders to scan, and this step cannot be skipped, otherwise the library will remain empty.
Navigation in the player is built on tabs located at the bottom of the screen. The user needs to go to the “Library” or “Files” section to see the storage structure. All found audio files are displayed here, sorted by folder or metadata. If you do not see your tracks, check the scanning settings in the application menu.
The app interface is adapted for touch control, which makes it easier to work with large lists. Swipe gestures allow you to quickly delete items or call the context menu. To get started with playlists, it is important to understand the difference between a play queue and a saved list: the first disappears after closing the application, the second is stored permanently.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using an external SD card on Android 11 and higher, the system may restrict access to files. In this case, grant permission through the system file manager when the application first prompts.
Use the "Update Library" function in the settings if you recently copied new music to your phone, but it does not appear in the list.
Manually creating a playlist through the app menu
The easiest and most versatile way to organize your music is to create a list manually via the main menu. This method gives complete control over the composition and order of tracks. You don't have to wait for automatic scanning; you decide what will be included in your selection.
To get started, open the side menu or click on the list icon at the top of the screen. Select the item Playlists, and then click on the plus symbol or the “Create” button. The system will prompt you to enter a name for the new collection. It is recommended to use clear names to easily navigate the library later.
After creating an empty list, you need to fill it with content. Go to the “Files” or “Tracks” section, find the desired song and hold it with your finger for a few seconds. In the context menu that appears, select the option "Add to playlist". Next, specify the name of the previously created list.
- 🎵 You can add tracks from different folders to one list, creating thematic collections.
- ✂️ Long presses allow you to select several files at once for mass addition.
- 🔄 The order of tracks can be changed by simply dragging (Drag-and-Drop) inside the list.
This approach is ideal for creating small “for now” collections or specific genre mixes. However, if you have a collection of several thousand tracks, manual addition can take a lot of time. In this case, it is worth considering automated methods.
Automatic creation from folders and albums
If your music is already organized into folders according to albums or artists, the process can be significantly speeded up. AIMP allows you to create playlists based on the directory structure. This eliminates the need to add each file individually.
In file browsing mode, find the folder containing the desired album. Click on it to open the contents, or long press on the folder itself. In the context menu, select the option Add a folder to a playlist. The app will automatically create a new list with the name of the folder and fill it with all the audio files inside.
The function of creating a list from the current album in metadata viewing mode works in a similar way. Find the album in your library, bring up the menu and choose to create a playlist. This is especially convenient for discographies, where it is important to preserve the order of tracks specified by the artist.
| Creation method | Speed | Composition control | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual adding | Low | Full | Hodgepodges, hits |
| From folder | High | Average | Albums, soundtracks |
| From queue | Medium | Flexible | Random selections |
| M3U import | Instant | Depends on the file | Transfer from PC |
When adding in bulk, it is important to ensure that there are no unnecessary files in the folder, for example, voice notes or podcasts that you do not want to hear in the music mix. Filtering by file type in the scan settings will help avoid this.
Saving a playback queue
Often users create a playlist spontaneously, simply adding tracks to the queue while listening. The standard queue is cleared when you exit the application, but AIMP offers the function of saving the current queue as a permanent playlist.
To take advantage of this feature, first create the desired playback order by adding tracks through the “Add to Queue” menu. When the list is ready, open the current queue screen (usually the list icon in the player). Click on the action menu (three dots) and select Save queue.
The system will ask for a name for the new list. After confirmation, all tracks from the temporary queue will be transferred to the permanent playlist section. This is a great way to quickly record a successful sequence of tracks, selected by trial and error.
⚠️ Attention: Saving a queue does not duplicate files, but only creates a link to them. If you delete the original audio files from the phone's memory, they will also disappear from the saved playlist.
☑️ Check before saving the queue
Working with cloud playlists and synchronization
For users who want to access their music on different devices, AIMP offers support for cloud playlists. This feature allows you to store playlists in cloud storage, rather than locally on the device.
To activate this feature, you need to register with the service AIMP Cloud or connect a third-party cloud through the app settings. When creating a playlist, select the "Create Cloud Playlist" option. Such lists are marked with a special icon and synchronized with the server.
The main advantage of cloud lists is the ability to edit them from a computer and see changes on the phone, and vice versa. You can start making a playlist at home on your PC and continue listening on the go on your smartphone. Local files must be available on the playback device.
Cloud synchronization restrictions
The cloud playlist contains only a list of paths and metadata. The audio files themselves are not automatically uploaded to the cloud. If you added a track to the list that is not on your phone, the player will show a playback error.
Import and export playlists
The mobile player is often used as an addition to the desktop version. To avoid wasting time manually creating the same lists, use the import function. AIMP supports popular playlist formats, such as .m3u, .pls and .asx.
To import, place the playlist file in the phone memory. In the application, go to the playlists section, open the menu and select Import. Specify the path to the file. The app will analyze its contents and create local lists corresponding to the paths in the file.
The reverse process - export - allows you to transfer your mobile work to your computer. Select the playlist you want, press menu and select Export. The file will be saved in the specified folder, and you can open it in any other app or transfer it to a friend.
When importing lists from a computer, a problem with file paths often arises. If the folder structure on your phone differs from that on your computer, the player may not find the tracks. In this case, you will need to rescan the library or manually specify the root folder for search.
The M3U format is a universal standard and guarantees compatibility of playlists between different devices and operating systems.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why the playlist does not play after a reboot phone?
The files may have been moved or deleted, or the application may have lost access rights to the memory. Check the availability of files in the file manager and update the library in the settings AIMP.
Is it possible to combine two different playlists into one?
There is no direct merging function, but you can create a new empty list and sequentially add the contents of two other playlists to it through the editing mode or adding all tracks.
How to make did the playlist play in random order?
Open the desired playlist and click on the “Shuffle” icon (crossed arrows) in the bottom control panel. This will enable random play mode for the current list only.
Where are playlist files stored on Android?
They are usually located in a folder Android/data/com.aimp.player/files/Playlists or in a shared folder AIMP/Playlists, depending on the Android version and storage settings.
Does AIMP support playlists from Yandex.Music or Spotify?
No, AIMP works only with local files and direct links. Direct import of lists from streaming services is impossible without the use of third-party converters.