> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lightloop.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Playlists

> Build ordered sequences of media, configure transitions, add soundtracks, and organize content into groups.

A playlist is an ordered sequence of media items. It's the core building block of LightLoop — playlists go into feeds, feeds go to Apple TVs.

## Creating a playlist

1. Click the **Playlists** tab
2. Click **New Playlist**
3. Enter a name
4. Optionally upload or select **cover art** (appears as the playlist thumbnail on Apple TV)
5. Click **Create**

## Adding items to a playlist

Inside the playlist editor, click **Add Items** to open a media picker. Select one or more items from your library and click **Add**.

Items appear in the order you add them. Drag the handle on the left side of any item to reorder.

## Reordering and removing items

* **Drag** the handle icon to reorder
* **Click the eye icon** to hide an item without removing it (it won't play but stays in the list)
* **Click the trash icon** to remove an item from this playlist (doesn't delete the file from your library)

## Hiding items

Toggling an item's visibility is useful during a live service when you want to skip content without permanently removing it. Hidden items appear grayed out in the list but are ignored during playback.

## Auto-advance

By default, playlists auto-advance through items automatically. Under **Playlist Settings** you can configure:

| Setting                 | Description                                                                                                     |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Auto-advance**        | Toggle on/off. When off, playback pauses at the end of each item and waits for a manual tap on the Siri Remote. |
| **Transition duration** | The crossfade duration in seconds between items (0 = instant cut, up to 5 seconds).                             |

## Soundtracks

A soundtrack is an audio-only playlist that plays as a background layer — music or ambient sound behind your main visual content.

To add a soundtrack:

1. Open a playlist
2. Under **Soundtrack**, click **Choose Soundtrack**
3. Select an audio-only playlist from your library
4. Adjust the **volume** (0–100%)
5. Toggle **Loop** (repeats the soundtrack) or **Shuffle** (plays tracks in random order)

The soundtrack plays independently — it doesn't stop when visual items transition, and it loops seamlessly when the playlist restarts.

<Tip>
  Create a dedicated "Background Music" playlist with only audio files, then reference it as the soundtrack for your main visual playlists.
</Tip>

### Item-level soundtrack overrides

Individual items within a playlist can trigger their own soundtrack when they come on screen — overriding the playlist-wide soundtrack for just that item.

**Example use cases:**

* Switch to a specific song's instrumental when that announcement slide appears
* Silence music during a video item that has its own audio
* Play an upbeat track only during a specific Welcome Party slide

To set an item-level soundtrack:

1. In the playlist editor, click the item to expand its options
2. Under **Action Soundtrack**, click **Choose**
3. Select an audio-only playlist
4. The chosen soundtrack starts playing when this item appears and hands back to the playlist soundtrack when the item ends

<Note>
  If an item has no action soundtrack set, the playlist-wide soundtrack continues playing uninterrupted through that item.
</Note>

## Overlays

A playlist item can show an **overlay** — a small layer that floats in a corner above the content (above everything except a countdown banner). Three types are available:

* **Watermark** — an image from your Media Library (logo, sponsor mark, "live" bug), with adjustable opacity.
* **QR Code** — generated from any URL, with custom foreground/background colors and an optional caption (e.g. "Scan to give").
* **Weather** — current conditions for a US ZIP code (°F), refreshed every 60 seconds while shown.

To add an overlay:

1. In the playlist editor, open an item's **Actions**.
2. Under **Overlay**, choose **Show** (or **Hide** to clear one).
3. Pick the **Duration**:
   * **This item** — the overlay shows only while this item is on screen.
   * **Until cleared** — the overlay persists across following items until an item with an Overlay **Hide** action.
4. Choose the **Type** and fill in its settings, then set the **Corner**, **Size**, and **Padding**.

Overlays render on Apple TV (including TV Wall **Program** output) and on the shared preview page.

<Tip>
  Use **Until cleared** with a watermark to keep your church logo or a sponsor mark on screen across an entire playlist, then drop a **Hide** overlay action on the item where it should disappear.
</Tip>

## Sharing a playlist for review

Before a service, share a read-only preview link with your team, pastor, or worship leader for approval.

1. Open the playlist
2. Click **Share**
3. Copy the **Public Preview Link**

Anyone with the link can see the playlist contents and order without signing in. They cannot make changes.

## Sharing a playlist with another LightLoop account

The Share modal also has a **Share with Another LightLoop Account** section for sending a playlist to a different organization. The recipient clicks the link, signs in, and the playlist is added to their account. An optional expiry date automatically removes the content after the event ends.

See [Sharing](/web-app/sharing) for full details.

## Adding Playlist to a Feed

1. Open the playlist
2. Click **Add to Feed**
3. Select a Feed to add the playlist to

## Playlist groups

Groups are folders that organize related playlists in the sidebar. For example: `Series: Summer 2025`, `Kidddo`, `Pre-Service`.

### Creating a group

1. In the Playlists sidebar, click **New Group**
2. Name the group
3. Drag playlists into it (or drag them out to move them back to the top level)

Groups are visual only — they don't affect playback order on Apple TV.

## Deleting a playlist

Open the playlist, scroll to **Danger Zone**, and click **Delete Playlist**. Confirm the deletion.

<Warning>
  Deleting a playlist removes it from any feeds it belongs to. Connected Apple TVs will receive the update and purge the cached files for that playlist.
</Warning>