QMPlay2 uses the playlist as the centre of its media workflow. It holds local files, folders, network addresses and online results side by side.
Mastering a few of its tools spares a great deal of clicking.
Adding content
Use Add → Files, Add → Directory or Add → Address. Dragging files from your file manager onto the playlist works equally well.
Paste and play begins a copied link or path immediately.
Organising with groups
Groups behave like folders within the playlist. Create one with Create group, rename it, and drag entries into it.
When you add an entire directory, it becomes a group. Synchronize groups rescans the folder so that new files appear and removed files drop out; Always sync performs this automatically.
Sorting and searching
- Sort by length, from shortest to longest or the reverse
- Sort by title, A–Z or Z–A
- Find entries filters a long list by name
- Collapse all and Expand all tidy large group trees
Repeat and shuffle
The repeat menu offers several modes:
- No repeating, entry repeating, group repeating, playlist repeating
- Random, random within a group, and either combined with repeat
- Stop playback after every file
Queue and stop
Enqueue places an entry next in line without moving it. Stop after playing ends playback once the current item has finished.
Go to the playback returns the list to whatever is currently playing.
Saving and loading lists
QMPlay2 reads and writes three playlist formats:
- M3U – the most widely used; QMPlay2 also reads EXTVLCOPT lines for User-Agent and Referer headers
- PLS – common with internet radio
- XSPF – XML-based and readily shared
Save list stores everything; Save group stores a single group.
Tidying up
Remove from list removes only the entry. Remove from disk deletes the file itself, so use it with care.
Plan a library that remains understandable
QMPlay2 playlists work best when their organisation reflects how you actually listen or watch. A short queue for one evening has different needs from a saved collection of albums or a series organised by episode. Start with a small list and decide whether the important order is filename, album sequence, episode number or a deliberate personal arrangement. That choice guides whether you should sort entries or preserve their current positions.
Keep media folders organised independently of the playlist. A saved list refers to media locations; it is not a replacement for the files themselves. If you move a library after creating the list, some entries may no longer resolve. Use stable folder names for collections you expect to keep, and reserve a separate area for temporary downloads. A little organisation on disk reduces the amount of playlist repair needed later.
Add files in controlled batches
When building a new playlist, add a few files first and confirm that they appear as expected. Then add a larger folder if that matches your plan. This makes it easier to see whether the application is grouping items, including unwanted material or using an order different from the one you intended. Dragging several unrelated folders at once can make the result harder to inspect.
Check the first and last entries after importing a folder. Filenames with inconsistent numbering can sort unexpectedly, such as an episode numbered with one digit appearing apart from a two-digit sequence. Improve the filenames if that ordering matters across applications, or arrange the playlist deliberately when the sequence is specific to this list. Avoid deleting entries in a hurry until you know whether the command affects the playlist reference or the actual file on disk.
Use groups with a clear purpose
A group is most useful when it represents an understandable collection, such as one album, one season or one listening session. Give it a descriptive name rather than relying on the order in which it was created. Groups make a long list easier to scan, but too many tiny groups can introduce unnecessary navigation. Use enough structure to find items without turning every entry into a separate category.
Folder-backed groups need particular care when the source folder changes. Synchronisation can reflect additions and removals from that location, which is useful when you want the playlist to follow the library. It is less suitable when you expect a saved selection to stay exactly as curated. Before enabling automatic synchronisation for an important collection, test it with a small folder and confirm how the list changes when a file is added or moved.
Separate playback order from visible order
The position of an entry and the order in which it plays are related but not always identical. Queued items, repeat modes and shuffle can affect what happens next. If the player seems to skip around unexpectedly, inspect those controls before rearranging the entire list. A carefully sorted album can still play in an unexpected sequence if shuffle remains enabled from an earlier session.
For a planned viewing sequence, disable modes you do not need and test the transition between two short items. When using a queue to request the next item, remember that the visible list may remain unchanged. That is useful for temporary choices because you can interrupt the current order without rebuilding it. Keep the distinction clear when saving a collection: the library arrangement and a temporary playback decision serve different purposes.
Save playlists with media locations in mind
Save a playlist somewhere you can identify later, and use a name that describes its purpose. If you keep several revisions, include a meaningful distinction instead of creating many files with nearly identical names. After saving, reopen the list to check that the intended entries and group structure are preserved by the format you selected. Do this before depending on it for a long session.
A playlist file normally stores references, not the media data. Copying it to another computer will not supply the songs or videos it names. Paths can also depend on drive letters, mount locations or folder arrangements. For a collection you intend to move, test the copied list with the copied media in its final location. Keep a backup of a carefully curated list before making large changes to the library structure.
Clean duplicates without losing media
Duplicate-looking entries may refer to the same file, different editions or similarly tagged tracks. Inspect the path and relevant details before removing them. If two entries are the same reference, removing one from the list can simplify navigation. If they are different recordings with similar titles, better naming may be more appropriate than deletion. Do not use a disk-deletion command to tidy the visible list.
The distinction between removing a reference and deleting a file is especially important when a library is shared with other applications. Deleting the media can break more than this playlist. For large cleanups, save the current list first, work in manageable groups and check the result before continuing. A reversible change to the list is preferable while you are still deciding what belongs in the collection.
Mix local items and online entries carefully
Local files and network entries can sit in the same list, but their availability is different. A local entry requires the file and drive to remain accessible. An online entry also depends on the connection and the source service. If continuous playback stops at one item, identify which type it is before changing the repeat or queue settings. A missing source does not mean the visible order is wrong.
For a session where interruptions matter, test the online items and removable-drive entries beforehand. Use clear names so that a failing address is easy to distinguish from a missing local album. If you replace an unavailable item, verify the replacement rather than assuming a similar title refers to the same recording. Keep saved favourites and short-lived queue experiments separate when that makes the collection easier to maintain.
Review a long list before relying on it
A long playlist benefits from a brief inspection after major edits. Check the opening item, a few entries in the middle and the final item. Confirm that the intended sort order remains intact, repeat mode is appropriate and the next queued item is understood. If the list uses groups, open several of them to verify that the content matches their names.
Save the final arrangement and reopen it once as a practical check. This catches mistakes that are easy to overlook while the current application state still holds your edits. Keep media locations stable and store an extra copy of a list that took significant time to curate. With these habits, the playlist becomes a dependable map of your collection rather than a fragile snapshot that only works in one unsaved session.
FAQs
Does a saved playlist contain the audio and video files? Normally it contains references to them. The media must remain available at locations the player can resolve. Copying only the playlist does not copy the library. Test the saved list after moving media, especially when drive letters or mount locations have changed.
Why is playback order different from the visible order? Check shuffle, repeat and any queued entries. These controls can affect playback without rearranging every visible row. Disable the modes you do not need and test two consecutive items before changing the list itself. That separates playback settings from an actual sorting problem.
What is the difference between removal and deletion? Removing an entry from the list clears its reference there. A command that removes a file from disk can destroy the media itself. Read the command carefully, particularly during a large cleanup. Save the playlist and inspect file paths before making any irreversible changes to the library.
Why did a group change after files were added? A folder-linked group can reflect changes when synchronisation is used. This is useful for an evolving folder but may surprise you if you expected a fixed curated selection. Test the behaviour with a small collection before enabling automatic synchronisation for a group that matters.
Can a playlist work on another computer? Yes, when its media references can be resolved there and the required media is available. Differences in folder layout or removable-drive naming may need correction. Test the copied playlist in its final location instead of assuming a successful save guarantees portability between every machine.
How should I handle an unavailable online item? Confirm that the source is still accessible and the connection works. Test another item before changing playlist settings. If the original is no longer available, remove its reference or replace it with a verified alternative. A saved online entry does not guarantee permanent availability of the source.
Conclusion
QMPlay2 playlists become easier to manage when folder organisation, visible order and playback modes are treated as separate choices. Add files in controlled batches, use meaningful groups and save lists with their media locations in mind. Check shuffle and queued entries when playback order seems wrong, and distinguish reference removal from deleting media. Reopen important lists after saving and test them after a move. A stable library layout and a few deliberate checks keep both short queues and larger collections useful over time.