---
{"title": "Order tutorial playlists by length in 2026", "description": "A plain guide for self-taught programmers to put short tutorial videos first, with steps, the tools to try and mistakes to avoid.", "url": "https://xpdaily.com/how-to-order-tutorial-playlists-by-length-for-self-taught-programmers/", "date": "2026-10-26"}
---
A plain guide for self-taught programmers to put short tutorial videos first, with steps, the tools to try and mistakes to avoid.

For tutorial playlists, the useful starting point is the time each lesson takes, especially when you are fitting coding practice around other work. List the video lengths, put shorter lessons first, and check that the new order still makes sense for learning.

| Option | How it orders videos |
|---|---|
| Paper list or sticky note | You rank by hand |
| Spreadsheet | You sort by a length column you fill in |
| YTSort | Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first [^1] |

## What you need before you start

Ordering tutorial videos by length takes only a few things.

- **A playlist you own.** Reordering a playlist in place only works on one that belongs to your account. For someone else's playlist, you can copy the videos into your own first or work from a written list.
- **The length of each video.** YouTube shows it on each thumbnail. You need it to rank the videos.
- **A reason for going short first.** It might be to fit a free half hour or to finish small topics quickly. Know which, because it decides what you do with the long videos. A short video suits a quick look at one function, while a long build needs a clear block.
- **A place to keep the order.** The playlist itself, a paper list or a spreadsheet all work. What matters is that the order lives in one place.
- **A web browser.** Only needed if you want a tool to do the sorting. Add the tool to your browser once, before you start, following its own instructions.

Set aside a short block before a tutorial session. Sorting while you are already mid lesson tends to break your flow.

## Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

1. **Open the playlist you want to sort.** Make sure you can access the playlist before choosing a way to put shorter videos first.
2. **List every video with its length.** Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
3. **Mark videos that build on earlier lessons.** Some tutorials assume you watched a prior video. If one lesson needs another, keep those two together even when their lengths differ.
4. **Rank the rest from shortest to longest.** Put the shortest at the top.
5. **Decide what happens to the very long videos.** You can leave them at the end or schedule them for a longer free block.
6. **Check the order before you commit.** Read the new list once from top to bottom and look for lessons that now sit in a confusing place.
7. **Apply the order.** Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
8. **Watch from the top.** Start with the first video and move down the list.
9. **Keep notes as you go.** Short videos pass quickly, so a line or two per video helps the ideas stick, especially when you come back later.
10. **Review after the first few sessions.** If the order is not helping you learn, change it.

## Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

**Paper list or sticky note.** You write each title and length and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

**A spreadsheet.** A column for the title, a column for length and a sort on the length column gives you a shortest-first list. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it away from your desk. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

**YTSort.** YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. YTSort is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1] Reorders videos by sending requests to YouTube's own system using your existing session, with no dragging or scrolling. [^1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [^1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. [^1]

It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [^1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [^1] It shows the total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. [^1] It exports position, title, duration and URL of every video to a CSV file. [^1] Its panel follows YouTube's light or dark theme automatically. [^1] If its usual fast method is ever unavailable, it automatically switches to drag-and-drop. [^1]

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1] It is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [^1] There are several ways to get it: a bookmark that runs it, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. [^1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [^1]

## Common mistakes to avoid

**Trusting the order without a look.** Read the new order once before you start. A quick check catches lessons that ended up in an odd spot.

**Sorting a course that builds lesson by lesson.** If later videos rely on earlier ones, a pure shortest-first order can leave you confused. Keep dependent lessons together.

**Forgetting the long videos.** Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a day to be watched or they never get done.

**Trying to reorder a playlist that is not yours.** Check who owns it first. If it is not yours, copy the videos into your own playlist or keep a written list.

**Watching without a note of where you stopped.** Short videos go by fast, so a note of what you covered helps you pick up next time.

**Never reviewing the order.** If the order is not working for your study pace, change the approach instead of sticking with it.

## Frequently asked questions

### How to put the shortest tutorial videos first in a YouTube playlist?

List each video with its length from the thumbnail, rank them from shortest to longest, then apply that order to the playlist by hand. Check each tool's current details before you choose how to sort. A written list works without any add-on.

### Does YTSort reorder the whole playlist and confirm the result?

Yes. It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. [^1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [^1] A long tutorial playlist can run beyond one screen, so sorting the whole list matters.

### Can the new order be checked before it is applied?

With YTSort, yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [^1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before you start watching.

### Which browsers work with YTSort?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. [^1] The script works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey, a small add-on that runs scripts for you. [^1] It can also be run from a bookmark. [^1]

### Is YTSort free?

Yes. YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [^1] It is open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [^1] YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence, and the source does not list a paid version. [^1]

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1] - [Visit YTSort](/go/start-ytsort)

## Sources

[^1]: YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-ytsort)