How to sort reference videos for research analysts in 2026

Q: Can the new playlist order be checked before it is applied?

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

A plain guide for research analysts to sort reference videos, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-17

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Put the reference videos for a research topic into one playlist, pick an order that suits how you review, then apply that order. You can rank videos by hand or let a tool reorder the playlist by length.

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

Sorting reference videos takes only a few things.

A playlist of reference videos 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 the order you want. It might be to review shorter clips first or to set aside the longer source videos for a dedicated block. Know which, because it decides what you do with the long videos.
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 you begin a review session. Sorting while you are already reviewing tends to break your flow.

Step by step

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

Open the playlist you want to sort. Make sure you can access the playlist before choosing a way to put the reference videos in order.
List every video with its length. Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Mark videos that must stay in order. Some sources build on earlier ones, or a run of clips together tells one story. Keep those together.
Rank the rest from shortest to longest. Put the shortest at the top so the quickest references come first.
Decide what happens to the very long videos. You can leave them at the end or schedule them for a longer review block.
Check the order before you commit. Read the new list once from top to bottom and look for sources that now sit in a confusing place.
Apply the order. Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Review from the top. Start with the first video and move down the list.
Keep notes as you go. Short clips pass quickly, so a line or two per video helps the findings stick.
Review after the first few sessions. If the order is not helping your research, 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 laptop or phone if you plan to work 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. Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] YTSort is free. ^[1] The tool sends requests to YouTube's own system using your existing session, so there is 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]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, 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

Sorting sources that build on each other. If a later video relies on an earlier one, a pure shortest-first order can leave gaps in the argument. Keep dependent videos together.

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

Forgetting the long videos. Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a block 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.

Reviewing without notes. Short clips go by fast, so notes help you keep track of what each source showed.

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

Frequently asked questions

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

List each reference video with its length, rank them from shortest to longest, then apply that order to the playlist by hand or with a sorting tool. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

How to sort a reference video playlist from shortest to longest?

List each video with its length, rank them from shortest to longest, then apply that order by hand in the playlist. Check each tool's current details before choosing how to sort your playlist.

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

With YTSort, yes. ^[1] 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 reviewing.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. 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]

Should research analysts always sort reference videos by length?

Not always. If a series of sources builds in order, keep dependent videos together so the argument stays clear. Sorting by length can suit a short review window. For long projects, review the order after a few sessions and change it if needed.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)