[Web API] Creating Playlist as Public

[fatleboo8]

I'm currently working with the Spotify Web API, using the Create Playlist endpoint. One of the properties in the body is the "public" property, It's a boolean. I've used curl to hit the Spotify endpoint directly, I've also used the Spotify Developers "Try It" feature where the "public" property is set to false. Despite my efforts, Spotify still creates the playlist as public. 

[Ximzend · Accepted solution]

Hi @fatleboo8 

Thank you for posting in the Spotify Community, and Welcome!

It sounds like you're having trouble creating a private playlist with the Spotify Web API. You mentioned setting the "public" property to false but the playlist still appears public. Let's clarify a couple of things based on the Spotify developer documentation:

• When creating a playlist using the Web API, the "public" attribute defaults to true.
• To set the "public" attribute to false (making the playlist not appear on your profile or in search results), your application needs the playlist-modify-private scope. Make sure your app has been authorized with this scope.
• It's crucial to understand that the "public" attribute does not control access to the playlist via a direct link. As the documentation states, "anyone with the link to the playlist can access it unless it’s made private through for instance the desktop client". So, even if "public" is false, users with the link can still see it.

Adding to this, the Spotify documentation indicates that modifying the access control (making a playlist truly private) is not possible through the Web API. You can only manage whether the playlist is displayed on a user's profile and in search results via the "public" attribute. To make a playlist truly private and restrict access for users who don't follow it, this needs to be done through the Spotify application itself, for example, the desktop client.

I hope this clarifies things. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.