Identify which list interface you dragged
A playlist’s full editing page and the compact panel beside a playing video are not interchangeable contexts. YouTube’s management guide explicitly describes dragging items in the watch-page panel as temporary reordering. If the original order returns later, first note where the earlier drag occurred rather than assuming that every playlist edit failed to save.
Use the editing route matching the intended persistence
The same guide describes opening the playlist and dragging videos up or down to reorder them. It also qualifies the reordering feature for lists containing only Shorts. A saved playlist is a collection, while a temporary viewing order can serve the immediate session. Check that you own the list or have the required collaboration permission before expecting a permanent editing control.
Compare a specific three-video sequence
Suppose you want a beginner setup demonstration to appear before two advanced tutorials every time the list is used. Open the intended editable playlist, verify its identity and make the deliberate order change there. Return to that playlist to inspect the sequence. If you only want to change what plays next tonight, the temporary panel may be sufficient. Avoid deleting and recreating the entire list merely because the session view behaved differently. Record the interface, permission context and visible order when asking for support; do not report a temporary adjustment as a verified permanent edit.
Questions, answered
What should I record if the order returns later?
Record whether you reordered the editable playlist or only the temporary watch-page panel.