Delete a playlist in three steps

To delete a playlist on YouTube, go to your channel, find the playlist in your list, click the three-dot menu next to its name, and select Delete playlist. The entire playlist disappears immediately — YouTube does not move it to trash or give you a recovery window. The videos themselves stay on your channel or in your library; only the playlist container is removed.

This works the same way whether you are on a computer or the YouTube mobile app. The three-dot menu appears in the same spot on both, and the deletion is instant. Once you confirm, there is no way to undo it, so make sure the playlist is one you actually want gone before you click that final confirmation button.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a playlist removes only the playlist itself, not the videos inside it — those remain on your channel or in your library.
  • YouTube does not send deleted playlists to a trash folder; the deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
  • You can delete a playlist from your channel page, your library, or the playlist page itself using the three-dot menu.
  • If you want to keep the videos but reorganize them, you can move videos to a different playlist instead of deleting.
  • Making a playlist private is a safer option than deleting if you are unsure whether you will need it later.

Where to find the delete option on desktop

On a computer, sign into YouTube and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Your channel from the dropdown menu. On your channel page, scroll down to find the Playlists section on the left sidebar, or look for it under the Playlists tab if your layout shows tabs instead.

Hover your mouse over the playlist you want to delete. A three-dot menu icon appears to the right of the playlist name. Click it and select Delete playlist from the options that appear. A confirmation message may pop up asking if you are sure — click Delete again to confirm. After you confirm, the playlist is gone from your channel immediately.

How to delete a playlist on the YouTube mobile app

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon at the top right. Select Your channel. Tap the Playlists tab to see all your playlists.

Find the playlist you want to remove and tap the three-dot menu icon next to its name. Select Delete playlist from the menu. Confirm the deletion when prompted. On mobile, the process is identical to desktop — the playlist vanishes right away with no recovery option afterward.

What happens to videos when you delete a playlist

The videos inside the playlist do not disappear. If the videos are from your own channel, they stay published on your channel exactly as they were. If the playlist contained videos from other creators, those videos remain in your library or watch history depending on how you saved them.

Deleting a playlist only removes the grouping. Think of it like deleting a folder on your computer — the files inside do not get erased, just the container they were organized in. This is why you can safely delete a playlist without worrying about losing the actual video content.

Removing videos from a playlist without deleting the whole thing

If you want to keep the playlist but remove specific videos from it, open the playlist and click the three-dot menu next to any video inside it. Select Remove from playlist. The video leaves the playlist but stays on YouTube and remains in your channel or library.

You can also edit a playlist by clicking the pencil icon next to the playlist name (on desktop) or the three-dot menu (on mobile), then selecting Edit playlist. From there you can remove videos one at a time, change the playlist title or description, adjust who can see it, or reorder the videos. This gives you more control than simply deleting the entire playlist.

Making a playlist private instead of deleting it

If you are not sure whether you want to delete a playlist permanently, you can make it private first. Open the playlist, click the three-dot menu, and select Playlist settings. Change the visibility from Public to Private. Only you can see a private playlist, so it is hidden from your channel page and search results.

A private playlist takes up no space and does not clutter your public channel. You can always make it public again later, or delete it once you are certain you no longer need it. This is a safer middle ground if you are unsure about permanent deletion, since you can change your mind without having to recreate the entire playlist from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a deleted playlist?

No. YouTube does not keep deleted playlists in a trash folder or recovery area. Once you confirm the deletion, the playlist is gone permanently. The videos stay on YouTube, but the playlist grouping cannot be restored. If you think you might want the playlist back, make it private instead of deleting it.

Will deleting a playlist affect my watch history or recommendations?

No. Your watch history and YouTube recommendations are separate from your playlists. Deleting a playlist does not change what YouTube recommends to you or erase any videos you have watched. Only the playlist itself is removed.

Can I delete someone else's playlist?

You can only delete playlists you created. If you want to remove a video from someone else's public playlist, you cannot — you can only remove it from your own library. If someone else created a playlist on your channel (if you allow that), you can delete it from your channel settings.

What if I deleted a playlist by accident?

There is no undo or recovery option. If you remember which videos were in the playlist, you can recreate it by making a new playlist and adding those videos back. YouTube does not have a way to restore deleted playlists, so recreation is the only option if you need that grouping again.