Delete a playlist you created in three steps

To remove a playlist you made yourself, open Spotify on your phone or computer, find the playlist in your library, and tap or right-click the three dots next to its name. Select "Delete playlist" from the menu. Spotify will ask you to confirm — select "Delete" again, and the playlist is gone permanently.

The process is the same whether you use the Spotify app, the web player, or the desktop application. Once deleted, the playlist cannot be recovered, and anyone who followed it will see it disappear from their library.

If you created the playlist on a phone but want to delete it from your computer, you can do that too — the deletion syncs across all your devices within a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a playlist you created takes three taps or clicks: find it, open the menu, and confirm the deletion.
  • Deleted playlists cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it before you confirm.
  • If you only want to remove a song from a playlist rather than delete the whole thing, tap the minus sign next to the song instead.
  • Playlists created by Spotify itself (like Release Radar or Discover Weekly) cannot be deleted, only hidden from your library.
  • If someone else created a playlist and shared it with you, you can unfollow it but not delete it.

The difference between deleting and unfollowing a playlist

If you created the playlist, deleting it removes it entirely. If someone else created it and shared it with you, you cannot delete it — you can only unfollow it so it stops showing in your library.

To unfollow a shared playlist, open it and tap or click the heart icon (or the follow button, depending on your device). The playlist disappears from your library but still exists for the person who created it and anyone else following it.

This matters because you might think you deleted a playlist when you actually just unfollowed it. If you created it and want it gone, you need to use the delete option, not the unfollow option.

How to hide Spotify's automatic playlists

Spotify creates playlists for you automatically — Release Radar (updated every Friday), Discover Weekly (updated every Monday), and others like Daily Mixes. These cannot be deleted because Spotify regenerates them.

To hide one of these playlists from your library, right-click or tap the three dots next to it and select "Remove from Your Library" or "Hide from Your Library," depending on your device. The playlist stays in your account but no longer appears in your library view.

If you change your mind later, you can unhide it the same way — the option will say "Add to Your Library" or "Show in Your Library."

Deleting a playlist on mobile versus desktop

On the Spotify mobile app (iPhone or Android), open the playlist, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Delete playlist." Confirm the deletion when prompted.

On the Spotify desktop app or web player, right-click the playlist name in your library on the left side and select "Delete playlist" from the menu. Again, confirm when asked.

The web player at spotify.com works the same way as the desktop app — right-click the playlist and choose delete. All three methods produce the same result, and the deletion syncs across devices within minutes.

What happens to collaborative playlists when you delete them

If you created a collaborative playlist that other people are editing, deleting it removes it for everyone. They will no longer see it in their library, and any songs they added will be lost.

Before you delete a collaborative playlist, consider whether the other people using it might want to keep it. If they do, ask them to take ownership of it first, or export the song list so they can recreate it themselves.

Spotify does not notify other users when you delete a shared playlist, so they may not realize it is gone until they try to add songs to it.

Removing individual songs instead of the whole playlist

If you want to keep the playlist but remove just one or two songs, you do not need to delete the entire thing. Open the playlist, find the song you want to remove, and tap or click the minus sign next to it (or right-click and select "Remove from this playlist").

This leaves the playlist intact for you and anyone else following it — only that specific song disappears. You can remove as many songs as you want this way without affecting the playlist itself.

This is useful if a playlist has mostly songs you like but a few you want gone, or if you want to clean up a shared playlist without starting over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a playlist after I delete it?

No. Spotify does not have an undo feature or a trash folder for deleted playlists. Once you confirm the deletion, the playlist and all the songs in it are permanently removed from your account. If you think you might want the playlist back, take a screenshot of the song list or export it before you delete.

What happens to a playlist I deleted if someone else was following it?

The playlist disappears from their library immediately. They cannot see it, add songs to it, or access it in any way. If they want to keep the songs, they will need to recreate the playlist or ask you to restore it before deletion.

Can I delete a playlist that Spotify created for me?

No. Playlists like Release Radar, Discover Weekly, and Daily Mixes are generated by Spotify and cannot be deleted. You can hide them from your library so they do not show up, but Spotify will recreate them on their regular schedule.

Does deleting a playlist delete the songs from my library?

No. Deleting a playlist only removes the playlist itself. The individual songs remain in your library and in any other playlists you added them to. You would need to remove each song separately from your library if you want them gone.

Can I delete someone else's playlist?

No. You can only delete playlists you created. If someone else created a playlist and shared it with you, you can unfollow it to remove it from your library, but you cannot delete it. Only the person who created it can delete it.