Delete a playlist in three steps

To delete a playlist on YouTube, open YouTube on a computer or phone, go to your library, find the playlist you want to remove, and select the delete option from the menu. The process takes less than a minute. YouTube will ask you to confirm before permanently removing the playlist — once you confirm, the playlist and all videos in it are gone and cannot be recovered.

The steps differ slightly between desktop and mobile, but the core action is the same: find the playlist, open its menu, and choose delete. Your videos themselves stay on your channel; only the playlist container is removed.

Key Takeaways

  • On desktop, go to YouTube.com, click your profile icon, select "Create a playlist" or "Your playlists", find the playlist, click the three-dot menu, and choose "Delete playlist".
  • On mobile, tap your profile icon, go to "Playlists", swipe left on the playlist (iOS) or long-press it (Android), and tap delete.
  • Deleting a playlist removes only the playlist itself, not the individual videos — they remain on your channel or in your library.
  • YouTube asks for confirmation before deletion, but once confirmed, the playlist cannot be recovered.
  • Private and unlisted playlists delete the same way as public ones.

Delete a playlist on desktop

Start at YouTube.com and sign in to your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner — it shows your profile picture or initial. A dropdown menu appears with several options.

Click "Create a playlist" if you see that option, or look for "Your playlists" or "Playlists" in the menu. This takes you to a page showing all your playlists. Find the playlist you want to delete and hover your mouse over it. A three-dot menu icon appears in the top right corner of the playlist card. Click it.

A small menu drops down with options including "Edit playlist", "Share", and "Delete playlist". Click "Delete playlist". YouTube shows a confirmation dialog asking if you're sure. Click "Delete" again to confirm. The playlist is now permanently removed.

Delete a playlist on iPhone or iPad

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap "Playlists" from the menu that appears. You see a list of all your playlists.

Find the playlist you want to delete and swipe left across it with your finger. A red "Delete" button appears on the right side. Tap it. YouTube asks you to confirm — tap "Delete" again. The playlist is removed immediately.

Delete a playlist on Android

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Tap "Playlists" to see your list. Find the playlist you want to delete and press and hold it with your finger for a moment — do not just tap once.

A menu appears with options including "Delete". Tap "Delete". YouTube asks for confirmation — tap "Delete" again to finish. The playlist is now gone.

What happens to videos when you delete a playlist

Deleting a playlist does not delete the videos inside it. If you created the videos yourself, they stay on your channel. If you added videos from other creators to your playlist, those videos remain on their original channels — you simply lose your organized collection of them.

If you want to keep the videos but reorganize them, consider creating a new playlist instead of deleting the old one. You can add videos to the new playlist one at a time, or you can move videos from the old playlist to the new one before deleting the original.

Recover a deleted playlist

YouTube does not offer a way to recover a deleted playlist. Once you confirm deletion, the playlist is permanently removed. The videos themselves are not deleted — only your organized collection of them is gone.

If you realize you deleted a playlist by mistake, your only option is to recreate it manually by adding videos back to a new playlist. This is why YouTube asks for confirmation before deletion — it is your last chance to change your mind.

Delete playlists you created versus playlists you follow

You can only delete playlists you created yourself. If you follow a playlist created by another user or channel, you can remove it from your library by unfollowing it, but you cannot delete the original playlist. Only the creator can delete a playlist they made.

To unfollow a playlist you do not own, open it, and look for an "Unlike" or "Unfollow" button near the top. This removes it from your "Your playlists" list without affecting the original playlist or its creator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a playlist deletion?

No. Once you confirm deletion, YouTube permanently removes the playlist. The videos stay on YouTube, but your organized collection is gone. If you need the playlist back, you must create a new one and add videos to it again.

Does deleting a playlist delete the videos in it?

No. Deleting a playlist only removes the collection itself. Videos you created stay on your channel. Videos from other creators stay on their channels. You lose only your organized grouping of them.

Can I delete someone else's playlist?

No. You can only delete playlists you created. If you follow a playlist made by another user, you can unfollow it to remove it from your library, but you cannot delete the original playlist. Only the creator can do that.

What's the difference between deleting and unfollowing a playlist?

Deleting removes a playlist you created. Unfollowing removes a playlist you follow from your library, but the original playlist stays on the creator's channel. If you follow a playlist, look for an "Unlike" or "Unfollow" button instead of a delete option.

Will my subscribers know if I delete a playlist?

If your playlist was public, subscribers who followed it will see it disappear from their library. If it was private or unlisted, only you knew about it, so deletion affects no one else. There is no notification sent to followers when a public playlist is deleted.