Delete a playlist in three steps from your YouTube library

To delete a playlist you created on YouTube, open YouTube on any device, go to your library, find the playlist, and select the delete option from its menu. The process takes less than a minute and permanently removes the playlist — but does not delete the individual videos themselves, which remain on YouTube unless you delete them separately.

YouTube stores playlists in your account, so you can delete them from a computer, phone, or tablet. The steps are slightly different depending on which device you use, but the end result is the same. Keep in mind that once you confirm deletion, YouTube does not store the playlist anywhere you can recover it from, so this action is final.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a playlist removes only the list itself, not the videos inside it — those videos stay on YouTube unless you delete them one by one.
  • You can only delete playlists you created; you cannot delete playlists someone else made, but you can remove yourself from them.
  • Once deleted, a playlist cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it before you confirm.
  • The delete option appears in a three-dot menu next to the playlist name in your library.
  • You can make a playlist private or unlisted instead of deleting it if you want to keep the videos organized but hidden from view.

Delete a playlist on a computer

Start by going to YouTube.com and signing into your account. In the left sidebar, click Your channel or Library — the exact name depends on your YouTube version, but both take you to the same place. Look for Playlists in the menu on the left side of the screen.

Find the playlist you want to delete and hover your mouse over it. A three-dot menu icon will appear in the top right corner of the playlist box. Click those three dots, then select Delete playlist from the dropdown menu. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click Delete again to finish. The playlist will disappear from your library when ready.

Delete a playlist on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Your channel from the menu. Tap Playlists to see all the playlists you created.

Find the playlist you want to remove and tap the three-dot menu icon next to its name. Select Delete playlist from the options that appear. Confirm the deletion when YouTube asks you to. On some devices, you may need to swipe left on the playlist name to reveal the delete option instead.

What happens to your videos after you delete a playlist

Deleting a playlist does not remove any of the videos from YouTube. If you uploaded those videos to your own channel, they stay on your channel and remain visible to anyone who visits your channel or searches for them. If you added videos from other creators to the playlist, those videos remain on their original channels unchanged. Only the playlist itself — the list and its organization — disappears from your account.

If you want to remove videos from YouTube entirely, you must delete them separately from your channel. Deleting a playlist is just removing the folder; the files inside stay where they are. This is useful if you want to clean up your library without losing the videos themselves.

Removing yourself from someone else's playlist

You cannot delete a playlist that someone else created, but you can remove yourself from it so it no longer appears in your library. Open the playlist, tap or click the three-dot menu icon next to the playlist title, and select Remove from library or Unlike depending on your device. This removes the playlist from your view without affecting the original creator's version or anyone else who follows that playlist.

If you want the playlist creator to remove the entire playlist, you would need to contact them directly — YouTube does not have a way for viewers to request deletion of someone else's playlist. The creator has full control over their own playlists.

Recovering a deleted playlist

YouTube does not store deleted playlists in a trash or recovery folder. Once you confirm the deletion, the playlist is permanently gone. You cannot undo the action or restore it later, even if you contact YouTube support.

If you deleted a playlist by mistake, your only option is to recreate it manually by adding videos back to a new playlist. If you remember which videos were in it, you can search for them and add them again one by one. If you do not remember the exact videos, the playlist cannot be recovered, which is why YouTube asks you to confirm before deleting.

Making a playlist private instead of deleting it

If you are not sure whether you want to delete a playlist permanently, you can change its privacy settings instead. A private playlist is visible only to you, while an unlisted playlist can be viewed by anyone who has the link but will not show up in search results or on your channel page. This lets you keep the playlist and its videos organized without making them public.

To change a playlist's privacy level, open the playlist, click or tap the three-dot menu, select Playlist settings, and choose your preferred privacy option. This approach gives you more flexibility than deletion if you think you might want to use the playlist again later.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I delete a playlist, do the videos get deleted too?

No. Deleting a playlist removes only the list itself. All the videos that were in the playlist stay on YouTube. If you uploaded them, they remain on your channel. If they belonged to other creators, they stay on their channels.

Can I delete a playlist someone else made?

No, you can only delete playlists you created. If you want to stop seeing someone else's playlist in your library, you can remove it from your library, but the original playlist stays on their account.

What if I delete a playlist by mistake?

YouTube does not have an undo or recovery option for deleted playlists. If you deleted it by mistake, you would need to create a new playlist and add the videos back manually. This is why YouTube asks you to confirm before deleting.

Can I hide a playlist instead of deleting it?

Yes. Instead of deleting a playlist, you can make it private so only you can see it, or unlisted so only people with the link can find it. Open the playlist, click the three-dot menu, select Playlist settings, and change the privacy level.

How do I know if a playlist is mine or someone else's?

Playlists you created will show a three-dot menu with a delete option. Playlists created by others will show a three-dot menu with a Remove from library option instead. Your own playlists also appear under the Playlists section in your library.