The fastest way to delete a YouTube playlist

To delete a playlist on YouTube, sign into your account, go to your library, find the playlist you want to remove, click the three-dot menu next to its name, and select "Delete playlist". The entire playlist disappears when ready — all the videos stay on YouTube, but your collection of them is gone.

The process takes about 30 seconds. You cannot undo it once you confirm, so make sure you actually want the playlist gone before you click delete. If you just want to hide it temporarily or stop adding to it, you can make it private instead, which keeps it but hides it from other people.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a playlist removes only your collection, not the videos themselves — they remain on YouTube.
  • You reach the delete option through the three-dot menu next to the playlist name in your library.
  • Deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed, so confirm you want it gone before clicking.
  • Making a playlist private hides it from others without deleting it, which is useful if you might want it back later.
  • Other people cannot delete your playlists even if you shared them — only you can remove your own.

Where to find your playlists to delete

Open YouTube and sign in with your account. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu with options like "Home", "Shorts", and "Subscriptions". Scroll down in that menu until you see "You" with a profile icon. Click it, then select "Your channel".

Once you are on your channel page, look for a tab that says "Playlists". Click that tab and you will see every playlist you have created. This is where you find the one you want to delete. If you have many playlists, you can scroll through the list or use the search box to find it faster.

The three-dot menu and delete option

Hover your mouse over the playlist you want to delete. A three-dot menu (also called a "more options" menu) will appear in the corner of that playlist's box. Click those three dots.

A small menu drops down with several choices. One of them says "Delete playlist". Click that option. YouTube will ask you to confirm — it will say something like "Delete this playlist?" with a "Delete" button. Click "Delete" again to finish. The playlist is now gone.

What happens to the videos when you delete a playlist

The videos themselves do not disappear from YouTube. If you added a music video, a tutorial, or a news clip to your playlist, that video stays exactly where it was. Other people can still find it, watch it, and add it to their own playlists. You are only removing your personal collection.

This is different from deleting a video you uploaded yourself, which removes it from YouTube entirely. When you delete a playlist, you are just taking your name off a list — the content stays put.

Making a playlist private instead of deleting it

If you are not sure whether you want to keep a playlist, you can make it private instead of deleting it. This hides it from other people and from your public channel, but keeps it in your account so you can access it later if you change your mind.

To make a playlist private, click the three-dot menu next to its name and select "Edit playlist". Near the top, you will see a setting that says "Visibility" or "Private/Public". Change it to "Private". Now only you can see it when you are signed in. You can always change it back to public later, or delete it permanently if you decide you do not need it.

Deleting playlists on the YouTube app for phone or tablet

The process is similar on the YouTube app for iPhone or Android. Open the app, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Your channel". Tap the "Playlists" tab to see your collections.

Find the playlist you want to delete and tap the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Delete playlist" from the menu that appears. Confirm the deletion when YouTube asks. The playlist is removed from your account on all devices — if you delete it on your phone, it is gone from your computer too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a playlist after I delete it?

No. Once you delete a playlist, YouTube does not keep a backup. If you deleted it by accident, you would need to recreate it by adding videos again. This is why it is a good idea to make a playlist private first if you are unsure whether you want to keep it.

Can someone else delete my playlist?

No. Only you can delete your own playlists. Even if you share a playlist with friends or make it public, other people cannot delete it. They can only add videos to it if you gave them permission to edit it.

What if I want to delete all my playlists at once?

YouTube does not have a "delete all" button. You have to delete each playlist individually by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting delete. If you have many playlists, this takes a few minutes, but it is the only way to remove them all.

Does deleting a playlist remove me from shared playlists?

No. Deleting a playlist only removes playlists you created. If someone else created a playlist and shared it with you, deleting it from your view does not actually delete it — it just removes it from your list. To remove a shared playlist from your account, click the three-dot menu and select "Remove from library" instead of delete.