Deleting a playlist on Apple Music takes one tap on your phone or one click on your computer

Open Apple Music and find the playlist you want to remove. On iPhone or iPad, swipe left across the playlist name and tap the trash icon. On Mac or Windows, right-click the playlist and select "Delete from Library". The playlist disappears when ready — Apple Music does not send it to a trash folder first, so the action is permanent.

Deleting a playlist you created removes only your copy. If you shared it with others or someone else shared it with you, their version stays in their library. If you delete a playlist by mistake, you cannot undo it through Apple Music itself, so make sure you mean to remove it before you confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the playlist and tap the trash icon to delete it.
  • On Mac or Windows, right-click the playlist name and choose "Delete from Library".
  • Deletion is permanent — Apple Music does not move playlists to a trash folder you can recover from later.
  • Deleting your own playlist does not remove it from other people's libraries if you shared it with them.
  • You can only delete playlists you created yourself, not playlists other people shared with you.

Deleting a playlist on iPhone or iPad

Open the Apple Music app and go to the Library tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap "Playlists" to see all your playlists. Find the one you want to delete and swipe your finger from right to left across its name. A red trash icon appears on the right side of the row.

Tap the trash icon. Apple Music asks you to confirm: "Remove this playlist?" Tap "Remove" again to finish. The playlist is gone from your library when ready. If you change your mind in the next few seconds, you can tap "Undo" at the bottom of the screen — but once you navigate away or close the app, undo is no longer available.

Deleting a playlist on Mac

Open Apple Music and click Library in the top left. In the left sidebar, find Playlists and click it to see your list. Locate the playlist you want to remove, right-click on its name, and select "Delete from Library" from the menu that appears.

A confirmation window pops up asking "Are you sure you want to delete the playlist [name]?" Click "Delete" to confirm. The playlist vanishes from your library. If you realize when ready that you made a mistake, use Command+Z to undo the deletion — but this only works if you have not performed another action in Apple Music since you deleted it.

Deleting a playlist on Windows

Launch Apple Music and click Library at the top. In the left sidebar, select Playlists to view all your playlists. Right-click the playlist you want to delete and click "Delete from Library".

A confirmation box appears asking if you are sure. Click "Delete" to remove the playlist permanently. Like the Mac version, you can press Ctrl+Z when ready after to undo, but the undo option disappears once you perform another action or close the app.

The difference between deleting and removing songs

Deleting a playlist removes the entire list and all the songs in it from your library. Removing individual songs from a playlist keeps the playlist itself but takes out only those specific tracks. If you want to keep the playlist but change what is in it, remove songs one at a time instead of deleting the whole thing.

To remove a single song from a playlist, open the playlist, swipe left on the song (iPhone or iPad) or right-click it (Mac or Windows), and select "Remove from Playlist". The song stays in your library — it just comes out of that particular playlist.

What happens to shared playlists when you delete yours

If you created a playlist and shared it with friends or family through Apple Music, deleting it from your library removes your copy only. People you shared it with still see the playlist in their library and can listen to it, add songs to it, or delete their own copy whenever they choose.

If someone else created a playlist and shared it with you, you cannot delete the original — you can only remove your copy from your library. To do this, find the shared playlist in your library, swipe left or right-click it, and select "Remove from Library" (not "Delete from Library"). The creator's version remains untouched.

Recovering a deleted playlist

Apple Music does not keep deleted playlists in a recovery folder or trash bin. Once you delete a playlist, it is gone for good. You cannot restore it through the app or through your Apple account settings.

If you deleted a playlist by mistake and remember most of the songs that were in it, you can create a new playlist and add those songs back manually. This takes longer than recovery would, but it is the only way to rebuild a deleted playlist. If the original playlist was shared with others, ask them to send you a list of the songs so you can recreate it accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a playlist deletion after I close the app?

No. The undo option (Undo button on iPhone or Ctrl+Z on Windows and Mac) only works for a few seconds after you delete the playlist. Once you close Apple Music, navigate to another section of the app, or perform another action, the deletion becomes permanent and cannot be reversed.

What happens if I delete a playlist someone shared with me?

You remove only your copy from your library. The person who created the playlist still has it, and anyone else they shared it with can still see and listen to it. Deleting a shared playlist from your library does not affect anyone else.

Can I delete playlists on the Apple Music website?

No. You can only delete playlists through the Apple Music app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows. The web version of Apple Music lets you view and listen to playlists but does not have a delete option. Use the app on one of those devices instead.

If I delete a playlist, do the songs get deleted from my library too?

No. Deleting a playlist removes only the playlist itself. All the songs that were in it stay in your library and remain available to listen to. They just are no longer organized under that particular playlist.

Why can't I delete a playlist I see in my library?

You can only delete playlists you created yourself. If a playlist is grayed out or does not show a delete option, someone else created it and shared it with you. You can remove your copy from your library, but you cannot delete the original.