Delete a playlist in three steps

To delete a YouTube playlist, go to your library, find the playlist you want to remove, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Delete playlist". The playlist disappears immediately — YouTube does not send it to trash or give you a recovery window, so make sure you actually want it gone before you confirm.

The process is the same whether you are on a computer or phone, though the exact location of the menu button changes slightly between devices. Below are the exact steps for each.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a playlist removes it permanently with no way to undo the action, so double-check the playlist name before you confirm.
  • On a computer, go to your library, hover over the playlist, click the three-dot menu, and select "Delete playlist".
  • On a phone or tablet, tap the three-dot menu next to the playlist name in your library and choose "Delete".
  • Deleting a playlist does not delete the individual videos — they remain in your account and in any other playlists where you added them.
  • If you are not sure whether you want to keep a playlist, you can make it private instead of deleting it, and decide later.

Delete a playlist on a computer

Open YouTube and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "Create a new playlist" or go directly to your library by clicking the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left side and selecting "Your channel" or "Playlists". You will see a list of all your playlists.

Find the playlist you want to delete. Hover your mouse over it until a three-dot menu appears in the corner of the playlist card. Click that menu and select "Delete playlist" from the dropdown. A confirmation box will appear asking if you are sure — click "Delete" again to confirm. The playlist is now gone.

Delete a playlist on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right (on Android) or top right (on iPhone). Tap "Your channel" or scroll down and tap "Playlists". You will see all your playlists listed.

Find the playlist you want to remove and tap the three-dot menu next to its name. Select "Delete" from the menu that appears. Confirm the deletion when YouTube asks. The playlist will be removed from your account immediately.

What happens to the videos in a deleted playlist

When you delete a playlist, only the playlist itself disappears — the videos stay in your account. If a video was in multiple playlists, it remains in all the others. If a video was only in the playlist you deleted, it is still saved in your "Liked videos" or "Watch later" list if you added it there, or it simply stays on YouTube under the original creator's channel.

You cannot recover a deleted playlist or the order of videos it contained, so if you think you might want those videos organized the same way again, consider making the playlist private instead of deleting it.

Make a playlist private instead of deleting it

If you are not ready to permanently remove a playlist, you can hide it from view by making it private. On a computer, click the three-dot menu next to the playlist and select "Edit playlist". Change the privacy setting from "Public" or "Unlisted" to "Private". The playlist will no longer appear in your public profile or in search results, but you can still access it from your library and change it back later.

On a phone, tap the three-dot menu next to the playlist, select "Edit playlist", and change the privacy setting to "Private". This keeps the playlist and all its videos intact while removing it from public view.

Troubleshooting: the delete option is not showing

If you do not see a delete option when you click the three-dot menu, you may not own the playlist. Playlists created by other users and shared with you cannot be deleted — you can only remove them from your library. To remove a shared playlist from your view, click the three-dot menu and select "Remove from library" instead.

If the menu is not appearing at all, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the YouTube app. On a computer, make sure you are hovering directly over the playlist card. On a phone, make sure you are tapping the three-dot menu and not the playlist title itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo deleting a playlist?

No. YouTube does not have an undo feature or trash bin for playlists. Once you confirm the deletion, the playlist is gone permanently. The videos themselves remain on YouTube and in your account, but the playlist and its order are not recoverable.

Will deleting a playlist affect the videos in it?

No. Deleting a playlist only removes the collection itself. Every video in that playlist stays on YouTube, remains in your account, and stays in any other playlists where you added it. You are only removing the grouping, not the videos.

What is the difference between deleting and making a playlist private?

Making a playlist private hides it from your public profile and search results, but you can still see it in your library and change it back to public later. Deleting removes it completely with no recovery option. If you might want the playlist again, make it private instead.

Can I delete someone else's playlist?

No. You can only delete playlists you created. If someone shared a playlist with you and you no longer want to see it, click the three-dot menu and select "Remove from library" instead of looking for a delete option.

Why does the delete option not appear on my phone?

Make sure you are tapping the three-dot menu icon next to the playlist name, not the playlist title itself. If the menu still does not appear, try closing the YouTube app completely and opening it again. On some older phones, you may need to update the YouTube app first.