Delete a playlist you created yourself
If you made the playlist, you can remove it from your library in three steps. Open Apple Music on your device, find the playlist in your library, and delete it. The exact steps depend on whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer, but the principle is the same on all of them.
On iPhone or iPad: Open Apple Music, tap the Library tab at the bottom, tap Playlists, find the playlist you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap Delete. The playlist disappears immediately. On Mac: Open Apple Music, click Library in the sidebar, click Playlists, right-click the playlist name, and select Delete from Library. On Windows: Open Apple Music, click Library in the sidebar, click Playlists, right-click the playlist, and select Delete.
Deleting a playlist you created removes it from all your devices where you are signed in to the same Apple Music account. If you shared the playlist with other people before you deleted it, they will no longer be able to see it or add songs to it.
Key Takeaways
- Playlists you created can be deleted directly from your library using the delete option, and the removal syncs across all your devices.
- Playlists shared with you by other people cannot be deleted — you can only remove them from your library, and the original owner still has access.
- Deleting a playlist is permanent and cannot be undone, so make sure you do not need the songs in it before you proceed.
- If you want to keep the songs but remove the playlist, you can remove individual songs instead of deleting the entire playlist.
Remove a playlist someone else shared with you
When another person shares a playlist with you, you do not own it and cannot delete it. You can only remove it from your own library. The original owner still has the playlist and can continue to edit it or share it with others.
On iPhone or iPad: Open Apple Music, tap Library, tap Playlists, swipe left on the shared playlist, and tap Remove. On Mac: Open Apple Music, click Library, click Playlists, right-click the shared playlist, and select Remove from Library. On Windows: Open Apple Music, click Library, click Playlists, right-click the shared playlist, and select Remove from Library. The playlist disappears from your library but remains in the original owner's account.
Understand the difference between removing and deleting
Deleting a playlist means erasing it completely. You can only delete playlists you created yourself. Once deleted, the playlist is gone from your account and cannot be recovered. Removing a playlist means taking it out of your library without erasing it. You use this option for playlists other people shared with you. The playlist still exists in their account.
If you delete a playlist by mistake, there is no undo button in Apple Music. You would need to recreate the playlist manually and add the songs back. For this reason, if you are uncertain whether you want to keep a playlist, consider removing individual songs from it instead of deleting the entire thing.
Remove individual songs instead of the whole playlist
If you want to keep a playlist but remove only certain songs from it, you do not have to delete the entire playlist. You can remove songs one at a time. On iPhone or iPad: Open the playlist, swipe left on the song you want to remove, and tap Remove. On Mac: Open the playlist, right-click the song, and select Remove from Playlist. On Windows: Open the playlist, right-click the song, and select Remove from Playlist.
This approach is useful when a playlist has mostly songs you like but a few you want gone. You keep the playlist structure and your other songs intact while cleaning up the ones you do not want to hear.
What happens to downloaded playlists when you delete them
If you downloaded a playlist to your device for offline listening and then delete the playlist, the downloaded files are also removed. The songs will no longer be available to play without an internet connection. If you want to keep the songs but remove the playlist, remove individual songs instead, or download the songs separately before you delete the playlist.
On iPhone and iPad, you can see which playlists are downloaded by looking for a small download icon next to the playlist name in your library. On Mac and Windows, downloaded content is stored in your Apple Music library but is not marked with a visible indicator in the same way.
Delete a playlist on different devices
When you delete a playlist on one device, it disappears from all your other devices automatically because Apple Music syncs your library across your account. You do not need to delete the same playlist on each device separately. If you delete a playlist on your iPhone, it will be gone from your Mac, iPad, and Windows computer the next time those devices sync with your account.
Syncing usually happens within a few minutes, but if you do not see the change right away, try closing and reopening Apple Music on your other devices. If a playlist still appears on another device after several minutes, sign out of Apple Music on that device and sign back in to force a full sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a deleted playlist?
No. Apple Music does not have an undo feature for deleted playlists. Once you delete a playlist, it is gone permanently. If you need the playlist back, you would have to recreate it and add all the songs manually. For this reason, make sure you do not need the songs or the playlist structure before you delete it.
What if I delete a playlist that I shared with other people?
When you delete a playlist you created and shared, it disappears from everyone's library — both yours and the people you shared it with. They will no longer be able to see it, listen to it, or add songs to it. If you want them to keep access to those songs, remove individual songs instead of deleting the entire playlist.
Can I recover songs from a deleted playlist?
The songs themselves are not deleted from your Apple Music account — only the playlist is removed. If you remember which songs were in the playlist, you can search for them and add them to a new playlist. If you do not remember all the songs, there is no way to see what was in the deleted playlist.
Why does a playlist I created still show up after I deleted it?
If a playlist reappears after you delete it, your devices may not have synced yet. Close Apple Music completely and reopen it. If the playlist still appears on multiple devices, sign out of your Apple Music account on that device and sign back in. This forces a full sync and should remove the playlist.
Can I delete a playlist from the Apple Music website?
You can manage your library on the Apple Music website at music.apple.com, but the delete option works the same way as on your devices. Right-click a playlist you created and select Delete, or click the three-dot menu next to a shared playlist and select Remove from Library. Changes made on the website sync to your devices within a few minutes.