Delete a playlist by opening YouTube, finding the playlist in your library, and selecting the delete option

YouTube stores playlists in your account library, separate from individual videos. To remove a playlist entirely, you go to your library, locate the playlist you want to delete, and choose the delete option from its menu. The process takes about 30 seconds and permanently removes the playlist — but not the videos in it, which stay on YouTube unless you delete them separately.

You can delete a playlist you created at any time. If someone else created a playlist and added you as a collaborator, you cannot delete it, but you can remove yourself from it. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are on a computer or phone.

Key Takeaways

  • On a computer, go to youtube.com, click your profile icon, select "Your channel," then find the playlist under the "Playlists" tab and click the three-dot menu next to it.
  • On a phone or tablet, open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, go to "Your playlists," find the one you want to delete, and tap the three-dot menu.
  • Deleting a playlist removes only the list itself — all the videos in it remain on YouTube and in your watch history.
  • If you created a playlist but someone else is a collaborator, you can still delete it, but they will lose access to it as well.

Delete a playlist on a computer

Start at youtube.com and sign in to your account if you are not already. Click your profile icon in the top right corner — it is a small circle with your initial or profile photo. A dropdown menu appears.

Click "Your channel" from that menu. YouTube takes you to your channel page. Look for the "Playlists" tab near the top of the page, below your channel name and subscriber count. Click it to see all the playlists you have created.

Find the playlist you want to delete in the list. Hover your mouse over the playlist thumbnail or title, and a three-dot menu icon appears in the top right corner of that playlist's box. Click the three dots. A small menu drops down with options including "Delete playlist." Click that option. YouTube asks you to confirm — click "Delete" again, and the playlist is removed.

Delete a playlist on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. A menu appears with several options. Tap "Your playlists" to see all the playlists you have created.

Scroll through the list and find the playlist you want to delete. Tap the three-dot menu icon next to the playlist name — it appears on the right side of each playlist row. A menu pops up with options. Tap "Delete playlist." YouTube asks you to confirm. Tap "Delete" again, and the playlist is gone.

What happens to videos when you delete a playlist

Deleting a playlist does not delete any of the videos in it. All those videos remain on YouTube exactly as they were. If you added videos from other creators to your playlist, those videos stay on their channels. If you uploaded your own videos to a playlist, those videos stay in your channel.

The videos also stay in your watch history and in any other playlists you may have added them to. Deleting the playlist only removes the collection itself — the grouping you created.

Removing yourself from a playlist someone else created

If another person created a playlist and invited you to collaborate on it, you cannot delete the playlist itself. However, you can remove yourself from it so it no longer appears in your library.

On a computer, go to your playlists, find the one you want to leave, click the three-dot menu, and select "Remove from my playlists." On a phone, tap the three-dot menu next to the playlist name and select "Remove from my playlists." The playlist disappears from your account, but the creator and any other collaborators can still see it and edit it.

Playlists you cannot delete

YouTube creates a few playlists automatically for every account: "Watch later," "Liked videos," and "History." These system playlists cannot be deleted. You can clear the contents of these playlists — for example, you can remove all videos from "Watch later" — but you cannot remove the playlists themselves.

If you want to hide these playlists from view, you can make them private so only you can see them, but the option to delete them does not exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo deleting a playlist?

No. Once you confirm the deletion, YouTube removes the playlist permanently. The videos stay on YouTube, but the playlist and its order are gone. If you want to recreate it, you will need to add the videos to a new playlist manually.

What if I delete a playlist by accident?

YouTube does not have an undo feature for deleted playlists. Your best option is to create a new playlist with the same name and re-add the videos if you remember which ones were in it. If you frequently use a playlist, consider taking a screenshot of it before deleting anything.

Can I delete someone else's playlist?

No, unless you are a collaborator on it. If you are a collaborator, you can delete it, but the creator will lose access to it too. If you only follow a playlist someone else created, you can only remove it from your library, not delete it entirely.

Does deleting a playlist affect my watch history?

No. Your watch history is separate from playlists. Deleting a playlist does not remove any videos from your history, and clearing your history does not delete your playlists.