How to delete a YouTube playlist: the complete guide (mobile & PC)

A YouTube playlist can quickly become a catch-all: old favorites, deleted videos, duplicates, lists to "sort later"... Good news: deleting a YouTube playlist can be done in just a few clicks, provided you know the right option and can distinguish between two very different actions:

• delete the entire playlist (it will disappear completely from your account);
• Remove one or more videos from a playlist (the playlist remains, but you clean it up).

In this guide, we'll show you how to do this on your smartphone (Android/iPhone) and computer, including special cases (collaborative playlists, other users' playlists, "Watch Later," YouTube Music).

1) Before deleting: understand what will (really) happen

Deleting a playlist vs. removing it from your library

• You created the playlist: you can delete it. It will disappear from your account (and from the public page if it was public/unlisted).
• The playlist belongs to someone else: you cannot delete it, but you can remove it from your library (equivalent to "unfollow/unsave").

Deleting a playlist does not delete the videos from YouTube.

Deleting a playlist only removes the list and its organization. The videos remain on YouTube (unless they have been deleted by their author).

2) Delete a YouTube playlist on the app (Android/iPhone)

The labels may vary slightly depending on the version, but the logic is the same: Library → Playlists → menu (⋮) → delete.

1. Open the YouTube app and verify that you are logged into the correct account.
2. Go to Library (at the bottom).
3. In the Playlists section, open the playlist you want to delete.
4. Tap More (often the ⋮ icon).
5. Select Delete Playlist and confirm.

✅ The playlist disappears immediately.

If you do not see "Delete playlist"

This usually happens in three cases:

• You are not the owner (playlist from another account or Google profile).
• This is a system playlist (e.g., "Videos I Like," "Watch Later"): you don't delete it, you empty it.
• The option is hidden in Edit (pencil icon) then additional menu, depending on certain interfaces.

3) Delete a YouTube playlist on a computer (PC/Mac)

1. Open YouTube in your browser and log in.
2. In the left column, click Library (or You, depending on the interface).
3. Find the playlist in the Playlists section, then open it.
4. Click on the ⋮ menu (next to the title or in the playlist header).
5. Select Delete Playlist, then confirm.

Tip: if you manage a lot of lists, it is often faster to do so on a computer, as the menu is more visible.

4) Remove a video from a playlist (without deleting the playlist)

Sometimes, you don't need to delete the playlist, but rather "clean it up."

On mobile

1. Open the playlist in the YouTube app.
2. On the video you want to remove, tap ⋮.
3. Select Remove from playlist (or Remove from [playlist name]).

On a computer

1. Open the playlist.
2. Hover over the relevant video.
3. Click ⋮ then Remove from [playlist name].

5) Special case: “Watch Later” and “Videos I Like”

Can we delete "Watch Later"?

No: it's a system playlist. However, you can empty it:

• Remove videos one by one (menu ⋮ → Remove from "Watch Later")
• Or, depending on the interface, use an option such as Delete watched videos / Clear list.

“Videos I like”

Same principle: you don't delete the playlist, you remove the "like" from the videos (which removes them from the list).

6) YouTube Music: delete or clean up a playlist

If your playlist is mostly music, you might want to use YouTube Music.

• To remove a track, open the playlist, then tap the menu ⋮ next to the song → Remove from playlist.
• To delete the playlist, open the playlist, then select the menu ⋮ next to the playlist → Delete playlist (if you are the owner).

7) Common problems and quick solutions

“I can't delete a playlist.”

Check:

• that you are logged into the correct Google account (often the real culprit);
• that the playlist is indeed yours (created by you);
• that it is not a system playlist ("Watch Later," "Videos I Like").

“I want to delete a playlist, but I don't want to lose the idea.”

Before deleting it, you can:

• set it to Private while sorting;
• rename it ("To be sorted," "Archives," "To be merged");
• Move useful videos to a new, clean playlist.

“I want to delete a collaborative playlist”

In general:

• the owner can delete the playlist;
• Contributors can often remove videos, but not delete the entire list.

8) Optimize your YouTube experience (without increasing your subscriptions)

When you spend time organizing your playlists (music, podcasts, sports videos, tutorials), it often means you use YouTube intensively. And at this point, two features really change the experience:

• no advertising
• offline mode (downloads in the mobile app)

These benefits are included in YouTube Premium (and therefore also in YouTube Music Premium). Rather than paying full price for each service, a simple approach is to legally share a family plan when this is offered by the service.

That's exactly how Spliiit works: you can join a co-subscription (or offer an available spot) to share the cost of a digital subscription and enjoy a premium experience... with others, without complicating your life when it comes to payments.

FAQ – Delete a YouTube playlist

Is deleting a YouTube playlist permanent?

Yes: once deleted, the playlist will disappear from your account. It's best to check that you don't just want to make it private or remove a few videos.

Why can't I see the "Delete playlist" button?

Most often: you are not the owner, you are on the wrong account, or it is a system playlist (e.g., "Watch Later").

Does deleting a playlist delete the videos?

No. The videos remain on YouTube. You are only deleting your playlist.

How do I remove a playlist from another user?

Open the saved playlist in your library, then use the Remove from Library / Unsave option.

Key points to remember

• To delete a YouTube playlist: Library → Playlist → ⋮ menu → Delete (mobile or PC).
• If the option does not appear: you are probably not the owner, or it is a system playlist.
• Cleaning up a playlist is done video by video via Remove from playlist.
• If you use YouTube on a daily basis, the premium experience (ad-free + offline) can be optimized by sharing a family plan via a co-subscription, for example with Spliiit.