Alex Ruben
How To Remove a Playlist on YouTube: Step-by-Step Guide
Managing YouTube playlists can be a bit of a headache sometimes. Maybe you want to clear out some clutter, or just switch a playlist from public to private — whatever the reason, the process isn’t exactly straightforward on mobile. Sometimes the app behaves weird or the options are hidden behind menus you didn’t notice. This guide dives into how you can delete or hide those playlists on your device, hopefully making your YouTube experience a little less chaotic. Because, of course, YouTube doesn’t exactly make it super obvious in some cases.
How to Delete or Set a Playlist to Private on YouTube Mobile
Access Your Playlists (or Why You Might Not See Them)
- First, open your YouTube app. You probably already know this, but make sure it’s the latest version — sometimes bugs or missing features are just because you’re on an older build. Update if needed from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Tap on your profile avatar in the bottom right corner. Here’s where the magic begins.
- Scroll down a bit, and tap Manage your playlists or sometimes just Playlists. Depending on your app version, this might be in a slightly different spot, but it’s usually under your account menu.
Removing a Playlist if You Really Want It Gone
- Find the playlist you want to delete. Once spotted, tap the three dots (menu icon) next to the playlist name.
- In the menu that pops up, tap Delete. Yep, it’s there — hidden behind those dots. Just a quick tap, and a confirmation will follow.
- Confirm the deletion. On some setups, especially if your app is acting slow or glitchy, this might fail once, so don’t be surprised if the first try doesn’t go through. It may help to restart the app or even your device if it’s stubborn.
Making a Playlist Private Instead of Deleting it (In Case You Change Your Mind)
- Tap the same three dots next to your playlist, then select Edit.
- In the editing options, look for the Visibility setting. Change it from Public to Private.
- This way, the playlist stays on your account, but no one else can see it. Handy if you want to keep it hidden without losing everything.
Extra Tips & Tricks
- If things are not working right, try clearing app cache or reinstalling the app. Sometimes YouTube just bugs out, especially on Android.
- Check if your device is logged into the right account — I’ve lost playlists before just because I was logged into another account accidentally.
- For quick access, you can also try the desktop version if mobile keeps being a pain.
Managing playlists on mobile can be a bit of a mess, but once you find the right menu options, it’s pretty straightforward. Deleting or changing privacy settings isn’t impossible, even if YouTube doesn’t make it too obvious. Just remember, if you’re deleting stuff, there’s no undo, so double-check before confirming.
Summary
- Always update your app to get the latest features and fixes.
- Use the profile menu to find and manage your playlists.
- Tap the three dots next to a playlist for options like delete or edit privacy.
- Changing visibility keeps your playlist but hides it from others.
Wrap-up
Hopefully, this helps clear up some of the confusion around playlist management on mobile. Sometimes YouTube’s UI can be a little sneaky, but with these steps, it should be manageable. If things keep acting up, a restart or reinstallation often does the trick.