How to Delete a Playlist on iPhone (iOS 17 & 18)

Deleting a playlist on your iPhone removes it from your Apple Music library and all your synced devices. You can delete playlists you created, as well as those you’ve added from Apple Music’s curated or shared collections. You’ll need an iPhone with iOS 14 or later, and if you have an Apple Music subscription, your playlists will also be removed from iCloud Music Library across your other devices.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone with the Apple Music app installed (it comes preinstalled).
• Your Apple ID signed in to the App Store and Media & Purchases (for playlists that were synced from a computer or downloaded).
• An internet connection if you want the deletion to sync across all your devices.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Music app on your iPhone. It’s the app with the red, pink, and purple music note icon.
2. Tap Library at the bottom of the screen (the icon that looks like a stack of albums).
3. Tap Playlists to see all your playlists. If you don’t see it, you might be in a different tab—make sure you’re on the Library tab first.
4. Find the playlist you want to delete. You can scroll or use the search bar at the top (if you have many playlists).
5. Tap the playlist name to open it.
6. Tap the More button (the three dots in a circle) in the top-right corner of the screen.
7. From the menu that appears, tap Delete from Library.
8. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap Delete Playlist to confirm. If you change your mind, tap Cancel.

That’s it. The playlist is now gone from your iPhone. If you have iCloud Music Library enabled (which is the default for Apple Music subscribers), the deletion will also happen on your other devices, like your iPad or Mac.

Common Mistakes

• Tapping “Remove Downloads� instead of “Delete�: If you see “Remove Downloads� in the menu, that only deletes the downloaded songs from your phone, not the playlist itself. Make sure you tap “Delete from Library.�
• Deleting the wrong playlist: Double-check the playlist name before confirming. Once deleted, it’s gone (unless you have a backup).
• Expecting a playlist you didn’t create to be permanently deleted: If the playlist was shared with you by a friend or is an Apple Music curated playlist, deleting it from your library removes it from your view, but it still exists on the creator’s account.
• Not realizing the deletion syncs: If you delete a playlist on your iPhone, it will disappear from your other devices too. This is usually what you want, but if you only wanted to remove it from one device, you might need to turn off iCloud Music Library (but that affects your whole library).

Tips

• Use the Edit button for bulk actions: If you want to delete several playlists at once, go to the Playlists tab, tap Edit in the top-right, then tap the red minus button next to each playlist you want to remove. This is faster than opening each one.
• You can’t undo a deletion: There is no “Recently Deleted� folder for playlists. If you accidentally delete one, you’ll need to recreate it. If you have an Apple Music subscription, you might be able to find the same songs in your “Recently Added� or by searching your library history, but the playlist itself is gone.
• If you have a Mac or PC, you can also delete playlists there: The deletion will sync back to your iPhone. On a Mac, right-click the playlist and choose “Delete from Library.�
• Make a backup before deleting: If you think you might want the playlist again, take a screenshot of the song list or export it to a note before deleting.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the “Delete from Library� option.

This can happen if the playlist is a “Smart Playlist� (which is created on your computer and synced to your iPhone) or if it’s a “Genius Playlist� (an automatically generated mix). For these, you may need to delete them on your computer instead. If the playlist is a shared playlist you subscribed to, you might only see “Unfollow� instead of “Delete.�

The playlist keeps coming back.

If you have iCloud Music Library enabled, the deletion should sync. If it doesn’t, try turning off and on the “Sync Library� setting: Go to Settings > Music > toggle off Sync Library, wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on. This forces a refresh. If that doesn’t work, restart your iPhone.

I deleted a playlist but the songs are still in my library.

That’s normal. Deleting a playlist only removes the playlist container, not the individual songs. If you want to remove the songs too, you’ll need to delete each song from your library separately.

I can’t delete a playlist because it says “Not Downloaded.�

This is not a real error—it just means the playlist’s songs aren’t stored on your device. You can still delete the playlist using the steps above. If the menu doesn’t show “Delete from Library,� try tapping the playlist to open it, then tap the More button again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a playlist delete the songs from my iPhone?

No. The songs remain in your music library (unless they were only in that playlist and not added to your library separately). If you want to remove the songs as well, you’ll need to delete each song individually.

Can I recover a deleted playlist?

No, there is no built-in “Recently Deleted� for playlists. Once you confirm deletion, it’s gone. You’ll have to recreate it manually. If you have an Apple Music subscription, you might be able to use the “Recently Added� section to find the songs again.

Will deleting a playlist on my iPhone also delete it on my Mac?

Yes, if you have iCloud Music Library (Sync Library) turned on. If you don’t, the deletion only affects the device you’re on.

What’s the difference between “Delete from Library� and “Remove Downloads�?

“Remove Downloads� only deletes the downloaded audio files from your device, but the playlist and its songs stay in your library. “Delete from Library� removes the playlist completely.

Can I delete a playlist that was shared with me?

Yes, you can remove it from your library. It will no longer appear in your Music app, but the original playlist still exists for the person who created it.

Why can’t I delete a playlist that I didn’t create?

If it’s an Apple Music curated playlist or a playlist that was automatically generated (like “Favorites Mix�), you might not see “Delete from Library.� Instead, you’ll see “Unfollow� or “Remove.� Tapping that will remove it from your library.

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