If you delete a playlist on Apple Music, the playlist will be removed from your library and any other libraries it was shared to. However, deleting a playlist does not delete the songs in the playlist from your Apple Music library or device. Here’s a more detailed look at what happens when you delete a playlist on Apple Music:
The playlist will be removed from your library
When you delete a playlist you created in your Apple Music library, it will be permanently removed from your “Playlists” section. The playlist will no longer show up in any of your Apple Music apps or devices signed into your account. If you go to Recently Deleted Playlists in the iOS Music app, you may be able to recover the deleted playlist there for up to 30 days before it is permanently erased.
Songs in the playlist remain in your Apple Music library
Importantly, deleting a playlist does not delete any of the songs that were added to that playlist from your Apple Music library. All of the songs will still be available in your library and searchable/playable as normal. So deleting a playlist does not remove any music from your personal catalog of songs and albums in Apple Music.
You’ll lose custom edits made to the playlist
Any edits you’ve made specifically to the playlist, like changing the song order or adding playlist notes, will be lost when you delete that playlist. The songs remain in your library, but the way you customized their order or noted them in that specific playlist will not be preserved.
Shared playlists will be deleted for other users
If you’ve shared the playlist with friends or made it public, deleting it will remove it from the libraries of anyone you’ve shared it with. There is no way to delete a playlist only for yourself but preserve it for other listeners you’ve shared it with.
How to recover a deleted playlist
If you regret deleting a playlist, there are a couple of options to try and recover it:
- Check Recently Deleted Playlists on iOS – Open the Playlists tab in the Music app and tap “Recently Deleted Playlists” to see if it’s still there.
- Restore from a backup – If you have an iTunes or Apple Music backup from before you deleted the playlist, you may be able to restore the playlist from that backup.
- Recreate the playlist – If the playlist cannot be recovered, you’ll need to manually recreate it by adding the songs again and re-editing.
How to permanently delete a playlist from Recently Deleted
If you see a playlist you want to permanently erase in Recently Deleted Playlists, follow these steps:
- Open Recently Deleted Playlists on iOS.
- Swipe left on the playlist you want to delete.
- Tap “Delete” to permanently remove the playlist from iCloud.
This will permanently erase the playlist even from Recently Deleted and prevent you from being able to restore it from an iCloud backup.
What happens if you delete a playlist created by Apple Music?
Apple Music automatically creates some playlists for you like My Chill Mix and Favorites Mix. If you delete one of these Apple-created playlists, it behaves a little differently than deleting a custom playlist:
- The playlist will be removed from your library like normal.
- However, Apple Music will eventually create a refreshed version of the auto-playlist further down the line.
- So it may reappear with different songs in the future once Apple Music makes a new version for you.
What happens if you delete a downloaded playlist?
If you downloaded a playlist for offline listening, deleting the playlist will remove the download and free up space, while keeping the songs in your catalog. To delete the downloaded playlist:
- Open the Playlist and tap the Downloaded button.
- Tap Remove Download to delete the offline copy of the playlist.
This will only delete the downloaded version while preserving the playlist in the cloud. If you re-download the playlist, the download will include the same songs from your library.
Can you recover a deleted playlist on Android or Windows?
Unfortunately, Apple Music does not have a Recently Deleted Playlists option on Android or Windows. And you cannot access iCloud backups from these platforms. So when you delete a playlist on Android or Windows, it is likely gone for good with no way to recover it.
Your only option may be to attempt to recreate the playlist manually by adding the songs again and organizing them. So be more careful about deleting playlists on Android or Windows, as you do not have failsafe recovery options.
Conclusion
In summary, deleting a playlist in Apple Music will:
- Remove the playlist from your library and any shared libraries.
- Keep all songs safely in your Apple Music catalog.
- Lose any custom edits made to the playlist.
- Be recoverable for up to 30 days on iOS via Recently Deleted Playlists.
So don’t hesitate to delete any playlists taking up space that you aren’t listening to anymore. Just double check first that you won’t miss the customizations or need access for sharing, as recovery options are limited after that first month.
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Delete playlist from Apple Music | Playlist removed from your library and shared libraries |
| Delete playlist | Songs in playlist remain in your Apple Music catalog |
| Delete playlist | Custom playlist edits are lost |
| Delete playlist on iOS | Recoverable for up to 30 days |
| Delete playlist on Android/Windows | No recovery options |
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a playlist removes it from your library but keeps the songs.
- Playlists can be recovered within 30 days only on iOS.
- Customizations to the playlist order and notes will be lost.
- You should still be careful before deleting playlists on all platforms.
How to delete a playlist from Apple Music
Here are steps to delete a playlist from your Apple Music library on iPhone, iPad, desktop and the web:
Delete Playlist on iPhone/iPad
- Open the Playlists tab in the Music app.
- Swipe left on the playlist you want to delete.
- Tap Delete.
- Tap Delete Playlist again to confirm.
Delete Playlist on Mac
- Click Playlists in the sidebar.
- Right-click the playlist and choose Delete.
- Click Delete Playlist to confirm.
Delete Playlist on Apple Music Web
- Click Playlists.
- Hover over the playlist and click the 3 dots icon.
- Choose Delete.
- Confirm by clicking Delete Playlist.
How to recover a deleted playlist
If you change your mind after deleting a playlist, here are a couple of options to recover it:
Restore from Recently Deleted (iOS only)
- Open Playlists in the Music app.
- Tap “Recently Deleted Playlists”.
- Find the deleted playlist and tap to download it again.
Note this only works up to 30 days after deleting the playlist.
Restore from a Backup
If you have an iTunes or Apple Music backup from before you deleted the playlist, you may be able to restore it from there.
- Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
- Tap to restore from the relevant backup.
This will work as long as the backup is less than 30 days old.
Recreate Manually
If unable to restore the playlist, your only other option is to manually recreate it by adding in the songs again and re-editing. This takes more effort but can at least approximate the original playlist.
How to permanently delete a playlist from Recently Deleted
If you deleted a playlist but still see it in Recently Deleted and want it gone for good, do the following on iPhone/iPad:
- Open Playlists and tap “Recently Deleted Playlists”.
- Swipe left on the playlist you want to delete forever.
- Tap “Delete” to permanently remove it.
This will erase the playlist even from Recently Deleted and prevent you from being able to restore it.
What happens when you delete auto-generated playlists?
Apple Music uses algorithms to automatically generate personalized playlists for you like:
- My Chill Mix
- My Favorites Mix
- Get Up! Mix
- New Music Mix
If you delete one of these auto-playlists, here’s what will happen:
- The playlist will be removed from your library like normal.
- In the future, Apple Music will generate a new version of that auto-playlist for you.
- So it may reappear down the line with fresh song recommendations.
You can’t stop these playlists from being created again in the future. But deleting them temporarily cleans up your library if you don’t want to see them.
Should you delete downloads when deleting a playlist?
If you downloaded a playlist for offline listening and want to delete it, you have two options:
- Just delete the playlist – This keeps the songs in your library but removes the download to save space.
- Delete the download – Manually delete the download before deleting the playlist using these steps:
- Open the playlist > Tap the Downloaded button > Remove Download
- Now delete the playlist as normal
Deleting the download first prevents the songs from being re-downloaded if you add the playlist again later. But skipping this step still removes the playlist while keeping songs in your library.
Can you recover playlists on Android or Windows?
Unfortunately, Apple Music does not have a Recently Deleted Playlists or iCloud backup option on Android or Windows. So playlists deleted on these platforms are likely gone for good.
Potential recovery options include:
- Trying third-party Android data recovery apps.
- Reaching out to Apple Support to see if they can help.
- Manually recreating the playlist and adding the songs again.
But there are no guarantees. Your best bet is to be extra careful when considering deleting a playlist on Android or Windows, as robust restore features do not exist.
Key takeaways
- No Recently Deleted Playlists or iCloud backup on Android/Windows.
- Deleted playlists very difficult to recover on these platforms.
- Manual recreation of playlists is likely your only option.
- Avoid deleting playlists on Android/Windows unless absolutely certain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover a deleted playlist on iPhone?
Yes, deleted playlists can be recovered for up to 30 days on an iPhone by going to Recently Deleted Playlists. You may also be able to restore from an iCloud backup if the backup occurred before the playlist was deleted.
What happens to downloaded playlists if you delete them?
Deleting a downloaded playlist removes the download and frees up space, but keeps the songs in your Apple Music library. To fully remove the download, delete it manually before deleting the full playlist.
Do songs get deleted when you delete the playlist?
No, songs remain safely in your Apple Music library when you delete a playlist containing them. Only the playlist itself and any customizations to it are removed.
Can you delete auto-generated playlists forever?
No, Apple Music will eventually recreate deleted auto-playlists like My Chill Mix further down the line. But deleting them gets rid of them temporarily.
Is there any way to recover a deleted playlist on Android?
Unfortunately, there is no Recently Deleted or backup option for playlists on Android. Your only recovery options are third-party apps or manually recreating the playlist.
Conclusion
Deleting playlists on Apple Music removes them from your library but retains the songs. Recovery is limited, especially on Android/Windows. So be deliberate when deleting playlists, first ensuring you have backups or won’t miss any customizations. Handle auto-playlists and downloads carefully as well when removing playlists. Overall though, don’t be afraid to delete any playlists no longer needed to clean up your library.
