Are you tired of having playlists that you no longer listen to, taking up valuable space on your Apple device? Do you want to declutter your music library and get rid of those playlists that are no longer serving a purpose? If so, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll show you how to delete a playlist on Apple in a few easy steps.
Why Delete a Playlist?
Before we dive into the process of deleting a playlist, let’s take a moment to discuss why you might want to delete a playlist in the first place. There are several reasons why you might want to consider deleting a playlist:
Inactive Playlists
If you have playlists that you haven’t listened to in months or even years, it might be time to consider deleting them. These playlists are taking up space on your device and serving no purpose. By deleting them, you can free up space and declutter your music library.
Outdated Playlists
Have you created playlists for specific events or occasions, such as a workout playlist or a road trip playlist? If these events are no longer relevant, it might be time to delete the playlist. You can always create a new playlist when the next event or occasion arises.
Duplicate Playlists
Do you have multiple playlists with the same songs? If so, it might be time to consolidate them into one playlist and delete the duplicates. This will help you to avoid confusion and make it easier to find the songs you want to listen to.
How to Delete a Playlist on Apple?
Now that we’ve discussed why you might want to delete a playlist, let’s move on to the process of actually doing it. The good news is that deleting a playlist on Apple is a relatively straightforward process, regardless of whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here’s how to do it:
iOS Devices (iPhone and iPad)
To delete a playlist on an iOS device, follow these steps:
- Open the Music app on your device.
- Tap on the “Library” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on “Playlists” to view a list of all your playlists.
- Find the playlist you want to delete and swipe left on it.
- Tap on “Delete” to confirm that you want to delete the playlist.
Mac
To delete a playlist on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- Click on the “Music” tab in the top navigation bar.
- Click on “Playlists” to view a list of all your playlists.
- Find the playlist you want to delete and right-click on it.
- Click on “Delete” to confirm that you want to delete the playlist.
Alternative Method on Mac
If you’re using macOS Catalina or later, you can also delete a playlist by following these steps:
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- Click on the “Music” tab in the top navigation bar.
- Click on “Playlists” to view a list of all your playlists.
- Select the playlist you want to delete by clicking on it.
- Click on the “Edit” menu and select “Delete” from the dropdown menu.
What Happens When You Delete a Playlist?
When you delete a playlist on Apple, what happens to the songs in that playlist? Don’t worry, deleting a playlist won’t delete the individual songs themselves. Those songs will still be available in your music library, and you can add them to a new playlist or listen to them individually.
However, it’s worth noting that if you delete a playlist that contains songs that are not synced to your device, you may lose access to those songs if you don’t have a backup. This is why it’s always a good idea to make sure you have a backup of your music library, either through iCloud or an external hard drive.
Tips and Variations
Here are a few tips and variations to keep in mind when deleting playlists on Apple:
Deleting Multiple Playlists at Once
If you want to delete multiple playlists at once, you can do so by following these steps on an iOS device:
- Open the Music app on your device.
- Tap on the “Library” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on “Playlists” to view a list of all your playlists.
- Tap “Edit” in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select the playlists you want to delete by tapping on them.
- Tap “Delete” to confirm that you want to delete the selected playlists.
On a Mac, you can delete multiple playlists at once by selecting them while holding down the Command key, then right-clicking and selecting “Delete”.
Deleting Playlists from iCloud Music Library
If you’re using iCloud Music Library, deleting a playlist on one device will delete it on all your devices. This is because iCloud Music Library syncs your music library across all your devices, so deleting a playlist on one device will remove it from all your devices.
Rename or Edit a Playlist Instead of Deleting It
If you’re not sure whether you want to delete a playlist, you might consider renaming or editing it instead. This can be a good option if you want to keep the songs in the playlist but change the name or description. To rename or edit a playlist, follow these steps on an iOS device:
- Open the Music app on your device.
- Tap on the “Library” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on “Playlists” to view a list of all your playlists.
- Find the playlist you want to rename or edit and tap on it.
- Tap on the “Edit” button in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Rename the playlist or edit the description as desired.
On a Mac, you can rename or edit a playlist by following these steps:
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- Click on the “Music” tab in the top navigation bar.
- Click on “Playlists” to view a list of all your playlists.
- Find the playlist you want to rename or edit and right-click on it.
- Click on “Edit Playlist” to open the edit window.
- Rename the playlist or edit the description as desired.
By following these steps, you can easily delete a playlist on Apple and keep your music library organized and clutter-free. Remember to always make sure you have a backup of your music library to ensure that you don’t lose any songs. Happy listening!
What happens when I delete a playlist on Apple Music?
When you delete a playlist on Apple Music, the playlist itself is removed from your music library. This means that you will no longer see the playlist in your playlists list, and you will not be able to access the songs that were in the playlist. However, deleting a playlist does not delete the individual songs from your music library.
The songs that were in the deleted playlist will still be available in your music library, and you can still access them by searching for them or by looking in the “Songs” tab. If you want to completely remove the songs from your music library, you will need to delete them individually. It’s also worth noting that deleting a playlist does not affect any other playlists that you may have created.
Can I recover a deleted playlist on Apple Music?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to recover a deleted playlist on Apple Music. When you delete a playlist, it is permanently removed from your music library, and there is no way to get it back. This is because Apple Music does not keep a backup of deleted playlists.
So, if you delete a playlist by accident, you will not be able to recover it. This is why it’s a good idea to be careful when deleting playlists, and to make sure that you really want to delete them before you do so. If you’re not sure, you can always create a new playlist with the same songs instead of deleting the original one.
How do I delete a playlist on my iPhone?
To delete a playlist on your iPhone, open the Music app and go to the “Playlists” tab. Find the playlist that you want to delete, and swipe left on it. Tap “Delete” to confirm that you want to delete the playlist. You can also delete a playlist by tapping “Edit” in the top right corner of the screen, tapping the “−” icon next to the playlist, and then tapping “Delete”.
Make sure that you are connected to the internet when you delete a playlist on your iPhone, as this will ensure that the change is synced with your Apple Music account. You can also delete playlists on your iPad or iPod touch using the same method.
How do I delete a playlist on my Mac?
To delete a playlist on your Mac, open the Music app and click on the “Playlists” tab in the sidebar. Find the playlist that you want to delete, and right-click (or control-click) on it. Select “Delete” from the dropdown menu to delete the playlist. You can also delete a playlist by selecting it and pressing the “Delete” key on your keyboard.
Make sure that you are connected to the internet when you delete a playlist on your Mac, as this will ensure that the change is synced with your Apple Music account. You can also delete playlists on your Mac by using the “Edit Playlist” menu, and then clicking the “Delete Playlist” button.
Can I delete a playlist on Apple Music using Siri?
Yes, you can delete a playlist on Apple Music using Siri. To do so, activate Siri on your device and say “Hey Siri, delete “. Replace “” with the actual name of the playlist that you want to delete. Siri will confirm that you want to delete the playlist, and then delete it for you.
This can be a convenient way to delete playlists, especially if you have a lot of playlists and want to clean up your music library. Just make sure that Siri can understand the name of the playlist correctly, and that you are connected to the internet when you use this method.
Can I delete a playlist that I created on Apple Music?
Yes, you can delete a playlist that you created on Apple Music. In fact, you can delete any playlist that you have created, regardless of whether it was created on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or another device. To delete a playlist that you created, follow the same steps as above, depending on the device that you are using.
Keep in mind that deleting a playlist that you created will remove it from your music library, and you will not be able to recover it. So, make sure that you really want to delete the playlist before you do so.
Will deleting a playlist affect my Apple Music subscription?
No, deleting a playlist will not affect your Apple Music subscription. Your Apple Music subscription is separate from your playlists, and deleting a playlist will not cancel your subscription or affect your ability to access Apple Music. You will still be able to stream music, download songs, and access all of the features of Apple Music, even if you delete a playlist.
Deleting a playlist only affects the playlist itself, and does not have any impact on your Apple Music subscription or your music library as a whole. So, feel free to delete playlists as needed, without worrying about affecting your subscription.