Yes, managers on YouTube have the ability to delete playlists, both their own playlists as well as playlists created by creators they manage. As a manager, you have full control over the YouTube channels and content you manage.
Managers can delete their own playlists
As a YouTube manager, you have the same level of control over playlists you have created as a regular YouTube user would. This means you can add videos to your playlists, rearrange them, rename your playlists, make them public or private, and delete your playlists if you choose.
To delete one of your own playlists as a manager, simply go to the playlist page and click the “Delete” button. You will get a confirmation prompt to confirm you want to delete the playlist.
Once deleted, the playlist will be removed from your account and channel. However, deleting a playlist does not delete the videos within it from YouTube. The videos will remain on the platform and on the channels that uploaded them. Only the playlist itself is removed.
Managers can delete playlists created by the channels they manage
In addition to managing their own playlists, managers also have the ability to delete any playlists that were created by the YouTube channels and creators they manage.
As a manager, you have full access to the Playlists tab on channels you manage. This means you can delete, edit, rearrange, or otherwise modify any playlists created for that channel.
To delete a playlist created for a managed channel, simply navigate to the Playlists tab for that channel, find the playlist you want to remove, and click the “Delete” button.
This will permanently remove the playlist from the channel. The manager deleting the playlist will see a confirmation prompt before the playlist is deleted.
Why managers might need to delete playlists
There are a few key reasons a manager may need or want to delete a playlist for one of their managed channels:
- Removing outdated or irrelevant playlists – Playlists that are outdated or no longer relevant to the channel can be removed by managers.
- Deleting playlists with poor engagement – Managers can delete playlists that are not getting many views or have low audience retention.
- Taking down playlists with controversial or problematic content – If a playlist contains videos that have caused problems or controversies for the channel, managers may delete the playlist.
- Removing playlists to shape channel identity – Deleting certain playlists can help managers shape the identity and branding of the channel.
- Starting fresh – Managers may want to remove all previous playlists and start fresh with new playlist categories and organization.
Essentially, managers have the control to delete playlists as needed to optimize the channel, improve the viewer experience, and shape the creative direction of the channel’s content.
What happens when a playlist is deleted
When a YouTube playlist is deleted, here is what happens:
- The playlist is removed from the channel and manager account that deleted it. It will no longer show up in playlist lists.
- Any subscribers to that playlist will stop receiving notifications about new videos being added to it.
- The URL for the playlist will no longer work and return an error if clicked.
- The view count on the playlist is reset to 0. However, views on videos within the playlist remain unaffected.
- Videos contained in the playlist are not deleted or affected in any way. They remain on their respective channels.
In essence, deleting a playlist removes the playlist functionality while leaving the videos themselves intact. Managers who delete playlists do not have to worry about removing videos from YouTube in the process.
Best practices for managers deleting playlists
When weighing whether or not to delete a playlist for a managed YouTube channel, managers should keep these best practices in mind:
- Review playlist performance – Look at views, retention, and subscribers. This can help determine if deleting is the right call.
- Check for valuable user engagement – Playlists with lots of likes, shares, or comments have resonated with viewers.
- Consider a gradual phase out – Making a playlist private or unlisting it gives subscribers a chance to download it before it’s gone.
- Redirect subscribers – If deleting a popular playlist, notify subscribers where similar content can be found.
- Review links and embedded playlists – Check for links directing to the playlist on the channel itself or other websites.
- Download for archival – Managers may want to download playlists through third-party tools before deleting for channel records.
Taking these factors into account helps managers make informed decisions about deleting playlists while respecting viewers and preserving valuable data.
Managers should communicate playlist changes
Because playlist subscribers and regular viewers may come to rely on particular playlists, managers should communicate any major playlist changes like deletions.
Some ways managers can communicate include:
- Posting community tab announcements explaining playlist changes.
- Mentioning deletions in video descriptions and end screens of recent uploads.
- Sending out tweets, posts, or emails to update on playlist changes.
- Using YouTube Stories to alert subscribers of imminent or recent playlist deletions.
Proactively communicating these changes helps retain audience trust and reduces confusion when favorite playlists suddenly vanish. Managers should provide ample warning when possible.
How deleting playlists affects channel analytics
Deleting playlists can have minor impacts on channel analytics and stats:
- View counts for deleted playlists reset to 0.
- Overall playlist view counts for the channel decrease accordingly.
- Average view duration for playlists and the channel may increase slightly since the deleted playlist’s duration is removed.
- Traffic sources tied solely to the deleted playlist will see drops.
- Subscribers and notification impressions decrease if the playlist had subscribers.
However, videos within deleted playlists are not impacted statistically. Their view counts and metrics remain the same after playlist deletion.
When playlists can’t be deleted
In some cases, managers may find playlists cannot be deleted from YouTube Studio:
- If the channel has copyright claims, strikes, or Community Guidelines violations – Playlists cannot be altered until issues are resolved.
- Buggy filters, searches, or criteria when viewing Playlists – Trying again or troubleshooting filter issues may resolve this.
- Insufficient permissions – Managers require playlist edit permissions from the channel owner to delete playlists.
- Deleted channel – Playlists cannot be modified if the associated channel is deleted.
Troubleshooting permissions, channel standing, or search filters typically allows managers to delete eligible playlists. But in some cases, playlists may become undeletable if associated channels get terminated or deleted.
Alternative options to deleting playlists
Instead of deleting playlists entirely, managers also have options like:
- Making playlists private – Prevents discovery while still allowing access to subscribers.
- Unlisting playlists – Removes from channel playlists but maintains the playlist URL.
- Renaming playlists – Gives existing playlists renewed purpose.
- Reorganizing playlist content – Move or remove underperforming videos.
- Resetting playlists – Delete all videos from a playlist to start fresh while keeping subscribers.
Using alternatives like these allows managers to refresh stale playlists without fully deleting them and losing data or subscribers in the process.
Other tips for managing YouTube playlists
In addition to deleting playlists, managers can optimize their management with other tips like:
- Reviewing analytics for each playlist to assess performance.
- Curating complementary video sequences within each playlist to improve retention.
- Adding useful descriptions to explain the theme and purpose of playlists.
- Organizing playlists into logical sections on the channel.
- Collaborating with creators on new playlist ideas that cater to different audiences.
- Making the most popular playlists publicly accessible to attract viewers.
- Creating and updating playlist cover art to reflect the content.
Focusing on organization, customization, and strategic promotion enables managers to get the most viewership and engagement from channel playlists.
Summary
YouTube managers have full access to delete playlists from channels they oversee. This includes their own playlists as well as those created for their managed channels. Deleting stale, poorly performing, or problematic playlists helps managers shape channel identity and direction. However, managers should be strategic about deletions and inform audiences of major playlist changes happening. With the power to remove playlists comes responsibility to channel subscribers who rely on these collections of curated content.
