If you find that some of your YouTube playlists are locked, it means you no longer have access to edit or make changes to those playlists. There are a few common reasons why this can happen:
1. The playlist was created by someone else
If a playlist was created by another YouTube user and they added you as a collaborator, the original creator maintains full control. If they remove you from the collaboration, the playlist will become locked for you since you are no longer an editor.
Likewise, if the original creator deletes their account or makes the playlist private, you will lose editing access and it will be locked for you.
2. The videos in the playlist are deleted or made private
If the videos that are added to the playlist are deleted or made private by the video owner, YouTube automatically removes them from public playlists. This makes the playlist appear “empty” to you, even if you were the original creator.
Since you can no longer view the playlist contents, YouTube locks editing so that the empty playlist can’t be mistakenly changed or deleted if the videos reappear in the future.
3. Your YouTube account was temporarily restricted
If your main YouTube account gets temporarily suspended for a Terms of Service violation, you may lose the ability to edit, modify, or delete your existing YouTube playlists during the restriction period.
Your playlists themselves will still be visible to other users, but YouTube locks editing access on your end while the restrictions are in place.
4. You were signed in on a different channel
If you have multiple YouTube channels and were originally signed in to a different channel when creating the playlist, it will be locked for editing if you view it while signed into another channel.
Playlists are always tied to the specific channel they were created on. Make sure to sign in to the original channel to regain editing access.
5. The playlist reached the 5000 video limit
YouTube playlists are capped at containing a maximum of 5000 videos. If you hit this limit, YouTube automatically locks the playlist to prevent any new videos from being added.
You will need to delete some existing videos from the full playlist first in order to regain the ability to add new ones.
6. You don’t have permissions to view the playlist
If a playlist was set to private or unlisted access, you will not be able to view or edit its contents without being granted permissions.
For private playlists, you need to be directly invited by the creator to gain access. For unlisted playlists, you must know the specific playlist URL link.
7. Your account is connected to a Google Apps account
If your YouTube account is managed through a Google Apps (G-Suite) account controlled by your work or school, the Admin has full control over your YouTube settings and permissions.
If your Admin restricts YouTube access or playlist editing privileges, some of your personal playlists could be locked as a result.
What to do if your YouTube playlists are locked
If you find your playlists are unexpectedly locked, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Try signing out of YouTube and signing back in again. This resets any account or session issues.
- Make sure you are signed into the channel that originally created the locked playlist.
- Check if the videos in the playlist are still available. Removed or private videos will lock the playlist.
- If collaborating in a shared playlist, contact the creator to confirm your access.
- Check if your account has active YouTube restrictions or penalties. These can temporarily lock playlists.
- For managed business accounts, speak to your Google Admin about updating permissions.
- As a last resort, delete the locked playlist and create a new one to replace it.
Preventing playlists from becoming locked
Here are some tips to keep your YouTube playlists unlocked and editable in the future:
- Be the original creator of any important playlists when possible, don’t solely rely on collaborator access.
- Use your main YouTube channel to create playlists, not alternate or brand channels.
- Avoid hitting the 5000 video limit per playlist wherever possible.
- Check your account standing periodically and avoid Terms of Service violations.
- Back up your playlist content locally in case the videos are deleted in the future.
Recovering a deleted or blocked YouTube playlist
If one of your playlists was accidentally or intentionally deleted, or your YouTube account blocked access, it is unlikely you can recover it fully intact.
However, these options may help restore some of the content:
- Check your YouTube watch history for videos that were in the deleted playlist.
- See if you have the playlist backed up with a 3rd party tool or browser extension.
- Use a service like Archive.org’s Wayback Machine to find archived playlist pages.
- Check sites like Reddit or YouTube forums for playlists other users may have recreated.
While frustrating, your best option is to accept the loss and focus efforts on remaking the playlist or finding new alternative content to serve the same purpose.
In conclusion
Finding your carefully built YouTube playlists unexpectedly locked can be annoying. But in most cases, it is possible to determine the cause and find ways to recover and prevent it in the future.
Be sure to double check playlist permissions, account restrictions, video availability, and collaboration settings if you find your ability to edit has been lost. With some diligent troubleshooting, you should be able to unlock your treasured playlists or develop replacements.
