If you’ve noticed that your saved playlists are not showing up on Youtube, don’t panic. There are a few easy things you can try to get your playlists back.
Check your playlist privacy settings
The most common reason saved playlists disappear is because of playlist privacy settings. When you create a playlist on Youtube, it defaults to being “Public”, meaning anyone can view it. You may have accidentally set a playlist to “Private” or “Unlisted”, causing it to no longer be viewable.
To check your playlist privacy settings, go to your channel page and click on the “Playlists” tab. Hover over the playlist in question and click the 3 dot icon, then select “Edit playlist”. In the playlist settings you’ll see the privacy option. Make sure it is set to “Public”.
Try different browsers or devices
Sometimes a saved playlist not showing up is due to a temporary glitch with a browser or device. Try accessing Youtube from a different web browser or on a mobile device to see if the playlist appears.
If the playlist shows up fine on another browser or device, the issue is likely a caching problem. On your original browser, do a hard refresh by pressing Ctrl + F5 to clear the cache. Also try clearing cookies and site data for Youtube.
Check if you’re logged into the right account
Playlists are associated with your specific Youtube account. If you have multiple accounts, make sure you’re logged into the proper one where your missing playlists are saved.
Sometimes Youtube can automatically log you out or switch you to another account, so double check by clicking your profile picture in the top right. Make sure it’s the account you expect.
Search for the playlist name
Rather than browsing your playlists from your channel page, try directly searching for the playlist name using Youtube search. Even if it’s not showing up in your library, if the playlist privacy allows, it can still be searched and found this way.
If you can find the playlist by searching but it’s still not on your channel, try re-saving the playlist to your library. Click the 3 dot menu next to the playlist title and select “Save playlist”.
Check playlist content restrictions
In rare cases, a playlist may disappear if Youtube has removed or restricted access to one or more of the videos within it. This could happen if a video was deleted, set to private, or removed due to a copyright claim.
To check, click on the individual videos in the playlist. If any are unavailable, try removing them from the playlist. Once all restricted content is removed, the playlist should become accessible again.
Contact Youtube support
If you still can’t get a playlist to show up after trying the above steps, you may need help from Youtube directly. Send feedback through Youtube Studio and explain the playlist issue in detail.
Include the playlist name, any changes you’ve noticed, troubleshooting you’ve done, and specify whether the playlist is totally missing or just not publicly viewable. The Youtube support team can then investigate further.
How to prevent playlists from disappearing
While Youtube playlist issues are usually temporary glitches, you can take some preventative measures to avoid saved playlists going missing in the future:
- Avoid deleting videos that are added to playlists. Removing the original video will remove it from playlists.
- Be consistent in which account you use to create playlists. Using multiple accounts can cause confusion.
- Check playlist privacy settings when first creating them. Default them to “Public”.
- Don’t rely solely on Youtube’s algorithmic playlists. Create your own playlists with only handpicked videos.
- Export your playlist occasionally to have a backup copy. You can import back to Youtube later if needed.
- Use third party playlist management apps that sync across devices and make playlists easier to manage.
Why do Youtube playlists disappear?
There are a few main reasons a Youtube playlist may mysteriously vanish or become inaccessible:
- Incorrect privacy setting – Playlist is set to “Private” or “Unlisted” instead of “Public”.
- Logged into wrong account – Playlist is on another Youtube account you own rather than the expected one.
- Content restrictions – Videos in the playlist were removed or blocked by Youtube.
- Clearing history/data – Playlist cache was cleared from a device or browser.
- Playlists exceeded limit – Older playlists sometimes disappear if you exceed Youtube’s 5,000 playlist cap per account.
- Syncing issues – Problems with Youtube’s servers, caching, or failure to sync across devices.
- Glitches – Temporary bugs or errors with the Youtube platform.
What to do if your Youtube playlist disappeared
Here are the steps to take if you notice a saved Youtube playlist has gone missing or isn’t showing:
- Check playlist privacy setting is “Public”.
- Confirm you’re logged into the correct Youtube account.
- Try searching for the playlist directly.
- View playlist on different devices and browsers.
- Check videos in the playlist for restrictions.
- Clear browser cache and Youtube data.
- Re-save or import the playlist.
- Contact Youtube support if issue persists.
In most cases, your disappearing Youtube playlist can be recovered with these troubleshooting tips. Act quickly if a playlist goes missing and don’t overwrite it with a new one yet – you may still be able to restore your original playlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Youtube playlist disappear?
The most common reasons a Youtube playlist disappears are incorrect privacy settings, logging into the wrong account, syncing issues, or temporary glitches. Less common causes include content restrictions, browsing history clearing, or exceeding the playlist limit.
How do I access a private playlist on Youtube?
If a playlist was set to “Private”, only the original creator can view it. To access a private playlist, you need to log into the account that created and owns the playlist. The owner must change the privacy setting back to “Public” if they want to share it.
Can you recover a deleted Youtube playlist?
It depends how it was deleted. If the entire playlist was accidentally erased, recovery is difficult. But if the playlist is simply hidden or individual videos were removed, you may be able to restore missing content and make the playlist visible again.
Why are some videos missing from my Youtube playlist?
Videos go missing from playlists if the original uploader deletes or sets them to private, or if Youtube restricts them due to copyright claims. Removing those unavailable videos can often restore the rest of the playlist.
How do I find my old Youtube playlists?
Go to your Youtube account, click on “Playlists” and sort by oldest first. If an old playlist is missing, search for it by name. Check if it’s private, exceeded the playlist limit, or videos were removed.
Can you share an unlisted Youtube playlist?
Yes, unlisted playlists can be shared via the link, but they won’t show up in Youtube search results. Only people with the exact playlist URL will be able to access it and view its contents.
Summary
Saved Youtube playlists occasionally disappearing can be annoying and confusing. But in most cases, it’s an easily fixable issue. Check your privacy settings, accounts, watch history, browser settings, playlist content, and Youtube data to troubleshoot missing playlists. With some dedicated searching and tweaking, you should be able to restore access to your favorite playlists.
Understanding exactly why Youtube playlists vanish in the first place will also give you the knowledge to avoid it happening again. Keep your playlists tidy, consistent, and frequently backed up for the best experience. With the right prevention and recovery tactics, you can say goodbye to missing playlists on Youtube.
