How to Delete a List in SharePoint

To delete a list in SharePoint, use Delete this list under Settings > List settings in the open list. You need permission to manage the list. These steps cover SharePoint Online and Microsoft Lists, including the classic SharePoint Online experience.

Delete the list through its settings

Open the target list, then select Settings > List settings. Use this path for modern SharePoint Online lists and Microsoft Lists when you have permission to manage the list.

Confirming the next action deletes the selected list. Select Delete this list, then select OK. If you also want to permanently remove its deleted entry, continue with the recycle bin procedure below.

Find the list through SharePoint or Microsoft Lists

On the SharePoint site containing the list, select Settings > Site contents. Open the target list, then select Settings > List Settings.

The next action deletes the selected list. Select Delete this list, then select OK to confirm.

To start in Microsoft Lists on the web, sign in to microsoft365.com with the relevant work or school account. Select App launcher > More apps > All apps > Lists. Find and open the list, then select Settings > List settings.

The next action deletes the selected list. Select Delete this list, then select OK.

For a Teams channel list stored in SharePoint Online, locate the underlying list in SharePoint and follow the settings procedure above. Removing its Teams tab does not delete the list, so you need to act on the list itself.

Use the ribbon for a classic list

If your SharePoint Online list uses the classic experience, open it and select List > List Settings from the ribbon. The classic experience remains a current route for SharePoint Online lists.

Confirming the next action deletes the selected list. Select Delete this list, then select OK.

Use a browser when the mobile app no longer works

On Android or iOS, open your organization's SharePoint root site in a mobile browser. Tap the Microsoft Suite navigation icon, select More apps if necessary, then select Lists. Open the target list, then use the list settings deletion procedure described above. Microsoft documents this mobile browser route to Lists but does not publish a separate mobile-specific deletion menu sequence.

Permanently remove an already deleted list

In SharePoint Online, open Recycle bin, or select Site contents > Recycle bin. Select the deleted list's entry.

The next action removes the selected entry from the first-stage recycle bin. Select Delete. Completing permanent removal through the second stage requires site collection administrator access.

As a site collection administrator, open Second-stage recycle bin and select the list's entry. The next action permanently removes that entry. Select Delete, then select Delete again in the confirmation box.

Delete through REST or Power Automate

You can use SharePoint REST with an authorized connection to SharePoint Online or an applicable SharePoint Server deployment. Your authentication and permissions must suit that deployment. For SharePoint Online, obsolete Azure ACS authentication is not a current option.

Target the containing site's _api/web/lists(guid'{list_guid}') endpoint, substituting the target list's GUID. Set X-HTTP-Method to DELETE and If-Match to the list's ETag or *. Microsoft's example also supplies these headers:

Authorization: Bearer {accessToken}
Accept: application/json;odata=verbose
X-RequestDigest: {form_digest_value}

Sending this request deletes the target list without an interactive confirmation. Send the configured request using POST.

For Power Automate, use an authorized flow with the SharePoint connector and an account permitted to delete the target SharePoint Online list. Add Send an HTTP request to SharePoint. Set Site Address to the containing site, Method to POST, and Uri to _api/web/lists(guid'{list_guid}'), using the target list's GUID.

In Headers, supply X-HTTP-Method: DELETE and set If-Match to * or the expected ETag. Leave Body empty. This configuration uses the connector's HTTP action with the REST deletion request.

Executing the configured action deletes the target list. Run it only for the list you intend to delete.

Use the client object models

In a SharePoint .NET client object model application, start with an authenticated ClientContext. Obtain the target list using context.Web.Lists.GetByTitle("List name"), substituting its title. For SharePoint Online, use supported authentication.

The following calls delete the target list without a user-interface confirmation. Call DeleteObject() on the list, then call context.ExecuteQuery().

The recycling alternative removes the target list by recycling it. With an authenticated ClientContext and permission to manage the list, obtain the target list, call its Recycle() method, then execute the pending request with context.ExecuteQuery().

For JavaScript client object model deletion, use a supported classic-page customization in SharePoint Online or an on-premises experience. Microsoft excludes modern experiences and SharePoint Framework from support for this classic JSOM approach. Create SP.ClientContext(siteUrl), then obtain the list with get_web().get_lists().getByTitle(listTitle).

The following calls delete the target list without a built-in confirmation. Call deleteObject() on the list, then submit the request with executeQueryAsync(successCallback, failureCallback).

Set up and use PnP PowerShell

For this optional SharePoint Online method, use the PnP PowerShell project's setup instructions to install the module, register an Entra ID application, and connect. Current setup requires your own application registration. Older tutorials relying on the shared PnP Management Shell application are outdated.

The following command recycles the selected list without a confirmation prompt. After establishing an authorized PnP connection to the containing site, run it with the actual list name:

Remove-PnPList -Identity "List name" -Recycle -Force

Omitting -Recycle requests deletion instead of recycling. Keep -Recycle when you want the recycling option, and omit -Force when you want a confirmation prompt.

Use CLI for Microsoft 365

You can also remove a SharePoint Online list through the community-maintained CLI for Microsoft 365. Start with an authorized CLI connection.

This command removes the selected list; including --recycle requests recycling. Use m365 spo list remove with --webUrl set to the actual containing site, --title set to the list's title, and --recycle included. Add --force only when you want to suppress confirmation.

Omitting --recycle permanently deletes the list. Keep that option in the command when you want to recycle the list instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I use the native Microsoft Lists app anymore?

Microsoft retired the Android and iOS apps in mid-November 2025, and existing installations can no longer be used. Use Microsoft Lists through a mobile browser instead.

Can I find a list created in Microsoft Lists through SharePoint?

Yes, if you saved the list to a SharePoint site. Open that site's Site contents to find and open it.

Is PnP PowerShell supported by Microsoft?

PnP.PowerShell is community-supported tooling, not a Microsoft-supported PowerShell module. You can use it on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Did the SharePoint Add-in retirement also retire CSOM?

No. Microsoft explicitly confirms that CSOM survived the Add-in retirement. You can use it with SharePoint Online when your application uses supported authentication.