If you've lost control of your iTunes music library, you can rearrange it in a few simple steps by deleting all the songs you haven't listened to for a long time. By deleting songs from your iTunes library, you make sure that during the next sync process they are automatically removed from all synced devices as well. Deleting a song directly from an iOS device deletes it immediately. When you delete them, the songs that have been purchased may simply be hidden; in this case, using the iTunes program, they can be made visible again.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: OS X and Windows systems
Step 1. Launch iTunes on your computer
Using iTunes you can delete any music in its library.
Step 2. Access the iTunes music library
Press the "Music" button in the upper left corner of the screen, then choose "My Music".
Step 3. Find the song you want to delete
Depending on the program configuration settings, you may see the entire list of songs, albums or artists in the library. To switch to another view mode, you can use the drop-down menu in the upper right corner.
- Using the search field in the upper right corner of the iTunes window, you can search for specific songs, albums, or artists.
- You can perform a multiple selection of songs, artists or albums by holding down the ⌘ Command or Ctrl key while selecting them with the mouse.
Step 4. Select the chosen music with the right mouse button
If you're using an OS X system with a one-button mouse, hold down the ⌘ Command key while clicking selected items.
Step 5. Choose the item "Remove downloads" or "Remove download" to delete the local copy of the chosen item (only in the case of purchased music)
This step deletes all downloaded files, which will now be marked with the download icon from iCloud.
The items you deleted will remain saved in the iCloud Music Library as well as those of all devices connected to the account
Step 6. Choose the "Delete" option to delete the chosen items
What will happen now depends solely on the nature of the selected elements:
- Music songs added to the iTunes library from the respective folders on your computer will be deleted from iTunes. You will be prompted to keep the original file if it is stored in the iTunes "Media" folder. If the file was added from a different folder on your computer, the original copy inside will not be touched.
- Music in iCloud Music Library will be completely erased from all of your libraries and will no longer appear on any of your account-connected devices.
- If the song was purchased and downloaded directly from iTunes, the local copy will simply be deleted. During the deletion process, you can choose to hide the file in question, to remove it from all devices connected to your Apple ID.
- If the selected song was purchased on iTunes, but not downloaded locally, you will be prompted to hide it. Items purchased through iTunes will simply be hidden from view and will never be completely deleted from your account. Consult this section of the article to find out how to make purchased items visible.
Method 2 of 3: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Step 1. Launch the "Music" application of your iOS device
Using this app, you can delete any song on your device.
Step 2. Find the song, artist or album you want to delete
You can change the view mode by tapping the menu at the top of the music list.
Step 3. Press the "…" button next to the song, artist or album you want to delete
this will display a context menu.
Step 4. Tap "Delete"
You may have to scroll through the menu that appears to locate and select the item indicated.
If the only visible option is "Delete from my music", it means that the selected song has not been downloaded to your device. Choosing this option will erase it from your iTunes library and hide from view within the Music app
Step 5. Select the "Remove downloads" or "Delete from my music" item
These two options perform different actions depending on whether or not you are using the iCloud Music Library:
- Remove downloads: this option deletes the selected music only from the device in use, keeping it in the library. If the song in question has been purchased or is stored in the iCloud Music Library, you will be able to re-download it by pressing its download button. If the music came from a sync process with the computer on which iTunes is installed, you will need to sync it again to make it reappear.
- Delete from my music: This option removes the selected music from your device and all your libraries. If it is iTunes purchased music, all selected items will be hidden from view on all iOS devices connected to your Apple ID. If the songs were stored in iCloud Music Library, they will be deleted from iCloud and any devices connected to your Apple ID. If the music came from a sync process with the computer running iTunes, you'll need to sync it again to make it reappear.
Step 6. Delete all local audio files at the same time
If you need to free up a large amount of space on your iOS device, you can proceed with deleting all the music in one step. This procedure will have no effect on the music stored in your iTunes or iCloud library:
- Access the Settings application, then choose the "General" item;
- Tap the "Use space and iCloud" option;
- Touch the "Manage space" item in the "Archive" section;
- Tap the "Music" option in the application list;
- Swipe the "All Songs" bar, from right to left, then press the "Delete" button.
Method 3 of 3: View Purchased Items
Step 1. Launch iTunes on your computer
The only way to restore purchased and hidden items is to use iTunes on a computer.
Step 2. If you haven't already, log in with your Apple ID
In order to make all purchases made through iTunes visible again, you must be connected to the same account with which you purchased the items in question.
Step 3. Go to the "Account" menu (OS X systems) or "Store" (Windows systems), then choose the "View my account" item
You will be asked to provide your Apple ID login password again.
If you are using a Windows system and the menu bar is not visible, press the Alt key
Step 4. Locate the "iTunes in the Cloud" section
You may have to scroll through the list to find it.
Step 5. Press the "Manage" button related to "Hidden purchases"
This will display any purchased items in your iTunes library that you have also hidden.
Step 6. Press the "Show" button to restore the songs
This button will be placed below each of the hidden albums. To view all hidden songs in one step, you can press the "Show All" button in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 7. Locate the songs made visible again
Any purchases made visible again will be listed within the "Music" section of your iTunes library.
