How to Banish Songs of Innocence: A Complete Guide to Deleting the U2 Album from Your iPhone
Ah, yes, the infamous U2 album. Remember 2014? You woke up one day, and suddenly, Songs of Innocence was lurking, uninvited, in your iTunes library. Apple, in a move that likely sounded better in a boardroom than it felt to millions of users, gifted (or burdened) every iTunes account holder with U2’s latest offering. If, after all these years, you’re still looking to evict Bono and the boys from your iPhone, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s the definitive, foolproof method to rid yourself of Songs of Innocence on your iPhone:
Open the iTunes Store app. This isn’t the same as the Music app. Look for the purple icon with a white star.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen. You’ll see several options, including “Music,” “Movies,” “TV Shows,” etc. Keep scrolling.
Tap on your Apple ID. It will likely say “Apple ID: [your email address].” If you’re not signed in, you’ll need to sign in using your Apple ID and password.
Tap “View Apple ID.” You might be prompted to enter your password again for security reasons.
Scroll down to “Hidden Purchases.” This is the key. This is where Apple hides all the digital gifts (or unwanted additions) it’s ever given you.
Tap “Hidden Purchases.”
Locate Songs of Innocence. It should be listed among your hidden purchases.
Tap the “Unhide” button. This will make the album visible in your iTunes library, but don’t panic! We’re not done yet.
Open the Music app.
Find Songs of Innocence in your library.
Delete the album. You can do this by either:
- Long-pressing on the album art and selecting “Delete from Library.”
- Going to Settings -> Music and toggling off “Show Apple Music.” This is a more drastic measure but can be effective if you’re having trouble. Then delete from library, and re-enable the setting.
Confirm the deletion. You’ll be asked to confirm that you want to remove the album. Tap “Delete.”
That’s it! Songs of Innocence should now be banished from your iPhone. This process also removes it from any other devices signed into your Apple ID.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Deleting Songs of Innocence
1. Why can’t I find Songs of Innocence in my Music app?
It’s possible that you’ve already deleted it previously! If it’s truly hidden, the “Unhide” process described above in the primary deletion method should make it visible. Also, ensure you’re searching correctly. Try searching for “U2” or “Songs of Innocence” within the Music app’s library section. Another possibility is that you have iCloud Music Library turned off on your iPhone. If this is the case, turn it on in Settings > Music and try again. Cloud music library allows you to view the full library downloaded on your device.
2. I don’t see “Hidden Purchases” in my Apple ID settings. What do I do?
If you don’t see “Hidden Purchases,” it likely means you haven’t hidden any purchases yet, or you are logged into the wrong Apple ID. Double-check that you’re signed in to the same Apple ID that you used back in 2014 when the album was gifted. Also, make sure you’re in the iTunes Store app, not just the settings app of your iPhone.
3. Will deleting the album remove it from iCloud?
Yes, deleting the album using the method described above will remove it from iCloud Music Library. This means it will be removed from all your devices signed in to the same Apple ID, unless you’ve downloaded the album directly to another device without using iCloud Music Library. In this case, you’ll need to delete it from that device separately.
4. What if I actually like Songs of Innocence now? How do I get it back?
Ironically, if you now appreciate U2’s free offering, you can redownload it from the iTunes Store. Simply search for “Songs of Innocence” in the iTunes Store, and you should be able to download it again for free (or potentially for purchase if Apple has changed its policy).
5. Is there a faster way to do this without using the iTunes Store app?
Unfortunately, the iTunes Store app is the most reliable way to access hidden purchases. While there were alternative methods involving iTunes on a computer in the past, those are less reliable now due to Apple’s evolving software. Sticking to the iTunes Store app on your iPhone is the safest bet.
6. I’m still seeing the album in my iTunes on my computer. How do I remove it from there?
If you’re still seeing it in iTunes on your computer, open iTunes and go to your library. Find Songs of Innocence, right-click on it, and select “Delete from Library.” You might also need to delete the downloaded files if they are present on your computer. Make sure your iCloud Music Library is enabled on your computer as well to sync the deletion.
7. Why did Apple force this album on everyone in the first place?
That’s a question for Apple’s marketing department (and perhaps a philosophical debate about digital ownership). The move was part of a massive marketing campaign surrounding the launch of the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch. Apple paid U2 a reported $100 million to distribute the album to its users. The backlash was significant, prompting Apple to later release a tool specifically for removing the album.
8. I deleted the album, but it keeps reappearing! What’s going on?
This is unusual, but it suggests that the album might be linked to your account in a way that isn’t being fully addressed by the standard deletion method. Make sure you have completely turned off automatic downloads for Music in your iPhone settings. Also, double-check that it isn’t being shared via a family sharing plan. Also, ensure you’re logged into the correct Apple ID on all your devices. Another possibility is a corrupted iCloud Music Library. Try turning iCloud Music Library off and on again on your iPhone.
9. Will this process work for other unwanted free albums Apple has given away?
Yes, the “Hidden Purchases” method works for any free albums or content that Apple has added to your account. This is a good general approach if you ever find unwanted content in your iTunes library.
10. Is there a way to prevent Apple from automatically adding free music to my account in the future?
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that Apple won’t try this again in the future. However, you can disable automatic downloads for music and other media in your iPhone’s settings (Settings > iTunes & App Store). This won’t prevent Apple from adding it to your account, but it will prevent it from automatically downloading to your devices.
11. I don’t use Apple Music or iTunes Match. Does this affect me?
Even if you don’t subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match, the Songs of Innocence album was still added to your iTunes purchase history. Therefore, you still need to follow the steps outlined above to remove it completely.
12. I’m concerned about my privacy after this incident. What steps can I take?
The U2 album incident raised concerns about how Apple manages user data and purchases. To enhance your privacy, review your Apple ID settings, enable two-factor authentication, and be cautious about accepting free content from unknown sources. Regularly check your purchase history for any unauthorized transactions. Consider using a strong, unique password for your Apple ID and avoid sharing it with anyone.
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