How To Delete All Apple Music Songs: A Definitive Guide
So, you’re looking to completely purge your Apple Music library? Maybe you’re starting fresh, switching streaming services, or simply reclaiming storage space. Whatever the reason, deleting all your Apple Music tracks can seem daunting. Don’t fret! Here’s the straightforward answer:
The process involves a combination of steps depending on where your music is stored and synced. The most effective approach is to disable iCloud Music Library syncing across all your devices. Then, manually remove downloaded songs from each device individually. On a computer, you can select all songs in your library and delete them. Be warned: there’s no one-click “nuke everything” button provided by Apple, so this requires some manual effort. Let’s dive into the details!
Removing All Songs: A Device-by-Device Breakdown
Before we begin, back up any music you want to keep! Deleting from Apple Music is generally permanent.
Deleting Songs on iPhone/iPad
Disable iCloud Music Library: This is crucial. Go to Settings > Music and toggle off “Sync Library”. Confirm your choice. This prevents deletions from instantly propagating across all devices. If you skip this step, your music will keep resyncing, making the process endless.
Delete Downloaded Music: This removes music physically stored on your device.
- Method 1: Delete Individual Albums/Playlists: Navigate to your Library > Downloaded. Tap and hold on an album or playlist, then select “Remove…” > “Remove Downloads”.
- Method 2: Delete All Downloads: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage) > Music. Here, you’ll see how much space music is consuming. You can “Delete All Songs” to clear all downloaded content.
Deleting from your Library: The above steps removed the downloaded songs. Now we delete from your Apple Music Library so they do not show up at all.
- Open the Music app.
- Go to Library > Songs.
- Tap Edit.
- Tap the red circle next to each song you want to delete and then tap Delete.
- Alternatively, you can tap and hold a song and select “Delete from Library”.
Deleting Songs on a Mac
Disable Sync Library: Open the Music app. Go to Music > Preferences > General and uncheck “Sync Library”.
Delete All Songs: This is the fastest way to remove the bulk of your library.
- Open the Music app.
- Select “Songs” from the sidebar.
- Select any song in the list.
- Press Cmd+A (or Ctrl+A on Windows if you’re using iTunes for Windows, though this guide assumes macOS) to select all songs.
- Press the Delete key or right-click and select “Delete from Library”. Confirm the deletion.
Empty the Trash: Deleted songs are moved to the Trash. Emptying the Trash permanently removes them from your system.
Important Considerations:
- iCloud Music Library (Sync Library): This is the linchpin. When enabled, changes you make on one device are reflected on all other devices. Disabling it isolates your devices, allowing you to delete locally without affecting others (initially).
- Downloaded vs. Library: Deleting downloads removes the physical files from your device. Deleting from the Library removes the song entry from your Apple Music catalogue. You need to do both to fully remove a song.
- Hidden Purchases: Apple may retain a record of your previous music purchases. While you can hide these from appearing in your purchase history, they aren’t truly deleted.
- Apple Music Subscription: Deleting songs does NOT cancel your Apple Music subscription. You’ll need to cancel that separately through your Apple ID settings.
FAQs: Your Apple Music Purge Questions Answered
Here are some common questions surrounding the deletion of Apple Music songs:
1. Can I delete all songs at once on my iPhone?
Unfortunately, no, there isn’t a single “delete all” button directly within the Music app for your library. You need to either delete downloaded music in bulk via storage settings (as described above) and then delete from your library by swiping and deleting individual songs, albums, or playlists, or use a computer to manage your library.
2. Will deleting songs from Apple Music delete them from my iCloud?
Yes, if iCloud Music Library (Sync Library) is enabled. That’s why we emphasize disabling it before starting the deletion process to avoid unwanted synchronization.
3. I deleted songs, but they keep coming back! Why?
This almost always means iCloud Music Library is still enabled. Double-check your settings on all your devices. Another possibility is that you’re re-adding the songs accidentally through playlists or automatic downloads.
4. How do I permanently delete songs I’ve purchased from iTunes (but don’t want on Apple Music)?
You can hide past purchases from your download history. In the iTunes Store app (or the iTunes Store section within the Music app on newer macOS versions), go to your account settings and look for “Hidden Purchases”. You can then manage which items are visible or hidden. Hiding a purchase doesn’t delete the record of the purchase itself, but it removes it from your library and prevents it from automatically downloading.
5. What’s the difference between “Remove Download” and “Delete from Library”?
“Remove Download” deletes the local file stored on your device. The song still exists in your Apple Music library and can be streamed or downloaded again. “Delete from Library” removes the entry from your Apple Music catalog entirely.
6. Can I recover songs I accidentally deleted from Apple Music?
Potentially. If you recently deleted a song and haven’t emptied the trash (on a Mac) or re-synced your library, there might be a chance. However, once the changes are synced across iCloud and the trash is emptied, recovery becomes very difficult, if not impossible. Consider it gone.
7. Does deleting songs from Apple Music affect my other Apple services, like iTunes Match?
Yes, if you’re using iCloud Music Library. iTunes Match and Apple Music share the same iCloud Music Library. Changes made in one service will affect the other. If you’re using iTunes Match and not Apple Music, deleting songs in iTunes will affect your iTunes Match cloud library.
8. How do I cancel my Apple Music subscription?
This is separate from deleting songs. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad. On a Mac, open the App Store > [Your Name] (or Sign In) > View Information > Manage. Find your Apple Music subscription and cancel it.
9. I have family sharing. Will deleting songs affect my family members’ libraries?
Only if you are sharing your Apple Music library via iCloud Music Library. If everyone has their own Apple Music subscription and their own library syncing enabled, your deletions won’t impact them.
10. I deleted songs, but they’re still showing up in playlists. What gives?
You need to remove the songs from the playlists individually. Deleting a song from your library doesn’t automatically remove it from every playlist it’s in. Go into each playlist and manually delete the song entry.
11. Can I use a third-party app to delete all my Apple Music songs?
Be extremely cautious when using third-party apps to manage your Apple Music library. Many apps promise to do this, but they often require access to your Apple ID and can potentially compromise your account security. Apple doesn’t officially endorse or guarantee the safety of such apps. The methods outlined above are the safest.
12. What is the best way to backup my Apple Music Library before deleting anything?
The most reliable method is to create a local copy of your music before you started using Apple Music. Export playlists as XML files, which can be imported back into Apple Music or other music players later. If you have added music from physical CDs, consider backing up your original music on an external hard drive.
Leave a Reply