Table of Contents

How To Delete All The Music From Your iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re ready to hit the reset button on your iPhone’s music library? Whether you’re clearing space, tired of your old playlists, or preparing to sell your device, deleting all your music is a surprisingly straightforward process. The quickest and most thorough method involves using the Settings app to disable iCloud Music Library and remove downloaded music.

Here’s the step-by-step:

Open the Settings App: Locate and tap the Settings icon on your iPhone’s home screen.
Navigate to Music: Scroll down until you find the “Music” option and tap on it.
Disable iCloud Music Library: Toggle the “iCloud Music Library” switch to the OFF position. A pop-up will appear, asking if you want to “Keep Music” or “Delete & Turn Off”. Choose “Delete & Turn Off”. This is crucial for removing all music synchronized via iCloud.
Remove Downloaded Music (Optional but Recommended): While disabling iCloud Music Library gets rid of streamed music, some songs might still be downloaded locally. To clear these, go back to the Settings app, tap “General”, then “iPhone Storage”.
Find the “Music” App: Scroll down to find “Music” in the list of apps and tap on it.
Delete Music Data: You’ll see the amount of storage “Music” is using. Tap “Delete App”. This will completely remove the music app, including all stored songs and data. You can reinstall it later from the App Store. Alternatively, if you want to keep the Music app, you can tap “Documents & Data” and selectively remove cached files, though this method is less efficient for deleting all music.

This sequence effectively wipes your iPhone’s music clean. Let’s dive into some common questions you might have encountered along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 common questions with detailed answers, ensuring you’re fully equipped to manage your iPhone’s music library.

How Do I Re-Download Music After Deleting It All?

After deleting all music, re-downloading is simple.

Open the Music App: If you deleted the Music app in the process, reinstall it from the App Store.
Sign In (If Necessary): Ensure you’re signed in with the Apple ID you used to purchase the music.
Navigate to Your Library: Go to the “Library” tab in the Music app.
Access Purchased Music: Look for a section labeled “Downloaded,” “Albums,” or “Songs”. If you previously purchased the music from the iTunes Store, it should be listed here. Tap the cloud icon with a downward arrow next to the songs or albums you want to re-download.
iCloud Music Library: If you are using iCloud Music Library, turning it back on will sync all your music across all your devices automatically.

Will This Delete My Music From iCloud?

Choosing “Delete & Turn Off” when disabling iCloud Music Library does not permanently delete your music from iCloud. It only removes it from your iPhone. Your music library will remain stored in iCloud, ready to be accessed on other devices or re-synced to your iPhone later. To permanently delete music from iCloud, you need to do so through iTunes on a computer or through Apple Music on another device.

Can I Delete Music Without Deleting the Music App?

Yes, as described above. By going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music, you can access the storage details for the Music app. From there, you can either delete the entire app along with its data, or tap on “Documents & Data” and individually remove cached files. The latter method, however, might not completely eliminate all music files as efficiently as deleting the app itself.

How Do I Delete Individual Songs From My iPhone?

Deleting individual songs is straightforward within the Music app:

Open the Music App: Launch the Music app on your iPhone.
Find the Song: Locate the song you want to delete, either in your library, a playlist, or an album.
Long Press (or 3D Touch): Press and hold on the song title (or use 3D Touch on older iPhones).
Select “Delete from Library”: In the menu that appears, select “Delete from Library”.
Confirm Deletion: Confirm that you want to delete the song. If the song is downloaded, it will be removed from your device. If it’s only in iCloud Music Library, it will be removed from your library across all devices (if iCloud Music Library is enabled).

What’s the Difference Between “Delete from Library” and “Remove Download”?

Delete from Library: This removes the song from your entire Apple Music library, accessible across all devices connected to your Apple ID (when using iCloud Music Library). The song is essentially gone from your collection.
Remove Download: This only removes the downloaded copy of the song from your specific iPhone. The song remains in your iCloud Music Library and can be streamed or re-downloaded later.

How Do I Stop My Music From Automatically Downloading?

Automatic downloads can quickly fill up your iPhone storage. Here’s how to disable them:

Open the Settings App: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Navigate to Music: Scroll down and tap on “Music”.
Disable Automatic Downloads: Toggle the “Automatic Downloads” switch to the OFF position. This prevents new music you add to your library on other devices from automatically downloading to your iPhone.

I’m Using Apple Music. How Does This Affect Music Deletion?

If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, deleting music behaves similarly. When you disable iCloud Music Library, it removes the synced Apple Music content from your device. However, your playlists and saved music are still associated with your Apple ID in the cloud. Re-enabling iCloud Music Library will restore your Apple Music library to your iPhone. Deleting music directly from the library removes it from your Apple Music account across all devices.

Can I Delete Music Purchased From iTunes?

Yes, you can delete music purchased from iTunes from your iPhone. The process is the same as deleting any other song. Remember that deleting it from your library removes it from your iCloud Music Library. However, you can always re-download previously purchased music from the iTunes Store as long as you’re signed in with the Apple ID you used to make the purchase.

How Do I Manage Music Storage on My iPhone?

Managing music storage effectively keeps your iPhone running smoothly. Here’s how:

Check Storage Usage: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. This provides a breakdown of how much storage each app and type of content is using.
Optimize Storage: Enable the “Optimize Storage” option in Settings > Music. This automatically removes downloaded music that you haven’t listened to in a while, freeing up space while keeping the music accessible for streaming.
Regularly Delete Unwanted Music: As mentioned before, periodically delete individual songs or entire albums that you no longer listen to.
Consider Streaming: If you subscribe to a music streaming service like Apple Music or Spotify, rely on streaming rather than downloading music to save storage space.

Why Is Music Still Showing Up After I Deleted It?

Sometimes, after deleting music, it might still appear in your library, often greyed out. This usually indicates that the song is no longer available on your device but the entry is still present in your library. To resolve this:

Restart Your iPhone: A simple restart can often clear cached data and refresh your library.
Force Quit and Reopen Music App: Close the Music app completely (swipe up from the bottom and swipe the app away) and then reopen it.
Check iCloud Music Library: Ensure iCloud Music Library is enabled and that your device is properly synced.
Update iOS: An outdated iOS version can sometimes cause syncing issues. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS.
Sign Out and Sign Back In to Apple ID: In Settings, tap on your name at the top, scroll down and tap “Sign Out”. Then, sign back in. This can refresh your Apple ID connection and resolve syncing problems.

Is There a Way to Back Up My Music Library Before Deleting It?

Absolutely. Backing up your music library is a good idea before making any significant changes.

iCloud Backup: Ensure iCloud Music Library is enabled. This automatically backs up your library to iCloud.
iTunes Backup (on a Computer): Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder in macOS Catalina and later). Back up your entire iPhone to your computer. This includes your music library.
Third-Party Backup Software: Several third-party apps allow you to selectively back up specific types of data, including your music library.

Will Deleting Music Affect My Playlists?

Whether deleting music affects your playlists depends on whether you’re deleting the music from your library or just removing the download.

Deleting from Library: This removes the song from your entire Apple Music library, including your playlists across all devices. The playlist will still exist, but the deleted song will be missing.
Removing Download: This only removes the downloaded copy of the song from your iPhone. The song remains in your iCloud Music Library and in your playlists. You can still stream it.

By following these steps and understanding the nuances of music management on your iPhone, you can confidently clear your music library, reclaim storage space, and optimize your listening experience. Enjoy your freshly curated soundscape!