While keeping your entire music collection on your iPhone is convenient, it can quickly fill up your storage, leaving little room for videos, photos, and games. Fortunately, there are ways to manage this.
In this article, we’ll guide you on how to delete music from your iPhone and still access your songs without occupying device storage.
Delete one album or song at a time
Open the Music app. Go to the Library tab and select Albums or Songs to locate the track or album you want to delete. Long-press on an album or tap the three-dot menu, then choose the red trash icon labeled “Delete from Library.” Confirm the deletion when prompted.
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Keep in mind that if you purchased the music and haven’t backed it up in iTunes on your Mac or in the cloud, you may lose the album or need to re-import it to iTunes to add it to your device again. If you bought the music from iTunes or subscribe to Apple Music, you can re-download it for free.
Delete music all at once
If you have many albums on your phone or want to start fresh, you can quickly delete everything at once. To do this, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a list of apps sorted by the amount of storage they use, with the largest at the top. Find the Music app and tap on it.
On this screen, your music library is listed alphabetically by artist, showing how much space each one occupies. At the top, you’ll also see the total space used by your music library.
Tap the Edit button above All Songs to delete either an artist’s entire catalog or your whole library by tapping the minus icon or swiping left on an artist. You can also tap on an artist to view their albums and songs, then swipe or tap Edit to remove individual tracks. Once you’ve made your selections, tap Done.
Delete music using iTunes
Another option for those who still connect their devices to a computer is to use iTunes. (This applies to users with macOS Mojave or earlier, or the Windows version of iTunes. In macOS Catalina and later, iTunes’ music functions are handled by the Music app, while Podcasts and TV take over other roles.)
Connect your device to a Mac or PC and open iTunes. Click the iPhone icon in the top left corner, then select Music under Settings in the left-hand menu. Ensure that Sync Music is checked, along with ‘Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres’ below. Then, make sure that nothing is selected—no songs, genres, or playlists. Next to Sync Music at the top, it should show ‘0 songs.’
When you click Apply, iTunes will remove all the music from your iPhone and replace it with the new sync settings, effectively deleting all your stored music.
FAQ’s
How do I delete a single album or song from my iPhone?
To delete a single album or song, open the Music app and go to the Library tab. Select either Albums or Songs to find the track or album you want to delete. Long-press on the album or tap the three-dot menu, then choose the red trash icon labeled “Delete from Library.” Confirm the deletion when prompted. Remember, if you haven’t backed up the music, you might need to re-import it to iTunes if you want it back.
Can I delete all the music from my iPhone at once?
Yes, you can delete all the music from your iPhone at once. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Find the Music app in the list and tap on it. Here, you can see your music library listed by artist and the total space used. Tap the Edit button above All Songs to remove an entire artist’s catalog or your whole library by tapping the minus icon or swiping left. You can also delete individual tracks by tapping on an artist and using the Edit option. Tap Done when you’re finished.
How can I use iTunes to delete music from my iPhone?
If you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier, or the Windows version of iTunes, connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes. Click the iPhone icon in the top left corner, then select Music under Settings in the left-hand menu. Make sure Sync Music is checked, and also select ‘Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres.’ Then, uncheck everything so that no songs, genres, or playlists are selected. It should show ‘0 songs’ next to Sync Music. Click Apply to remove all music from your iPhone, which will delete your stored music and replace it with the new sync settings.
What should I do if I lose music that I deleted from my iPhone?
If you’ve lost music that you deleted and it was purchased from iTunes or is part of your Apple Music subscription, you can re-download it for free. However, if the music was not backed up in iTunes on your Mac or in the cloud, you might need to re-import it to iTunes to add it back to your device.
Conclusion
Managing your music storage on an iPhone or iPad doesn’t have to be a hassle. Whether you choose to delete individual songs and albums, clear your entire music library at once, or use iTunes for a comprehensive wipe, these methods allow you to free up space for other important apps and files. By following these steps, you can maintain a balanced storage capacity while still enjoying access to your favorite tracks whenever you need them.
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