Having too many unwanted songs in your iPhone music library can cause clutter and slow down your device. You might also want to make space for new songs that offer better value in terms of quality. Deleting songs from your iPhone can sound like an easy task but it can be tricky, especially when you haven’t done it in a while. It can be confusing when you have a different version of an iPhone or use a different version of the iOS. In this blog post, we will walk you through different methods to delete a song from your iPhone music library and why they work.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before we begin, ensure that your iPhone is charged adequately or connected to an external power source. Your iPhone should also have enough storage space to accommodate new songs or downloads. You can confirm this by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and checking the available space.
What Requires Your Focus?
To delete a song from your iPhone, you’ll need to pay keen attention to the steps outlined in this blog post. We recommend reading the steps carefully before attempting to delete a song from your iPhone. Please remember that once you delete a song from your iPhone, it will also be deleted from other devices linked to your Apple ID.
Different Methods to Delete A Song From Your iPhone Music Library
Method 1: Delete A Song Directly from Your iPhone Music Library
This is the quickest way to delete a song from your iPhone music library. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Music app on your iPhone and navigate to the song you want to delete.
Step 2: Swipe left on the song to reveal the "Delete" option. Click "Delete."
Step 3: A delete confirmation message will pop up. Click "Delete Song" to confirm that you want to delete the song.
Pros: This method is straightforward and doesn’t require any additional software or applications. It’s also a quick process that takes a few seconds.
Cons: It’s easy to accidentally swipe left and delete a song you want to keep. This method also doesn’t give you the option of recovering the song once it has been deleted.
Method 2: Delete A Song Via iTunes on Your PC
If you have saved your music files on your PC, you can use iTunes to delete a song from your iPhone music library. Follow the steps below to delete a song using iTunes on your PC:
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable and open iTunes.
Step 2: Click on the device icon, then "Music" on the left-hand pane.
Step 3: Select the song(s) you want to delete and click the "Delete" button.
Step 4: A warning notification will appear asking you to confirm if you really want to delete the selected song(s). Click "Delete Song(s)" to confirm.
Pros: You can delete multiple songs at once using iTunes, which saves you time. It’s also a useful method if you have saved your music library on your PC, and you want to delete songs from your iPhone and iTunes simultaneously.
Cons: This method is not suitable for iPhone users who don’t have access to a PC. Also, if you’ve downloaded music from Apple Music, you won’t be able to delete them using iTunes unless you have purchased the songs outright.
Method 3: Use Third-Party file explorers like iMazing
Third-party file explorers such as iMazing offer a convenient way of managing your iPhone files. Follow these steps to delete a song using iMazing:
Step 1: Download and install iMazing on your computer.
Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.
Step 3: Open iMazing and click on the "Music" icon on the left-hand side.
Step 4: Select the song(s) you want to delete and click the "Delete" button.
Step 5: A pop-up confirmation message will appear asking you to confirm the deletion. Click "Yes" to delete the song(s).
Pros: This method is suitable for iPhone users who want more control over their files. iMazing has a user-friendly interface that makes it relatively easy to use.
Cons: The iMazing application is not free and requires a subscription to access all features. Also, it’s not recommended to use third-party software on your iPhone, as it might cause security risks.
Method 4: Syncing Device with Apple Music iCloud
You can also organize your iPhone music library by using Apple Music iCloud. This method requires an active Apple Music subscription. Here’s how to use iCloud to delete songs:
Step 1: Go to the iPhone Music App and tap on the "Library" tab.
Step 2: Select the song(s) you want to remove and swipe left on the song(s).
Step 3: Tap on the red “Remove” button.
Step 4: Once you have removed the song(s), they will no longer appear on any of your devices connected to your Apple ID.
Pros: This method allows you to access your songs from any Apple device using the same Apple ID. It also offers a great way to back up your songs, ensuring that your music library is secure and easy to access.
Cons: Users who don’t have an Apple subscription won’t be able to use this method. It also requires a reliable Internet connection to sync your iPhone music library with iCloud.
Why Can’t I Delete A Song From My iPhone?
Here are some reasons why you might be unable to delete a song from your iPhone and the fixes:
Q1. What if I can’t delete songs from my iPhone music library because they are greyed out?
A1. If a song is greyed out, it’s likely that the song has been synced with iTunes Match or Apple Music. In this instance, you should turn off "Optimize Storage" to delete the song. Go to Settings > Music > Optimize Storage and toggle off the switch.
Q2. What if a song doesn’t have a "Delete" button on it?
A2. It’s likely that you have enabled "Show Apple Music" on your iPhone. To delete such a song, go to Settings > Music > and toggle off the "Show Apple Music" switch. Then try deleting the song again.
Q3. What if the "Delete from Library" option is missing?
A3. The "Delete from Library" option might be missing if you don’t have an active Apple Music subscription. To fix this issue, ensure that you subscribe to Apple Music before trying to delete songs from your iPhone.
Implications and Recommendations
Deleting unwanted songs from your iPhone can free up storage space and make it easier to navigate your music library. We recommend using Method 1 if you have a few songs to delete, and Method 2 if you want to delete multiple songs at once. Method 3 is suitable if you want to manage your iPhone files using a third-party file explorer, while Method 4 can be used to manage your songs using Apple Music iCloud.
5 FAQs about Deleting A Song from Your iPhone Music Library
Q1. Can I recover a deleted song from my iPhone?
A1. Unfortunately, once a song has been deleted from your iPhone music library, it cannot be recovered. Ensure that you have a backup of your iPhone music library before deleting any songs.
Q2. Will deleting a song from my iPhone also delete it from my iTunes account?
A2. Yes, if you delete a song from your iPhone, it will also be deleted from your iTunes account, provided that both your iPhone and iTunes account use the same Apple ID.
Q3. What happens to a playlist when I delete a song from my iPhone?
A3. If you delete a song from a playlist, it will only be deleted from that specific playlist and not from your entire iPhone music library.
Q4. Will deleting songs from my iPhone affect my iCloud storage?
A4. No, deleting songs from your iPhone music library doesn’t affect your iCloud storage.
Q5. Can I delete songs from my iPhone using Siri?
A5. No, Siri cannot delete songs from your iPhone music library.
In Conclusion
Deleting songs from your iPhone music library is not a complicated task. By using the different methods outlined in this blog post, you can manage your music library with ease. Remember to always have a backup of your music library and use the correct method when deleting songs from your iPhone.