Can't delete songs from my iPhone 4

Question

Level 1

35 points

Can't delete songs from my iPhone 4

Hello,
I'm unable to delete songs from my iPhone 4.
I tried to do it by un-checking the song in iTunes then
performing a sync with phone.

I thought that would remove the song but it did not work.

Am I not doing this correctly.
Any ideas?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 7:27 AM

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Answer 1

harv55

Level 3

600 points

Sep 10, 2010 7:37 AM in response to ridley27

Check your sync settings to make sure iTunes isn't copying a specific playlist that the songs belong to.

in iTunes go to you iPhone device and select and delete the songs you don't want, you should not need to sync at this point. Make sure the songs are removed from your device. Now sync and if they appear on the device you may have an automatic playlist sync setup in iTunes--you can switch to "manually update audio and video" on my device within the iPhone "info" tab in iTunes.

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Answer 2

ridley27 Author

Level 1

35 points

Sep 10, 2010 7:53 AM in response to ridley27

Ok, I can highlight song in music under iPhone within iTunes, but I can't delete.

I went to info for iPhone within iTunes and don't see an option for manual update.
In fact there is no music option within the info tab of iTunes.

Any other ideas?
thanks

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Answer 3

ridley27 Author

Level 1

35 points

Sep 10, 2010 8:08 AM in response to ridley27

Ah, I found it.

I found the manual manage music under the "Summary" tab for the iPhone within iTunes. It was not in the "Info" tab.

Thanks for your help!

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Answer 4

Sep 10, 2010 9:49 AM in response to ridley27

I'm not sure how closely the PC version of iTunes resembles the Mac version, but when you have your iPhone showing and selected in iTunes, go to the Summary tab. Under Options, do you have "Sync only checked songs and videos" checked?

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Answer 5

b1r1e1n

Level 1

0 points

Apr 13, 2011 4:54 PM in response to ridley27

I had this problem too, when I invetsigated it in more detail it turns out that Apple are a pile of crap and none of their stuff works properly.

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Answer 6

brglkxv

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2011 7:53 PM in response to ridley27

Is this last post Apples official position?

Anyway, I follow the instructions, In Itunes, under the device, select the songs, but I don't see a way to delete them. Highlight & right-click; no delete option. Highlight & press delete key; nothing. Double-click, it plays the ****** song. Not what I want.

I'm wondering if anyone really knows how to do this.

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Answer 7

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,395 points

Apr 16, 2011 7:57 PM in response to brglkxv

"Is this last post Apples official position?"

No posts are Apple official position. This is a user forum.

You delete songs the same way you got them there.

If you sync by playlist, then remove the song from the playlist and sync.

If you manually manage, then delete the song from the device in the left hand column.

If you sync by checked music, then uncheck the song and sync.

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Answer 8

Oct 31, 2011 2:44 PM in response to ridley27

Ok, this is seriously annoying - I have spent my whole evening trying to figure out how to delete 4 songs from my iphone. I followed all the instrucyions abve - under "Summary" - I have selected only sync checked songs, under "Music" I have specified whoich albums I want to sync. And when I perform the sync - the songs on my iphone are still there, even though they have been unchecked. This is ridiculous. Please help. Why does it have to be so hard???

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Answer 9

12xbl

Level 1

0 points

Nov 1, 2011 5:42 AM in response to ridley27

If you are using iOS 5 and only want to delete the song from your iPhone it is easy.

Go to SONGS on your iPhone, find the song in the list, put your finger on the track name (around the middle) and pull to the left, a delete button will appear on the right hand side of the line.

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Answer 10

Nov 1, 2011 12:08 PM in response to 12xbl

Thanks so much - good to know that this is so much easier with iOS 5. Thanks again!!!

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Answer 11

Didweed

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2011 7:04 PM in response to 12xbl

Thank you SO SO much! I must have spent 30 minutes trying to delete a video and it is the same way! Where do you learn this stuff???? Thank you!

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Answer 12

Nov 8, 2011 11:06 AM in response to 12xbl

Thank You so much! I was reading through forums for an hour and so. until I found Your answer. So easy, so simple! Thank You.

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Answer 13

zblom

Level 1

11 points

Nov 12, 2011 8:44 PM in response to roaminggnome

Along these same lines, let me know if I am missing something. I am trying to remove all music from my iPhone. I have Zero songs or videos check marked, I hit sync and it shows there will be 0.01 GB of music on the iPhone after I sync. Except when sync is complete there is still 18 GB of music there. I have the Sync only checked songs and videos, yet have nothing checked and it won't come off of the iPhone.

Any help?

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Answer 14

12xbl

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 4:20 AM in response to zblom

Set your iPhone up to the computer and open iTunes.

Click on your iPhone in the devices menu on the left hand side.

Select MUSIC from the menu bar across the top (see photo)

UNTICK Sync Music, you will get a warning that All Music will be removed from your iPhone ........ click Dont Sync Music then click Apply at the bottom right of the iTunes window.

When the phone syncs all your music will be gone.

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Answer 15

zblom

Level 1

11 points

Nov 13, 2011 7:17 AM in response to 12xbl

12xbl - thanks, I tried that. The bar at bottom that shows how much space is used by each reflects the change and goes to 0.01GB for audio, until I hit Sync or Apply. When it is finished syncing the bar goes back up to Audio 18GB and none of the music is removed from the iPhone. This is the same if I uncheck everything or if I deselect sync music.

Thoughts on what's wrong?

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