Unable to delete partially downloaded podcasts

Perhaps the answer can be found on this thread...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3287772?start=0&tstart=0

Thanks for the thought Nevereven, but all are the same suggestions except the following one, which I have no idea how to execute (my questions in parenthesis):

Turn off genius (where/how?)

Uncheck sync via wifi (where/how?)

Unsync everything - I synced with only my apps still left synced with the phone (How does one UN-sync?)

Sync again with just podcasts - nothing else (OK)

Sync a third time with whatever else you want to add - music, movies, etc. (OK)

The most common answer seems to be deleting the podcast in Settings > General > Usage > Music, but on mine just deletes the complete/good ones, but leaves the incomplete/grey ones. I've done that, and now no podcast appears in this screen at all, even though the whole folder is still in itunes, but with all grey content.

Any thoughts?

Did you a) swipe it and delete or b) hit Edit in the upper right corner and then delete with the red circles? I have no idea why there are two different ways to do the same thing, but that might make a difference.

BigFus, in Settings > General > Usage > Music, I hit Edit in the upper right corner and then delete with the red circles. Now there is no podcast listed there (or anything for that matter! see below). On the actual grey podcast logo in itunes, it's unresponsive, so no way to swipe/delete....???

I see. This happened to me on my iPad, but it was awhile back so not 100% sure what I did to fix it.

1) Plug your phone into your computer and sync to iTunes. Click on Podcasts and try to delete it from there (click and the drop down menu or just hit delete on your keyboard)

2) Set your Syncing settings for Podcasts and select Sync Podcasts. Then select Automatically include (all unplayed). Then try syncing. It should delete, I say should, not sure if this will work or not.

If these don't work let me know and I can spend a hungover Saturday tinkering for a solution.

Thanks BigFus!

I had tried both of those earlier, and neither worked. But tried again now, just for kicks, and no dice. Suggestion 1) These podcasts don't show up on the desktop iTunes. Suggestion 2) They still show up.

From what I gather on other posts, it looks like the files are either corrupt or partially downloaded.

Another possibly related issue is that I have 1.7G of yellow "other" in the capacity bar at the bottom. I can't imagine 39 corrupt podcast files could take up that much, but...????

Anything else on your hangover agenda? ;-)

Maybe the solution here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3750382?start=0&tstart=0. Note the revision posted by Al_ofthe_North.

Thanks Nevereven. I saw that post in my original search, tried that, but didn't work in my case. See post above for results.

Can you download the podcasts and then delete them? I don't recall if you had done this. It probably wouldn't be necessary for you to completely download them in order to delete them. You could pause the download and then delete as described elsewhere.

Hi Nevereven - I have tried deleting them from iTunes (in the Mac) and re-downloading there, and trying to re-load onto the iphone. I've also tried downloading them fresh into the iPhone, but it just adds a new file of the same, instead of writing over the grey one. So when I delete the fresh one the grey one still remains. It's like it's a ghost file that doesn't show up anywhere but on the iphone screen, but is totally unresponsive and undetectable.

Hi Villa

I was having the same problem for more than a month now and I even asked Apple Support Help via email but to no avail.

I spent days and nights trying to find out how to delete stucked downloading podcasts and apps which kept on blinking and says "waiting". My battery life and 3G consumption are always used up due to this issue.

Anyway, to cut the story short, go to Home > Settings > General > Reset > TAP RESET NETWORK SETTINGS and wait for around 10-15 seconds. When you reset network settings, your list of previously used networks and VPN settings not installed by a configuration profile are removed. Wi-Fi is turned off and then back on, disconnecting you from any network you’re on. The Wi-Fi and “Ask to Join Networks” settings are left turned on. So you will have to manually set it up again. You also don't have to back up your data, your apps shall stay and no deleting at all! All data will stay intact.

I hope this will be the final solution to answer this problem, because THIS SOLVED MINE IN JUST 20 SECONDS 😀 Let me know the results if you happen to read this 🙂

I have the same problem that Villa has described, and have also carefully followed all the directions in this thread and the other threads linked here.

No amount of syncing or re-syncing or deleting from settings or download menu works. The three bad podcasts always remain and only 'good' files can be deleted.

If I delete per BigFus method, it only deletes the 'good' files, which I could swipe and delete anyway from with the podcast lists.

I've tried re-downloading the particular dates from iTunes and I end up with duplicates (good files and then the ones that can't be deleted). I've tried deleting all podcasts from the phone (via sync) and those 3 files still stay.

I also believe this occured because i switched from a 3G to wireless network (or vise versa) and so I hoped the reset network settings would help. Unfortunately no dice.

At least there's some solice in knowing there's someone else out there with the same problem. So other than a restore from backup ... or just deal with those broken files being in the folder ... that's about it.

I will say this, the 3 'bad' files I have, if I click them will play ... I've tried letting them play through with the hopes that they would be able to delete afterwards, but they still have that circle icon with the square (yes, I tried clicking the square as someone else suggested) and the time remains -- : --

Will hope someone has other suggestions. It's not the end of the world but sure is annoying.

Thanks Lil Zash. I tried that, but still have the "blank" podcasts showing. Ticket is still "open".

Thanks!

VS

This actually worked! I'm amazed it was so simple. The problem had been plaguing me for months, and I was up to three partial downloads stuck in the queue. Thank you, thank you, thank you, sending blessings & good vibes your way.

This worked for me.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/deleting-orphaned-podcast-epi sodes-from-an-ipod/