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Can't delete songs from iPhone 5

When I downloaded iOS 7.0.1 all my songs appeared on my phone. I selected Settings > Music and turned "Show All Music" off. There are still songs that appear in my music files. I cannot drag my finger across them to get the Delete button like the other songs in my phone. How do I get rid of this music?!

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.2, Songs won't delete

Posted on Oct 3, 2013 2:02 PM

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88 replies

Feb 23, 2017 10:38 AM in response to SDGPaul

Agreed. What in the **** is everyone talking about? I've searched high and low for an answer to this issue, and not one of them is correct (meaning, it's not that it doesn't work per se, it's that every single post giving "directions" are wrong). For example, one post says to go to "Settings" on my phone and then go to "Usage". First, off there is nothing exactly called "Usage" under Settings, unless they mean "Storage & iCloud Usage". Secondly, if that IS it, then they say to go into "Manage Storage" and select "Music". Well, "Music" does not exist under this subfolder ("Manage Music"). It goes on and on. Every time someone explains how to go into either "Settings" or "Music", and select (go into) something (a subfolder), it is not there, it just doesn't exist. Vey frustrating.

Oct 3, 2013 2:22 PM in response to sdrobg

If you have upgraded from a previous installation instead of a fresh install of iOS7, I guess it's because of a corrupt file in the music libraries. Cannot see into the iPhone files, though.

I have as you mention Show All Music turned off and I can swipe left and the red button Delete appears in all my songs for the time being.

Jan 13, 2014 9:47 AM in response to sdrobg

I asked Siri to play iTunes and it just started playing songs in our library. Then I couldn't delete them off of my phone, even after syncing 4 times, rebooting, and then I tried this because they weren't going away after all that. It worked and now I have to put them back on my phone. What a pain!!!!

Mar 3, 2014 10:19 AM in response to sdrobg

Issue Solved: Toggle iTunes Match to 'off' under settings.


I was experiencing this same issue when I came across this thread. After digging around on my own I discovered the issue was caused by some "ghost songs" left over from playing songs that hadn't been downloaded, wierd. After performing the above toggle, all the songs had dissapeared. Leaving only the ones I knew I had downloaded.


Hope this helps.

Mar 16, 2014 5:26 AM in response to sdrobg

Music that wont delete from iphine.


I had a similar problem with music that just wouldn't go away. Followed the above threads but four albums i had obtained through a xmas freebee app were still sitting there.

Eventually i found on my iphone under general > settings > music ' show all music' was on.

This meant that anything 'purchased' through my itunes ID, even for free, was still appearing on my phone. Slid green button across and the music disappered and my sanity came back

Joe

Mar 26, 2014 9:55 PM in response to tonyballinger

I had the same problem. I could swipe and delete every song but 5 songs. (these songs were bought from itunes long ago)

Itunes on my computer couldnt even see the 5 songs..and not even a 4media transfer program .

I did this settings-usage -music-delete and it worked! But then 5 minutes later a song popped back up..even after it said no data!! Just 1 song. I believe my phone is possessed. 😮

This is a problem. I did unsynced my songs from itunes, turned of show all music and even deleted all songs off my iphone. Only thing I didn't do yet is a restore..which I will probably end up doing.


My phone is a iPhone 4s running iOS 7.1

Can't delete songs from iPhone 5

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