iTunes 12 can't delete artwork

Art highlights for me when I click it although admittedly it did seem reluctant to do so when I'd first installed iTunes 12. Either way clicking was enough to select it even if I didn't get visual feedback. Ctrl-X or Backspace will delete the large artwork images on the artwork tab. Backspace or Delete will delete using the small image at the top left.

tt2

This is my first post so please be gentle with me.

Like other posters here, I cannot delete artwork in iTunes 12. I have read all the responses so far and I think my problem is that the artwork is not being highlighted i.e. there is no blue border around it when I click on it (in the Artwork tab of 'Get Info), as others are indicating. Hence I cannot do 'Control X' to delele, backspace or even the Del key. If I right click the artwork no menu appears. However it now allows me to drag and drop the album artwork (outside of iTunes but not to another iTunes album) and have tried dropping the artwork in the Recycle Bin but it will not allow me to do that. I can add artwork to the existing through the Explorer pop up but not delete the existance.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond.

Just in case you missed my post at the bottom of the previous page.

Art highlights for me when I click it although admittedly it did seem reluctant to do so when I'd first installed iTunes 12. Either way clicking was enough to select it even if I didn't get visual feedback. Ctrl-X or Backspace will delete the large artwork images on the artwork tab. Backspace or Delete will delete using the small image at the top left.

tt2

Wow! My first post and I got an instant reply. Thanks tt2. I thought I would have to wait ages.

In the hope of helping another newby, here's what I did (though this is probably covered in the other posts) but here it is in cat-sat-on-the-mat simple form.

1. Right click the track or album that had the artwork you want removing and go to the 'Get Information) option.

2. Click on the artwork tab.

3. Instead of clicking on the large album artwork as you did in previous versions of iTunes click in the small version that appears on the top left hand side of the requester (not on iTunes itself - which is where I was going wrong). A light blue border appears around the small artwork.

4. Press Backspace or the DEL key or Control X to delete the artwork and click OK.

Artwork gone! This worked for me and I hope it works for others. Sadly once highlighed the copy (Control C) or paste (Contril V) did not work so I couldn't copy artwork from another disc (i.e. disc 2 of a 2 CD set) but since it lets you drag the artwork to the desktop, one can import it from there. A pity that Apple did change things especially when they used to work so well previously.

Thanks again to TT2

Experiment some more. I find I am able to copy and paste art from one track to another in iTunes 12 quite easily, or to and from Windows Explorer, even when a clicked on image doesn't obviously highlight. Use the left-click though and don't expect any right-click context menus on the art, they aren't there.

tt2

Thanks to all those who have provided solutions to the artwork issues. It would appear from the various posts that there is considerable variance in what users can and cannot do, regarding the addition and deletion of artwork. Before this particular iteration of iTunes, these tasks were relatively straightforward.

This is a retrograde step by Apple, which I very much hope they will amend in the next revision. It now takes much more time to edit track information of all types than it did previously and, while the new format is pleasant to the eye, it is certainly much less practical than it was before. I find that I can’t simply start to type a Genre to start the autocomplete any more. Instead, I have to select one from the list and then click on it to highlight, before typing the required genre. The Programme field has also disappeared from Sorting and all the information I had there with it. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

That's it!!!!!!! You said, "Backspace or Delete will delete using the small image at the top left."

That's the key! That's how you do it! It finally worked. You can no longer choose the big image icons. You have to click on the little one in the top left. That one is able to be highlighted. That one is the one you can use to delete the artwork.

Thanks a ton, tt2!

Another example of Apple changing things apparently for the sake of it!! Like the way you need to reformat all the artwork for it to show up correctly on the iPhone or iPad instead of a grey block under IOS 8.1!! There is another "secret" here. To be able to do anything with the artwork under "Get Info/Artwork", the artwork/image you are dealing with MUST be in the FIRST (LEFT) position. You will see a thin vertical line between the first image and any others. The first image is the one that gets selected and appears in the small icon at the top left of the Get Info page - that's why you can delete it etc ... So if you have multiple images for the artwork and, say, want to delete one at the right hand end of the strip, drag it to position 1 (hard left) and then you can use any of the normal methods to delete it.

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with Apple with all the "updates" of recent times which have made things so much harder to accomplish. I just don't understand their reasoning??!! Like many have said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Having no right click context menu is also a pain!

Apple should consider its customers more before invoking changes, as we are all constantly having to re-learn processes. What we are discussing here is a background editing facility, which basically should be functional and efficient - a bit like the previous version!

After numerous attempts/failures, here's what finally worked for me: Find desired artwork; right-click to copy image; In iTunes, "Get Info>Artwork>CNTL-V to paste new artwork. After I added that desired artwork, I dragged the "old" artwork from the "second" (right) side, to the first (left) side of the box. Only then could I click it to highlight, then CTRL-X to D E L E T E!

In the new Get Info dialog use backspace rather than delete.

tt2

To delete artwork from multiple songs:

1. Highlight all of the songs.

2. Right-click and left-click Get Info.

3. At the top where you have the box for the artwork (circled in red on the screenshot I posted) click on it and it should become highlighted with a blue border.

4. Once highlighted, press delete on the keyboard.

5. Voila!

Had the same problem. Basically in order to highlight it, you have to click and hold and then drag it out of the window. It should stay highlighted and you will be able to press backspace to delete.

solved it, thanks

The whole thing is screwy now. It hides half your info fields and you have to add them back (FOR EVERY TRACK!). What's wrong with the way things were? Everything worked fine. No one is ever satisfied with what they have. They are always changing things...SMH

Yes, exactly. It was much, much, MUCH easier before, but I guess someone had to feel important and change it...