If I subscribe to iTunes Match can I delete music from my phone?

If I subscribe to iTunes Match can I delete music from my phone?

iPhone 5

Posted on Jul 21, 2015 10:02 AM

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6 replies

Jul 21, 2015 10:15 AM in response to williamfrombelle mead

Apple music does not include iTunes Match. It has a similar but entirely different though complimentary service.


If we are talking exclusively about iTunes Match, and not Apple Music:


iTunes Match on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

When you enable iTunes Match on your iOS device, the music library on your iOS device will be deleted and replaced with your music in iCloud.


When you play a song from the cloud:

https://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

On a computer, any songs stored in iCloud will stream over the air when played, though you can download them at any time by clicking the iCloud download button. iOS devices will start playing tracks from iCloud as they download and will store them so that you can listen to them later even if you don’t have a network connection. Apple TV only streams songs.

Jul 21, 2015 10:27 AM in response to Phil0124

Perhaps not the same, but Apple Music functions nearly identically. From the website:


"Wherever your music comes from — purchased in the iTunes Store, ripped from a rare import CD, or downloaded from your favorite music blog — everything you’ve collected lives in one place. And alongside it is the ever-expanding Apple Music library. It’s like having just about every song ever recorded at your fingertips."


I also have experience with Apple Music without match - Apple Music does indeed attempt to match your songs to the Apple Music library (which is slightly smaller than the iTunes Store library.) If it doesn't find your song in the library, it will upload it. The big difference is DRM, which Match does not have. I still haven't figured out why it pays to have both Match & Apple Music. Seems redundant. (though I did read an awfully good response to that the other day, I just can't find it at the moment..)


Regardless, still not sure what the OP wants to know.

Jul 21, 2015 10:30 AM in response to Phil0124

I have iOS 8.4 on iPhone 5. Subscribed to iTunes Match - not iMusic. Initiated subscription from one of my computers authorized for my iTunes account.


At first, my phone wasnt showing playlist info. I synced to my computer and all seemed well. Went to check memory and I am still using almost 9.0GB to store 2000+ songs.


So I think my question is can I delete all of those songs with confidence that they are readily retrievable from iCloud?

Jul 21, 2015 10:39 AM in response to williamfrombelle mead

Check out this article about iTunes Match on iOS. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202675

From the article:

Deleting songs downloaded to your device

You can delete a song or album from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch at any time. Don't worry; it'll still be in the cloud.

  1. Tap the Music app.
  2. Tap More > Songs at the bottom.
  3. Scroll or search for the song you would like to delete from your device.
  4. Swipe right to left on the song, and then tap Delete.

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If I subscribe to iTunes Match can I delete music from my phone?

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