delete podcast episode instead deletes all episodes

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Level 1

18 points

delete podcast episode instead deletes all episodes

I upgraded to iTunes for Windows 12.9.0.167 and now the podcast delete functionality is misbehaving. It used to be that you could right-click on a podcast episode and select "Delete from Library". This would delete the local file and remove it from the UI, so that the only ones visible were the ones you had curated to keep around.

With the new version, when I try to delete a podcast episode, it instead deletes the files for *all* episodes of that podcast. This is clearly wrong behavior. If I wanted to delete the entire podcast, I would expect that behavior from right-click on the podcast title, not from an individual episode.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Posted on Sep 14, 2018 7:25 AM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

Level 10

272,949 points

Sep 14, 2018 7:15 PM in response to ralf.haring

I've seen this now. It only affects podcasts when using the classic list view to delete from the library. If you read the prompt, assuming you haven't suppressed warnings, it will ask you to confirm that you want to remove the entire series, which ought to allow an opportunity to back out before the damage is done. I've submitted a bug report about it.

Workarounds: Use View > View As > List and/or Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Reset Warnings.

tt2

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Answer 2

Sep 18, 2018 9:34 AM in response to ralf.haring

I have found that hitting the delete key instead of right-click 'delete from library' when the podcast files to be deleted are selected works. Now to just keep remembering to do this everyday instead of the familiar delete from library.

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

272,949 points

Sep 15, 2018 1:53 PM in response to b5raven

Restore your data from backup. If you don't have a backup now is the time. See Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy.

If your experience is like mine you should find the problem only occurs when you are in the Classic List view. Switch to the regular List view until a new build is released which doesn't have this issue.

tt2

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Answer 4

ralf.haring Author

Level 1

18 points

Sep 14, 2018 12:07 PM in response to b5raven

One workaround I found was to use an iOS device's podcast app. Deleting individual episodes there then synced across to iTunes on my PC properly, i.e. leaving the other episodes intact. That's not a long-term solution, of course.

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Answer 5

ralf.haring Author

Level 1

18 points

Sep 14, 2018 7:15 PM in response to turingtest2

The warning that appears is ambiguous. "Do you want to move the selected podcast to the Recycle Bin, or keep it in the iTunes media folder? Only files in the iTunes Media folder will be moved to the Recycle Bin. Cancel / Move to Recycle Bin / Keep File". "podcast" can be read to mean podcast series or podcast episode, but the fact that the user initially selected a single episode as well as the use of the singular "file" on the button and in conjunction with the previous behavior having been consistent for years before, strongly suggests to the user that the expected behavior will apply only to one episode. I expect even if the warning were worded more strongly to apply to the entire series, most people would not expect that behavior given the standard way the OS works. When people delete a file, no one expects the entire parent folder and all its contents to disappear! Thanks for raising the bug.

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Answer 6

ralf.haring Author

Level 1

18 points

Sep 14, 2018 7:24 PM in response to ralf.haring

I now see your screenshot. It looks like the Mac warning is very different than the Windows one. That said, I hope the fix is not to word the Windows error more strongly, but to restore the ability to allow users to delete individual episodes.

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

272,949 points

Sep 14, 2018 7:24 PM in response to ralf.haring

There is a subtle difference in the alert message, but first you have to have them enabled, and we all get in the habit of instantly approving dialogs we expect to see without checking for changes in them.

tt2

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Answer 8

Sep 19, 2018 8:21 PM in response to ralf.haring

The same thing is happening to me, I can't find a workaround other than never deleting an episode. Unfortunately, iTunes also has the habit of trying to download a few years worth of episodes so I can't sync them either and have to copy them manually.

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Answer 9

Sep 19, 2018 9:25 PM in response to ralf.haring

I have found the following work around: instead of right-click, delete selected podcasts, I use the delete key. Then only the selected podcasts are deleted. It's just hard to remember not to use right-click.

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Answer 10

Sep 21, 2018 4:08 PM in response to ralf.haring

yes...did a restore point on 9-18-18 and updated today and it deleted as you said.

call apple support and they know nothing. sent me to mac support and they were no help

did a restore but did not work go 12.9 back.

called and asked them if I had to uninstall 12.9 and they said no.

did 2nd restore from 9-18-18 and got old iTunes but had to remove iTunes from music folder and

reload last weeks back up library cause got err of cant open files they were created in newer version.

pain. I usually wait for awhile before trying a new update. this one was bad. whoever did trial run messed up

OR they just did not bother to check it out.

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Answer 11

Sep 21, 2018 4:14 PM in response to turingtest2

no, I did not get that warning. don't think I turned off the warning. I use classic, have for yrs.

I restored to older version and brought week old back up liberty into music folder.

wish I had read this 1st.

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Answer 12

Sep 24, 2018 5:54 AM in response to TucsonLynne

FANTASTIC easy fix!!! This issue has been annoying since I downloaded the new update. Simply using the Delete key on the keyboard to delete played Podcasts is genius...lol! Who would have thought.

THANK YOU soooooooo much!!!!

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