Knowledge base

How to delete content you've downloaded from the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, or Mac App Store

Posted in Apple Mac OS

If you want to delete an app, song, book, or anything else you bought or downloaded from Apple, this article is for you. In most cases you can download the item again if you need to.

Open the section below for the kind of content you want to delete.

Apps

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the app you deleted again (it depends on where you live).

  1. Tap and hold an app you want to delete.
  2. The apps will begin to jiggle.
  3. Tap the "x" on the app you want to delete.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the app you deleted again (it depends on where you live).

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Apps.
  3. Click the app you want to delete.
  4. Press the Delete on your keyboard.

Audiobooks

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone or iPod touch

You can't delete an audiobook directly from your iPhone or iPod touch. But you can delete one by syncing to a computer with iTunes and then following the instructions for Mac or PC below.

Be sure you have a backup of the audiobook. You will need to repurchase it if you want to download it again.

iPad

Before you delete, be sure you have a backup of the audiobook. You will need to repurchase it if you want to download it again. To delete an audiobook:

  1. Tap the Music app.
  2. Tap the More category.
  3. Tap Audiobooks.
  4. Tap and hold the audiobook you want to delete.
  5. Tap the "x" that appears on it.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, be sure you have a backup of the audiobook. You will need to repurchase it if you want to download it again.

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Books.
  3. Click Audiobooks in the navigation bar.
  4. Click the audiobook you want to delete.
  5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Books

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the book you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a book:

  1. Tap the iBooks app.
  2. View your Purchased Books collection.
  3. Tap Edit.
  4. Tap any books you want to delete.
  5. Tap Delete.

You'll have the option to delete your book on all your devices.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the book you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a book:

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Books.
  3. Click Books in the navigation bar.
  4. Click the book you want to delete.
  5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

iTunes U courses

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Tap the iTunes U app.
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Tap the course you want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete.

Mac or PC

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose iTunes U.
  3. Click the course you want to delete.
  4. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Mac Apps

  1. Click the Launchpad in the Dock.
  2. Click and hold the app you want to delete.
  3. The apps will begin to jiggle.
  4. Click the "x" that appears on it.

If you change your mind after deleting a Mac app, you can download the app again if it's still available in the Mac app store.

Magazines and newspapers

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Tap Newsstand.
  2. Tap and hold the magazine or newspaper you want to delete.
  3. Tap the "x" that appears on it.

Deleting a magazine or newspaper app doesn't delete a paid subscription that you may have. Learn how to cancel a paid subscription.

Mac or PC

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Apps.
  3. Click the magazine or newspaper app you want to delete.
  4. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Deleting a magazine or newspaper app doesn't delete a paid subscription that you may have. Learn how to cancel a paid subscription.

Movies

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone or iPod touch

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the movie you deleted again (it depends on where you live).

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Swipe left to right over the movie you want to delete.
  3. Tap Delete.

iPad

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the movie you deleted again (it depends on where you live).

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Tap the "x" on the movie you want to delete.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the movie you deleted again (it depends on where you live).

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Movies.
  3. Click Movies in the navigation bar.
  4. Click the movie you want to delete.
  5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

In iTunes 11, the movie cover art will remain visible, but a cloud icon will appear on it to allow you to download the item again (in countries that support this).

Movie rentals

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone or iPod touch

If you delete a movie rental, you'll have to pay to rent it again—unless, of course, you rented the movie on your Mac or PC using iTunes and synced it over to your iPhone or iPod touch. To delete a movie rental:

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Swipe left to right over the movie rental you want to delete.
  3. Tap Delete.

iPad

If you delete a movie rental, you'll have to pay to rent it again—unless, of course, you rented the movie on your Mac or PC using iTunes and synced it over to your iPad. To delete a movie rental:

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Tap the "x" on the movie rental you want to delete.

Mac or PC

If you delete a movie rental, you'll have to pay to rent it again. To delete a movie rental:

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Movies.
  3. Click Rented in the navigation bar.
  4. Click the movie rental you want to delete.
  5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Music

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the song you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a song:

  1. Tap the Music app.
  2. Tap the Songs category.
  3. Swipe left to right over the song you want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the song you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a song:

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Music.
  3. Click Songs in the navigation bar.
  4. Click the song you want to delete.
  5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

In iTunes 11, the album cover art will remain visible, but a cloud icon will appear on it to allow you to download the item again (in countries that support this).

Note: If you didn't purchase a song from the iTunes Store, you won't be able to download it again for free from iTunes in the Cloud. You might want to back it up somewhere on your computer.

Music videos

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone or iPod touch

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the music video you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a music video:

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Swipe left to right over the music video you want to delete.
  3. Tap Delete.

iPad

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the music video you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a music video:

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Tap the "x" on the music video you want to delete.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the music video you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a music video:

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Music.
  3. Click Videos in the navigation bar.
  4. Click on the music video you want to delete.
  5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

In iTunes 11, the music video will remain visible, but a cloud icon will appear on it to allow you to download the item again (in countries that support this).

Ringtones/Tones

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

You can't delete purchased ringtones or tones directly from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. But you can delete them by syncing to a computer with iTunes and then following the instructions for Mac or PC below.

Mac or PC

If you delete a ringtone or tone from iTunes, you'll have to pay again to download it from the iTunes Store in the future. Just to be safe, back it up somewhere on your computer. To delete a ringtone (or tone):

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose Tones.
  3. Click the ringtone or tone you want to delete.
  4. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

TV shows

Open the section below for the device you are using.

iPhone or iPod touch

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the TV show you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a TV show:

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Tap a TV show.
  3. Swipe left to right over the episode you want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete.

iPad

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the TV show you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a TV show:

  1. Tap the Videos app.
  2. Tap on a TV Show.
  3. Swipe left to right over the episode you want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete.

Mac or PC

Before you delete, find out if you'll be able to download the TV show you deleted again (it depends on where you live). To delete a TV show:

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. From the Library pop-up menu, choose TV Shows.
  3. Click Shows in the navigation bar.
  4. Click a TV show.
  5. Click a TV episode you want to delete.
  6. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

In iTunes 11, the TV show cover art will remain visible, but a cloud icon will appear on it to allow you to download the item again (in countries that support this).

Additional Information

Apple TV (second and third generation) stream content from the cloud (as opposed to storing content on the device), so you don't need to delete anything from them.

Last Modified: Sep 20, 2013
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  • Last Modified: Sep 20, 2013
  • Article: HT5772
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