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Want to delete the songs you don't listen to from your iPod? If you have an iPod Touch, go to Settings > General > Usage > Manage Storage > Music to delete songs. For iPod Nano and Classic, connect your iPod to a computer to remove songs.
Quick Steps
- Open Settings on your iPod Touch.
- Go to General > Usage > Manage Storage > Music.
- To delete all music, tap Edit, then tap the red minus sign next to "All Songs."
- To delete a song, tap an artist/album, tap Edit, and tap the red minus sign on a song.
For popular FAQs on deleting songs from your iPod, jump to more common questions.
Steps
-
![Step 1 Open the Settings app.]()
Open the Settings app. -
![Step 2 Select "General" and then "Usage".]()
Select "General" and then "Usage".Advertisement -
![Step 3 Select "Manage Storage" in the "Storage" section.]()
Select "Manage Storage" in the "Storage" section. -
![Step 4 Select the "Music" app from the list of apps.]()
Select the "Music" app from the list of apps. -
![Step 5 Tap the "Edit" button.]()
Tap the "Edit" button. You will see red "-" buttons appear next to all of your listed music. -
![Step 6 Delete all of your music.]()
Delete all of your music. If you want to clear all of the music on your device, tap the "-" next to "All Songs" and then tap the "Delete" button that appears. If you don't want to delete all of your music, see the next step. -
![Step 7 Delete individual songs, albums, or artists.]()
Delete individual songs, albums, or artists. You can delete single songs, whole albums, or everything by a specific artist.- To delete all of the songs from an artist, tap the "Edit" button, tap the red "-" next to the artist's name, and then tap the "Delete" button that appears.
- If you want to delete an album or an individual song, turn Edit mode off so you can navigate through your music. Tap an artist to see all of the albums from that artist you have on your device, and then tap an album to see all of the songs. When you've found something you want to delete, tap the "Edit" button, tap the red "-", and then tap the "Delete" button.
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![Step 1 Connect your iPod to your computer using its USB syncing cable.]()
Connect your iPod to your computer using its USB syncing cable. -
![Step 2 Open iTunes.]()
Open iTunes. If the computer you are connecting your iPod to does not have your iTunes Library on it, you will be prompted to delete everything on the iPod when syncing. The only way to avoid this is by syncing on a computer that contains your iTunes library.- If you don't want to use iTunes, you can use a program like Sharepod, but nearly all third-party programs still require iTunes to be installed in order to work. Still, they can be very useful if you're trying to manage your music on a computer that isn't yours and you don't want all of your music deleted when you sync. Click here for more instructions on using a third-party program.
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![Step 3 Select your iPod from the row of buttons along the top of iTunes.]()
Select your iPod from the row of buttons along the top of iTunes. If you are using iTunes 11, select it from the Devices menu. This should open the "Summary" tab. -
![Step 4 Check the "Manually manage music" box at the bottom of the Summary screen.]()
Check the "Manually manage music" box at the bottom of the Summary screen. Click Apply. This will allow you to pick and choose songs to delete. -
![Step 5 Select "Music" from the "On My Device" menu.]()
Select "Music" from the "On My Device" menu. This will list all of the music currently stored on the iPod. -
![Step 6 Right-click on the song you want to remove and select "Delete".]()
Right-click on the song you want to remove and select "Delete". You can hold Shift and select multiple tracks to delete more at once. You will need to confirm that you want to delete the tracks. -
![Step 7 Wait for the deletion process to finish.]()
Wait for the deletion process to finish. If you are deleting a lot of songs at once, it may take a few moments for all of them to be deleted. you can monitor the progress at the top of the iTunes window.
Common Questions
How do I empty my iPod Nano?
Connect your iPod Nano to your Mac (or a PC with iTunes installed), click the device button (it looks like an iPod), then click the Restore button to completely erase the device.
Does restoring an iPod Nano delete everything?
Restoring any iPod will remove all songs, playlists, and preferences. If you want to keep your music, back it up to iTunes (PC) or your Mac first.[1]
What do I do with my old iPod?
If you have an iPod that no longer works, you can recycle it through Apple's Recycling Program or through your local electronics recycling program.[2]
Can I wipe an iPod without a computer?
If you have an iPod Touch, you can perform a factory reset without a computer. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset and follow the on-screen instructions.[3] For all other iPod models, you will need a computer.
