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How to Delete Songs from iTunes

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2 of 4

Trash or Save the Song
deleting iTunes songs, step 2

When you hit the delete key, iTunes will pop up a window that lets you decide what to do with the file: will it be deleted for good or just removed from iTunes?

Your options include:

  • Keep File - Choosing this option can be result in a confusing situation. If you choose it, the song or album will be removed from your iTunes library, but not from your hard drive. This means that the file or files will still be stored on your hard drive, still taking up space, but not available to play through iTunes or sync to your iPod/iPhone until you add it back to your iTunes library. This is because iTunes is basically a listing of files stored in a specific place on your hard drive (the Music folder), not actually storing the files themselves. So, there are reasons to choose this option, but make sure you understand what it entails before you do so.
  • Move to Trash - This option should be chosen when you want to completely delete a song or album. This will move the files to your trash or recycling bin. The files will be completely deleted next time to empty the trash/recycling bin.
  • Cancel - If you've changed your mind and no longer want to delete the song or album, click this button to end the operation.
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