How to Make iTunes Deleted Songs Not in the Library

With the right keystrokes and clicks, you can remove any song from the iTunes library.

If you recently deleted MP3s from your computer's iTunes folder, chances are that these songs still appear in iTunes. If you want to purge these items from your iTunes library, they must be deleted within the iTunes application. Using a file browser removes the music files, but a record appears in your library until you take proactive steps to delete it. Fortunately, deleting leftover remnants of the file takes just seconds, provided you know where to click.

Instructions

1. Open iTunes.

2. Scroll your music library until you notice the deleted songs, or search for song titles using the blank text field in the upper right-hand corner.

3. Click on the song you want to remove from your library. Select multiple songs by holding the "Ctrl" key and clicking on each one.

4. Press and hold the "Shift" key on a PC, or the "Option" key on a Mac.

5. Press the "Delete" key. A dialogue box asks if you're sure you want to remove the item from the library.

6. Click "Remove." At this point, you may be presented with a second popup box. A second dialogue box means that there is still a copy of the file on your computer, and it hasn't been fully deleted yet. Click "move to trash" to get rid of the remaining copies. Your deleted file is now successfully removed from the library.

References

• Apple; Deleting Files from the iTunes Library and Your Computer; October 2009