iPhones and iPads allow you to sync music libraries between devices using iCloud Music Library. This means any music you add to one device can also be available on your other devices. However, deleting music from one device doesn’t necessarily remove it from your other devices automatically. Here’s a quick overview of how music deletion works between iPhones and iPads.
Quick Summary
- Music purchased from iTunes is stored in iCloud Music Library and can be downloaded to any device signed into the same Apple ID.
- Deleting music from an iPad or iPhone deletes it from that local device only.
- To remove music from all synced devices, you need to delete it from iCloud Music Library.
- Turning off iCloud Music Library sync can store music locally on each device.
- Deleted music stays in Recently Deleted folder for 30 days before being permanently removed.
How iCloud Music Library Syncs Music
iCloud Music Library allows you to access your music collection from any device signed into the same Apple ID. When you purchase music through iTunes or add songs to your library, they get saved to iCloud and can download to your devices.
By default, both iPhones and iPads will sync with iCloud Music Library when connected to the internet. This means any music saved in your library will automatically appear on both devices. This is convenient for accessing your music anywhere, but it also means deleting songs from one device won’t remove them from your other devices.
Why Deleting from iPad Doesn’t Affect iPhone
When you delete a song from your iPad, you are only deleting the locally downloaded copy on that device. The original file remains stored in iCloud Music Library. So your iPhone still has access to download that song again from the cloud.
Think of iCloud Music Library as the master collection of your music. Your devices simply access copies of the files when synced. Deleting from one device just removes the local copy, not the original file in the cloud.
How To Permanently Delete Music
To fully remove a song from all your synced devices, you need to delete it directly from iCloud Music Library. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your Apple ID banner at the top of the screen.
- Select iCloud > Manage Storage > Music.
- Browse your music library and tap the (-) icon next to songs you want to delete.
This removes the song from your iCloud Music collection entirely. It will no longer be available to download on any synced device.
Turning Off iCloud Music Library Sync
If you don’t want music libraries to sync across your iPhone and iPad, you can turn off iCloud Music Library.
When disabled, any music you add or delete on one device will not affect the other. Your music libraries are separate and stored locally.
To turn off syncing:
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
- Toggle off iCloud Music Library.
This stores your music independently on each device. You’ll need to manually manage your library on each one without cloud syncing.
Recently Deleted Folder
When you delete music on an iPhone or iPad, it gets moved to a Recently Deleted folder. Files stay here for 30 days before being permanently erased.
So if you accidentally delete a song from one device, you may still be able to recover it from the Recently Deleted folder within a month. Check under Settings > [your name] > Music > Recently Deleted.
Of course, this will only recover the local copy on that device. If you also want to recover the deleted song back to iCloud Music Library, you’d need to sync to iTunes on a computer and restore it from there.
Summary
- iCloud Music Library syncs music between devices.
- Deleting music from iPad or iPhone only removes the local copy.
- To delete music from all devices, remove it directly from iCloud Music Library.
- Turn off iCloud Music Library to store music independently on each device.
- Check Recently Deleted folder within 30 days to try recovering accidentally deleted music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting music from my iPad also delete it from my iPhone?
No, deleting music from an iPad will not automatically remove it from an iPhone. iCloud Music Library stores your music collection in the cloud and syncs it to devices. Deleting a song from an iPad only removes the local downloaded copy on that device. Your iPhone can still download the song again from iCloud.
How do I delete a song from both iPad and iPhone at the same time?
To remove a song from all your synced devices, you need to delete it directly from iCloud Music Library. Open Settings, tap your Apple ID, choose iCloud > Manage Storage > Music. Then browse your library and delete songs you want gone from all devices.
If I delete music on iPhone will it delete from iPad?
No, the same rule applies in reverse. Deleting music locally on your iPhone does not remove it from your iPad. The devices sync independently with your iCloud Music Library. To fully delete a song from all devices, remove it directly from iCloud.
Can I stop music being synced between iPhone and iPad?
Yes, you can turn off iCloud Music Library sync in your iCloud settings. This will store music locally on each device so additions and deletions do not affect your other device. But it requires manually managing each music library.
How do I recover music deleted from iPad or iPhone?
Check your Recently Deleted folder on the device you deleted from. Deleted music stays there for 30 days before being permanently erased. If the music was also deleted from iCloud Music Library, you would need to sync your device to iTunes on a computer and try restoring it from a backup.
The Difference Between Streaming Music vs. Downloaded Music
There are two main ways to access music on your iPhone and iPad – streaming through Apple Music or downloading songs directly into your music library. What’s the difference and how does this affect syncing and deletions?
Streaming with Apple Music
Apple Music subscribers can stream over 90 million songs on demand. This music is accessible from iCloud but not saved permanently to your library.
Deleting streamed Apple Music songs from your iPad only removes the download locally. It does not affect the song’s availability on other devices. You can always stream it again later from iCloud.
Downloading Songs
Purchased iTunes music or songs you manually add get saved permanently to your iCloud Music Library. Downloads are available offline across synced devices.
Deleting downloads from your iPad removes the local copy. But the song remains in your iCloud Music collection to download again when needed. To fully remove, delete it directly from iCloud.
Key Differences
| Music Type | Storage Location | Deletion Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Music Streaming | Accessible from iCloud | Local device only |
| iTunes Downloads | Saved in iCloud Library | Local device only |
In summary, deletions affect the local device but streamed or downloaded music remains available in iCloud for other devices.
Managing Storage with Optimize iPhone/iPad Storage
One way to save storage space on your iPhone or iPad is using the Optimize [Device] Storage setting. This automatically removes downloaded music you haven’t listened to in a while when space is needed.
Here’s how Optimize Storage works:
- Analyzes music listening habits on your device.
- Identifies songs you haven’t played recently.
- Automatically deletes these inactive downloads as required.
- Music remains available via iCloud Music Library.
So Optimize Storage provides a seamless way to save local space without losing access to your music library. Any music removed can be re-downloaded from iCloud when needed.
To enable:
- Go to Settings > Music.
- Toggle on Optimize [Device] Storage.
One thing to note – if you have iCloud Music Library disabled, Optimize Storage will PERMANENTLY delete any removed music. With no cloud library backup, deletions are permanent.
Other Storage Saving Tips
In addition to Optimize Storage, here are some other ways to manage music and free up space:
- Stream music instead of downloading when possible.
- Use Apple Music to access over 90 million songs on demand.
- Manually delete unused downloads periodically.
- Download playlists or albums on demand rather than bulk syncing everything.
- Set download quality to High Efficiency (AAC 256 kbps) rather than Lossless.
Syncing Music Libraries Between Multiple Devices
Besides iPhone and iPad, you can also sync your iCloud Music Library across other Apple devices including Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, HomePod and CarPlay.
The same principles apply – additions, deletions and organization on one device get reflected across your library. Some use cases and tips:
- Listen to same music library at home (Apple TV), on the go (iPhone) and at the gym (Apple Watch).
- Control and queue up music on HomePod speakers using iPhone or iPad.
- Automatically access favorite playlists, albums and stations in your car with CarPlay.
- Manage library editing and playlist creation on Mac for easy large screen access.
iCloud Music Library seamlessly keeps everything in sync. Just note that local deletions only remove that downloaded copy, not the original file in the cloud.
Requirements for Multi-Device Sync
To sync music between all devices you need:
- An active iCloud Music Library subscription.
- Devices signed into the same Apple ID account.
- Internet connection for devices to communicate with iCloud.
- iCloud Music Library enabled under settings on each device.
This allows up to 10 devices to access and sync with the same music collection through iCloud.
Troubleshooting Tips for Music Library Syncing
In some cases, you may encounter issues getting music to properly sync between your iPhone, iPad and other devices via iCloud Music Library. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
Music not syncing
- Check internet connection – devices need internet access to sync.
- Confirm iCloud Music Library is enabled on all devices.
- Check Apple ID is signed in correctly on all devices.
- Restart devices and try syncing again.
- Update to latest iOS/iPadOS software.
Missing songs/albums
- Check iCloud storage limits not exceeded.
- Try manually downloading missing items.
- Toggle iCloud Music Library off/on under settings.
- Remove and re-add affected songs/albums.
Music deleted from all devices
- Restore from computer iTunes backup.
- Check Recently Deleted folder for 30 day recovery period.
- Contact Apple Support to recover purchases.
In most cases, basic troubleshooting steps will resolve any music library sync problems between your devices. But if issues persist, contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Conclusion
While iCloud Music Library provides a convenient way to keep music synced across devices, it’s important to understand it functions as a central cloud repository. Deleting music from any one device just removes the local copy, not the original file in iCloud.
To fully remove a song or album from all synced devices, you need to delete it directly from the iCloud Music Library. Disabling iCloud Music sync will also store music independently on each device.
Overall, iCloud Music Library is a powerful feature for accessing your music collection anywhere. Just be aware of how deletion and syncing works to avoid accidentally removing favorite songs.