Deleting downloaded movies from your iPhone is straightforward, freeing up valuable storage space and decluttering your device. You can remove them directly through the TV app (formerly Videos app), the Settings app, or even using iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) on your computer.
Why Delete Downloaded Movies?
iPhones, while powerful, have finite storage. Downloading movies quickly fills up that space, leading to performance issues and difficulty saving new photos, videos, or apps. Regularly deleting watched or unwanted movies is crucial for maintaining a smooth and efficient user experience. This article provides a detailed guide on various methods to delete those space-hogging files, along with answers to frequently asked questions.
Methods for Deleting Downloaded Movies
There are primarily three methods for removing downloaded movies from your iPhone. Each method offers a slightly different approach, catering to user preferences and specific situations.
1. Deleting Movies Through the TV App
This is the most direct and user-friendly method.
- Open the TV App: Locate and tap the TV app icon on your home screen.
- Navigate to Library: At the bottom of the screen, tap the “Library” tab.
- Select Downloaded: Filter your library to only show downloaded content by tapping “Downloaded” at the top of the screen. If you do not see “Downloaded,” make sure you have downloaded content on your device.
- Choose the Movie: Find the movie you want to delete.
- Long Press or Swipe:
- Long Press: Press and hold on the movie title or thumbnail until a menu appears. Select “Remove Download.”
- Swipe (if available): Swipe left on the movie title or thumbnail. A delete icon will appear; tap it.
- Confirm Deletion: A confirmation prompt will appear. Tap “Remove Download” again to confirm.
This method is ideal for quickly removing individual movies or episodes.
2. Deleting Movies Through the Settings App
This method provides a more centralized view of your storage usage and allows for bulk deletion.
- Open the Settings App: Locate and tap the Settings app icon on your home screen.
- Navigate to General: Scroll down and tap on “General.”
- Select iPhone Storage: Tap on “iPhone Storage.”
- Locate the TV App: Scroll through the list of apps until you find the “TV” app (or “Videos” on older iOS versions).
- Review Downloaded Videos: Tap on the “TV” app. You’ll see a breakdown of the storage it’s using, primarily attributed to downloaded videos.
- Delete Individual Videos: Tap “Edit” in the top right corner. A red minus icon will appear next to each downloaded video. Tap the icon and then “Delete” to remove the video.
- Delete All Videos: If you want to delete all downloaded content from the TV app, look for the “Delete All” option (if available). This will remove all downloaded videos with one tap.
This method is particularly useful when you need to manage storage across multiple apps or want to delete several movies at once.
3. Deleting Movies Using iTunes (or Finder) on Your Computer
This method provides an alternative approach, especially useful if you have a large library or prefer managing your content from your computer. Note: macOS Catalina and later have replaced iTunes with Finder for device management.
- Connect Your iPhone to Your Computer: Use a Lightning cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open iTunes (or Finder):
- iTunes (macOS Mojave and earlier, Windows): Open iTunes. Your iPhone should appear in the left sidebar under “Devices.”
- Finder (macOS Catalina and later): Open Finder. Your iPhone should appear in the left sidebar under “Locations.”
- Select Your iPhone: Click on your iPhone’s name in the sidebar.
- Navigate to File Sharing (iTunes) or Files (Finder):
- iTunes: In the left sidebar, under your iPhone, find “File Sharing.” Click on it. Locate the “TV” app (or “Videos” app).
- Finder: Click on “Files” at the top. Locate the “TV” app (or “Videos” app).
- Delete the Movie Files: You will see a list of files associated with the TV app. Identify the movie files you want to delete and select them.
- Press Delete (or Right-Click and Delete): Press the “Delete” key on your keyboard or right-click on the selected files and choose “Delete.”
- Sync Your iPhone (if necessary): In some cases, you may need to sync your iPhone to reflect the changes. Click the “Sync” button in iTunes or Finder.
This method is helpful for managing large libraries and allows for easier file selection and deletion.
FAQs: Answering Your Burning Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of deleting downloaded movies from your iPhone:
1. Will deleting a downloaded movie also delete it from my iCloud library?
No, deleting a downloaded movie from your iPhone only removes the local copy on your device. The movie remains available in your iCloud library for streaming or future downloads, provided you purchased it from Apple.
2. What happens if I delete a movie I rented?
If you delete a rented movie before the rental period expires, it will be removed from your device. You won’t be able to watch it until you re-download it, if you’re still within the rental period. The remaining rental time will continue to count down, regardless of whether the movie is downloaded.
3. I don’t see the “Downloaded” option in the TV app. What’s wrong?
The “Downloaded” option only appears if you have downloaded content to your device using the TV app. Ensure you have actually downloaded at least one movie or episode.
4. How do I delete movies downloaded from other streaming services (like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video)?
The process varies depending on the streaming service. Typically, you need to open the respective app (e.g., Netflix app, Amazon Prime Video app), navigate to your downloads, and use the in-app delete function to remove the movie. Look for a “Downloads” section within the app’s menu.
5. Can I delete movies while they’re still downloading?
Yes, you can usually cancel and delete a movie while it’s downloading. The specific method depends on the app. In the TV app, you can tap the progress indicator during download, and usually find a “Cancel Download” option. Other streaming apps have similar mechanisms.
6. Does deleting a movie also delete its subtitles or any other associated files?
Typically, deleting a downloaded movie also removes any associated subtitle files downloaded along with it. However, if you’ve added subtitles manually (outside of the TV app’s download feature), you might need to delete them separately.
7. What if I accidentally delete a movie I wanted to keep?
If you purchased the movie from the Apple TV app (or iTunes), you can re-download it from your purchase history at no additional cost. If it was a rental and the rental period hasn’t expired, you can also re-download it. For content from other streaming services, refer to their respective policies on re-downloading deleted content.
8. How can I check how much storage downloaded movies are using?
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The “TV” app (or the relevant streaming app) will show the total storage used by downloaded content. Tapping on the app name will provide a breakdown of storage per item in most cases.
9. I deleted a movie, but it still shows up in the TV app. Why?
This might be a caching issue. Try closing and reopening the TV app. If that doesn’t work, restart your iPhone. The movie should disappear from the list after the restart.
10. Is there a way to automatically delete downloaded movies after watching them?
Some streaming services offer an option to automatically delete downloaded content after you’ve finished watching it. Check the settings within the respective app (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime Video). The Apple TV app does not offer this functionality currently.
11. Can I delete downloaded movies from my iPhone using iCloud Drive?
No, iCloud Drive is primarily for document and file storage, not for managing downloaded movies within the TV app or other streaming apps. The methods described above are the correct ways to delete downloaded movies.
12. I’m having trouble deleting a specific movie. Is there a more forceful method?
If the standard methods aren’t working, try the following steps:
- Force Quit the TV App: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the Home button on older iPhones) to bring up the app switcher. Swipe up on the TV app to close it completely.
- Restart Your iPhone: This can often resolve minor software glitches.
- Check for iOS Updates: Ensure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Outdated software can sometimes cause unexpected issues.
- Reset All Settings (Caution): As a last resort (and with caution), you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings). Note: This will reset your Wi-Fi passwords, preferences, and other settings but won’t delete your data.
By following these methods and addressing these common questions, you can effectively manage your iPhone’s storage and enjoy a smoother mobile experience. Regularly clearing out downloaded movies will keep your device running optimally.