Deleting purchased movies from your iPad is a straightforward process involving removing them from your device’s storage, freeing up valuable space without affecting your ability to re-download them later from iCloud. The specific method depends on whether you want to remove the downloaded movie only or completely hide it from your purchase history.
Understanding Movie Storage on Your iPad
Before diving into the how, it’s important to understand how movies are stored on your iPad. When you purchase a movie from the Apple TV app (formerly iTunes Store), it’s associated with your Apple ID and stored in the cloud. Downloading the movie makes a local copy on your iPad’s storage. Deleting this local copy doesn’t remove the movie from your Apple ID purchase history; it simply removes the downloaded file. Think of it like borrowing a book from a library. You still have the library card (your Apple ID and purchase history), but you’re returning the physical book (the downloaded movie).
Methods for Deleting Purchased Movies
There are several ways to delete movies from your iPad, each with slightly different outcomes:
Deleting Downloaded Movies (Keeping them in Purchase History)
This is the most common scenario. You’ve watched a movie and want to free up space without losing the ability to re-download it later.
- Using the Apple TV App: Open the Apple TV app. Navigate to the “Library” tab. Locate the movie you want to delete. Long-press on the movie’s thumbnail. A menu will appear. Select “Remove Download.” This removes the downloaded file from your iPad. The movie will still be visible in your library with a cloud icon, indicating it’s available for re-download.
- From iPad Settings: Open the Settings app. Tap on “General”. Tap on “iPad Storage”. Allow the storage usage to populate. Scroll down until you find the Apple TV app or TV. Tap on it. You will see a list of downloaded movies. Tap “Edit” in the upper right corner. A red minus icon will appear next to each movie. Tap the red minus icon next to the movie you wish to delete, then tap “Delete”.
- Using the Videos App (Older iOS Versions): If you are using an older version of iOS, you may still have the “Videos” app. Open the Videos app. Tap on the “Movies” tab. Find the movie you wish to delete. Swipe left on the movie title. Tap the “Delete” button.
Hiding Purchased Movies (Removing them from Purchase History)
This is a more permanent action. Hiding a movie removes it from your purchase history on your iPad. While it doesn’t delete the movie from Apple’s servers, it prevents you (and anyone else using your Apple ID on that device) from easily seeing it in your library. You’ll need to access your purchase history via a computer or website to unhide it later.
Important Note: You cannot perform this action directly on your iPad. You need a computer.
- Using iTunes on a Computer (Windows or Older macOS): Open iTunes on your computer. Make sure you are signed in with the Apple ID used to purchase the movie. Click on “Account” in the menu bar and select “View My Account”. You may need to enter your password. Scroll down to the “Purchase History” section and click “See All”. Find the movie you want to hide. Click on the date next to the movie. Locate the specific movie purchase you wish to hide and hover over it. An ‘X’ will appear in the upper-left corner of the movie artwork. Click the “X” to hide the movie. Confirm that you want to hide the purchase.
- Using the Apple TV App on macOS Catalina or Later: Open the Apple TV app on your Mac. Make sure you are signed in with the Apple ID used to purchase the movie. Click on “Account” in the menu bar and select “View My Account”. You may need to enter your password. Scroll down to the “Purchase History” section and click “See All”. Find the movie you want to hide. Click on the date next to the movie. Locate the specific movie purchase you wish to hide and hover over it. An ‘X’ will appear in the upper-left corner of the movie artwork. Click the “X” to hide the movie. Confirm that you want to hide the purchase.
Unhiding Purchased Movies
If you’ve hidden a movie and want to make it visible again in your purchase history, follow these steps on a computer:
- Using iTunes on a Computer (Windows or Older macOS): Open iTunes on your computer. Make sure you are signed in with the Apple ID used to purchase the movie. Click on “Account” in the menu bar and select “View My Account”. You may need to enter your password. Scroll down to the “iTunes in the Cloud” section and click “Manage” next to “Hidden Purchases”. Find the movie you want to unhide. Click “Unhide” below the movie.
- Using the Apple TV App on macOS Catalina or Later: Open the Apple TV app on your Mac. Make sure you are signed in with the Apple ID used to purchase the movie. Click on “Account” in the menu bar and select “View My Account”. You may need to enter your password. Scroll down to the “iTunes in the Cloud” section and click “Manage” next to “Hidden Purchases”. Find the movie you want to unhide. Click “Unhide” below the movie.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will deleting a downloaded movie also delete it from my other devices?
No. Deleting a downloaded movie from your iPad only removes it from that specific device. Your other devices with the same Apple ID will still have the downloaded movie if it was previously downloaded. They will also still have access to download the movie.
2. If I delete a movie, can I re-download it later without paying again?
Yes. As long as the movie is still available on the Apple TV app and you are signed in with the Apple ID you used to purchase it, you can re-download it without any additional cost. It remains tied to your account.
3. What happens if the movie is no longer available on the Apple TV app?
If a movie is removed from the Apple TV app for licensing reasons or other issues, you may not be able to re-download it, even if you purchased it. However, Apple usually provides refunds or alternative solutions in such cases. It’s always best to check your purchase history for any notifications.
4. Does hiding a movie prevent family members from seeing it if I use Family Sharing?
Yes. Hiding a movie will prevent it from appearing in the purchase history of family members who share your purchases through Family Sharing. They will no longer see the movie available for download.
5. How can I quickly check how much storage space movies are taking up on my iPad?
Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage. Allow the storage usage to populate. The Apple TV app (or TV) will display the total amount of storage used by downloaded movies.
6. Is there a way to automatically delete downloaded movies after I’ve watched them?
Unfortunately, no. The Apple TV app does not have a built-in feature to automatically delete downloaded movies after viewing. You need to manually delete them as described above.
7. What’s the difference between renting and buying a movie on the Apple TV app?
Renting a movie gives you a limited time period (usually 30 days to start watching and 48 hours to finish once started) to view it. Buying a movie gives you unlimited access to watch it as many times as you like, as long as it remains available on the Apple TV app.
8. Can I delete a rented movie before the rental period expires?
Yes. The process for deleting a rented movie is the same as deleting a purchased movie. Deleting it simply removes the downloaded file from your iPad. The rental period will still apply, but you can re-download it within the rental timeframe.
9. Can I download movies I’ve purchased onto an external hard drive for backup?
No, you cannot directly download movies purchased from the Apple TV app onto an external hard drive in a playable format. Apple’s DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions prevent this.
10. What happens if I change my Apple ID? Will I still have access to my purchased movies?
If you change your Apple ID, you will lose access to the movies purchased with the old Apple ID. It is crucial to keep your Apple ID credentials safe and remember them.
11. I deleted a movie, but it’s still showing up in my search results. Why?
Sometimes, cached data can cause previously deleted movies to still appear in search results temporarily. Try restarting your iPad or clearing the cache of the Apple TV app to resolve this issue. To clear the cache, delete and reinstall the app.
12. Is there a way to download movies for offline viewing on devices other than my iPad?
Yes, the Apple TV app is available on various Apple devices like iPhones, Macs, and Apple TVs. You can download purchased movies for offline viewing on any device signed in with the same Apple ID. Many smart TVs and streaming devices also support the app.