TL;DR: In case your iTunes or Music app is filled with duplicates, right here’s what to do:
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Lately, my Mac began working low on storage. I noticed that my iTunes and Music apps had develop into a multitude of duplicate songs. So, I made a decision to do away with these pointless information on my own. Let me present you ways I backed up my library, used the iTunes built-in options to identify the duplicates, and manually eliminated the extras, protecting solely the most effective track variations.
Easy methods to clear up iTunes Library?
It’s simply as straightforward for duplicate tracks to sneak into your Music library right this moment. Perhaps you ripped the identical CD twice, otherwise you used iCloud Music Library (previously iTunes Match) to sync throughout units and ended up with mismatched copies. You may also have the identical track in its authentic album and on a “Biggest Hits” compilation, plus studio, dwell, demo, or remix variations all aspect by aspect — one thing solely true completists want.
In 2025, cleansing up your “iTunes Library” merely means tidying your Music app’s library: click on File within the menu bar > Library > Present Duplicate Gadgets (and its “Present Precise Duplicates” filter) or a devoted cleanup software to maintain solely the variations you actually need.
Easy methods to again up your music on Mac?
Earlier than you go about deleting something, it’s important to create a complete backup to retailer elsewhere (e.g., an exterior exhausting drive). Because you wish to delete duplicates in iTunes, with the identical title, it’s attainable you would possibly get blended up and do away with one thing worthwhile. So, having a correct and well timed backup is paramount.
To create a handbook backup:
- Give up the Music app so no information are in use.
- Open Finder, click on Go > Go to Folder.
- Sort Music (that is your library folder).
- Copy your complete Music folder (or simply the “Media” folder inside it) to your exterior drive.
- As soon as the copy finishes, confirm that the information are all there on the exterior drive.
Merely backup your iTunes folder with Get Backup Professional
Get Backup Professional is an ultra-reliable backup app that allows you to save chosen information (not your complete drive) at any time or on a preset schedule. You possibly can select from easy copy, clone, incremental, or versioned backups, and even synchronize your Macs, for instance, you probably have a laptop computer at residence and a desktop one at work.
- Obtain and set up the Get Backup Professional app.
- Click on the Backup tab.
- Click on the plus (+) icon to create a brand new challenge > Enter the identify > OK.
- Select the backup vacation spot > OK.
- Drag and drop the iTunes (Music) folder into Get Backup Professional
- Click on the play button to begin the backup.

Easy methods to discover duplicates in iTunes and Music?
As soon as you understand {that a} backup of your information is safely saved elsewhere, you can begin to discover all of the methods delete a number of songs on iTunes. First, notice that there could possibly be plenty of songs and albums in iTunes (or Music) that aren’t truly downloaded to your Mac however slightly exist in a cloud library — you’ll be able to nonetheless play them anytime you could have an web connection, though they don’t take up house in your Mac.
So, for the iTunes (Music) delete duplicates operate to work correctly, you’ll want to exclude the whole lot that’s not downloaded in your Mac. Click on View within the menu bar > Solely Downloaded Music.
Subsequent, you’ll be able to present duplicates in music information:
- With iTunes (Music) open, click on File within the menu bar.
- Select Library > Present Duplicate Gadgets.
Kind the outcomes by Identify if you happen to’d wish to see all of the duplicate songs or by Album. Watch out to not simply merely choose and delete all the outcomes — simply take away these variations you don’t wish to preserve. Additionally, if you happen to delete one thing you got digitally from iTunes, you’ll nonetheless be capable to re-download it later.
ObserveRegardless that iTunes (Music)’s discover duplicates possibility exhibits tracks with the identical title by the identical artist, they may nonetheless be totally different variations (e.g., studio vs. dwell) from totally different albums, so don’t overlook to verify the track’s size. |
Handbook strategies to take away duplicates in iTunes and Music app
Relying on how closely you hearken to music and for the way lengthy you’ve been accumulating your digital music library, your duplicate track depend may range between just a few and some hundred.
However use the iTunes duplicate remover function? And which songs do you delete? Listed below are just a few concepts (your standards would possibly range):
- Proper-click the column header and select Performs.
- Preserve the model with extra performs.
- Examine scores and preserve the higher-rated track.
- Evaluate track lengths — preserve the one you favor.
- Examine the Bit Price and preserve the higher-quality model.
- Click on the track you wish to take away.
- Press Delete in your keyboard, then click on Delete Music.
- To delete many without delay, maintain Command and click on the songs, then press Delete.
Easy methods to delete iTunes library duplicates on iPhone and iPad?
After you clear up the iTunes (Music) library on Mac, you would possibly surprise take away duplicates in iTunes on iPhone and iPad, since they don’t have an iTunes present duplicates.
The excellent news is that if you happen to delete the whole lot you don’t want in your Mac, it is going to routinely disappear throughout all of your units. To ensure, go to the Music app > Settings and see if Sync Library is chosen.
Nonetheless, in case your library doesn’t sync and also you simply need iTunes to delete duplicates on iOS, you are able to do so in two methods:
- Discover a track you wish to delete.
- Faucet and maintain it.
- Faucet Take away.
One other method is to go to Settings in your iPhone:
- Open Settings > Apps > Music.
- Faucet Downloaded Music > Edit
- Shortly delete any downloaded track. > Finished.

Easy methods to delete duplicates in iTunes routinely
You would possibly’ve seen that almost all choices introduced above name to get iTunes take away duplicates manually. That could possibly be high quality if you happen to solely have a dozen or so songs to delete, however what you probably have a whole bunch? You really want an automatic resolution.
Gemini is a small however highly effective duplicate finder that’s capable of scan any folder in your Mac in seconds and output not solely full clones but in addition equally trying information and do away with them in seconds. It presents an excellent resolution in relation to movies, images, and songs.
To make use of Gemini:
- Drop your iTunes (Music) folder proper onto the app.
- Click on Scan for Duplicates > Evaluation Duplicates.
- See by means of all the outcomes, choose something you don’t want, and click on Take away.

Easy methods to stop future duplicates in Apple Music?
Duplicate songs in your Apple Music library trigger syncing errors, take up extra space, and muddle your playlists. Fortuitously, listed here are a few of the preventive steps I comply with to stop future duplicates in Apple Music:
Allow the Preserve Music Media folder organized function:
- Go to the Music app in your Mac.
- Click on Music > Settings, then click on Information.
- Choose Preserve Music Media folder organized.
- Additionally, choose Copy information to Music Media folder when including to library.

Forestall syncing the identical playlists from a number of units:
- Go to the Apple Music app in your Mac.
- Click on Music > Settings, click on Basic.
- Choose Sync Library for the first music administration machine.
- Deselect Sync Library in your secondary units.
Disable computerized downloads of previous purchases:
- Go to the Apple Music app in your Mac.
- Click on Music > Settings, then click on Basic.
- Deselect Computerized Downloads to stop beforehand bought songs from downloading routinely.
Easy methods to make each track sound higher
By now, it’s best to’ve already reviewed your iTunes music library and freed your Mac’s house of any duplicate information. And with Gemini, it solely takes seconds. You would possibly surprise what another straightforward wins you’ll be able to rating with a little bit of software program assist?
Growth 3D is a necessary music equalizer app you by no means knew you wanted. First, it does good any audio system you employ to the precise music you’re taking part in. Second, it means that you can enhance the quantity past what your Mac is usually able to, creating an ambiance that actually fills the entire room.

Finest practices earlier than eradicating duplicate songs
The next are just a few issues to remember earlier than eradicating duplicate songs from iTunes and different music apps:
- Evaluate play counts: I checked the track model that performed essentially the most and deleted the opposite duplicated variations within the library that had fewer performs.
- Examine the bit price: I checked the track’s bit price, which is measured as 128 kbps vs. 256 kbps. I made certain to maintain the songs with the upper bit price and deleted the duplicate ones with decrease sound high quality.
- Search for variations — dwell vs. studio variations: I discovered duplicates of the identical track in numerous variations throughout my iTunes library and different music apps. I made a decision which model to maintain and which one to delete to release house.
Why duplicate songs seem in iTunes or Music app?
The widespread errors I made, which ended up in so many duplicates in iTunes and the Music app, have been:
- I imported the identical CD a number of instances, particularly once I ripped music manually.
- I seen that iCloud Music Library (ex iTunes Match) syncing errors brought on tracks to be uploaded or matched wrongly throughout my units.
- I downloaded the identical track from iTunes and Apple Music in addition to from different sources.
- I obtained a number of copies of the identical track by means of totally different recordings, together with studio variations, dwell performances, demos, and remixes.
- Playlist synchronization duplicated songs greater than as soon as.
Duplicate songs in iTunes and Music app: Closing phrases
Eradicating duplicate songs within the iTunes or Music app in your Mac provides your music library a refresh. I utilized handbook strategies resembling utilizing the built-in Present Duplicate Gadgets function, checking play counts, and evaluating bit charges or variations to maintain solely the tracks that matter most. I additionally backed up the library and arranged the media folder to stop future muddle. You may get apps like Get Backup Professional for protected backups and Gemini for fast duplicate detection on Setapp. It affords entry to 260+ premium Mac and iOS apps, all underneath one subscription. Begin with a 7-day free trial and uncover different apps to enhance each facet of your Mac expertise.
FAQ
Easy methods to mass delete duplicate songs in iTunes?
To mass delete duplicate songs in iTunes (Music):
- Click on iTunes (Music) within the menu bar > Present Duplicate Gadgets.
- Choose a number of songs by holding Command on Mac.
- Press Delete.
How do I cease duplicate songs in iTunes?
To cease duplicate songs in iTunes, select Preserve iTunes Media folder organized in Music > Settings. Additionally, keep away from syncing the identical playlists throughout units and disable computerized downloads for purchases.
Easy methods to take away duplicate Music on iPhone?
To take away duplicate music on iPhone, select Settings > Apps > Music > Downloaded Music or go on to the Music app, maintain the observe, and faucet Take away.
How do I delete a number of songs on iTunes?
To delete a number of songs on iTunes, maintain Command on a Mac to pick out a number of tracks, then press Delete and ensure deletion.