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Removing podcasts from iTunes

Hi Gary, I subscribed to a lot of podcasts. Once I have watched or listened to them I want them to automatically delete from my iMac, but I can’t figure out how to do it. I did find this on the Apple help site, and I followed the directions, but they are still there.
Keep podcasts forever (or just for a day).
It’s easy to tell iTunes how long to keep podcasts in your library. When browsing the podcasts you’ve downloaded, you’ll see a Settings button at the bottom of the jukebox window. Click it, and iTunes takes you right to the podcasts tab of the iTunes Preferences dialog. See the “Keep:” drop-down menu? It lets you decide exactly how long to keep podcasts, helping you keep your library neat and tidy.

I have also made sure that the auto delete is shown but they won’t disappear do you have any suggestions?

— Ross Craig

Comments: 10 Responses to “Removing podcasts from iTunes”

    14 years ago

    Is this what you have done:
    Go to the podcasts section of iTunes. Not the podcasts section of the iTunes store, but the one that shows just the podcasts you have.
    Press the settings button at the bottom.
    Selecting "Settings For" and set to either Podcast Default or a specific podcast.
    Then select the "Episodes to Keep" and set it to what you want.
    So if you select "Last 3 Episodes" it should keep 3 episodes of each podcast. It won't delete any until it has 3, and a 4th new one is available.
    Now, if you selected "Settings For" Podcast Default, keep in mind that you can also have settings for individual podcasts. So your default may be Last 3 Episodes, but if the settings for MacAnswers podcast is Last 5 Episodes then that overrides the default for that one podcast.

    Ross Craig
    14 years ago

    Yes, I have gone to the podcast section iTunes and not the store. I have gone to settings and selected to keep all unplayed podcasts, but it still shows a total of 50, and about 30 unwatched. Just a pain to manually delete them.

      14 years ago

      How about if you set the default to be "All unplayed episodes" -- does it then delete the ones you have listened to?
      Or, consider -- why manually delete them at all? They shouldn't take up much space in the larger picture. If you have it set to only keep, say, 3, then why worry about it. I have about 100 episodes (30 or so podcasts, 3 each) in my library.

    Ross Craig
    14 years ago

    I have it as all unplayed as the default and it won't delete them. I subscribe to a lot of podcasts and quite a few are video. I have over 8 gigs on my hard drive and if I don't delete them then this number continues to grow. I just figured you would have an answer. Thanks for your suggestions.

      14 years ago

      Perhaps what is happening is that you are not watching them to the end? In that case, the video remains as "unplayed." After all, it appears as if you haven't finished watching them to your Mac. Try the "3 recent episodes" setting instead. Or, just get in the habit of cleaning out episodes every once in a while.
      8 gigs isn't a lot -- but it depends on how you look it it, I guess.

      Ken
      14 years ago

      try right clicking on the podcast, and selecting "Allow Auto Delete"

    Al
    13 years ago

    There is no settings button at the bottom of the screen and allow delete is not an option when right clicking the podcast. Is there any other way to delete them?

      13 years ago

      Perhaps you are in the wrong place. You need to be in the Podcasts section in your Library, not the Podcasts section of the iTune store. The Settings button is there.

    Joel Bowler
    12 years ago

    Guys, was also looking into this. For fairly efficient deletes try putting podcasts in grid view in iTunes and select categories - pretty quick for trashing a heap of casts you longer want.

    Also check out Cast away program for setting podcast delete dates. Haven't tried it myself yet so can't review in this note - good luck

    Boris
    11 years ago

    Go to your podcasts in iTunes. For all enable "download all episodes", "all unplayed episodes" to keep. Then select all podcasts and hit righclick update podcasts. It will update podcasts and removed played episodes. If not, the next time the update podcasts is set to occur it will remove the played podcasts. Works for me.

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