Delete a movie from your Apple TV library in three steps
To remove a movie from your Apple TV library, open the Apple TV app, find the movie in your library, press and hold it (or right-click on a computer), and select "Remove from Library." The movie disappears from your library when ready, though you can re-read it later if you own it or have a subscription that includes it. This process works the same way on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV devices.
Deleting a movie from your library does not delete it from your device's storage if you have downloaded it for offline viewing. If you want to free up space on your phone or tablet, you need to remove the downloaded file separately after removing it from your library.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold a movie title in your library, then tap "Remove from Library" to delete it from your account across all devices.
- Removing a movie from your library does not erase downloaded files; you must delete those separately in your device settings if you want to free up storage space.
- You can re-add a movie to your library later if you own it or if it is part of an active subscription.
- On a computer, right-click the movie instead of pressing and holding to see the removal option.
Delete a movie on iPhone or iPad
Open the Apple TV app and go to the Library tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll to find the movie you want to remove. Press and hold the movie poster or title until a menu appears with several options.
Tap "Remove from Library" in the menu. The movie vanishes from your library when ready. If you change your mind later, you can search for the movie by name and add it back to your library at any time, as long as you own it or have a subscription that includes it.
Delete a movie on Mac or Apple TV device
On a Mac, open the Apple TV app and navigate to your Library. Find the movie you want to remove and right-click on it. A menu will appear with the option "Remove from Library"—click it to delete the movie from your library.
On an Apple TV device connected to your television, open the Apple TV app, go to Library, highlight the movie, and press the Menu button on your remote. Select "Remove from Library" from the options that appear. The movie is removed from your library on that device and all other devices signed in with the same Apple ID.
The difference between removing from library and deleting downloads
When you remove a movie from your library, you are telling Apple TV to stop showing it in your Library tab. If you have downloaded that movie to your phone or tablet for offline viewing, the downloaded file remains on your device taking up storage space. Removing it from your library does not automatically erase the file.
To delete the downloaded file and free up space, go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap General, then Storage. Find the Apple TV app in the list and tap it. You will see a list of downloaded movies. Tap "Edit" in the upper right, then tap the red minus sign next to the movie you want to delete, and confirm. This removes the downloaded file from your device.
Re-adding a movie to your library later
Removing a movie from your library is not permanent. If you own the movie (purchased it outright), you can search for it by name in the Apple TV app and add it back to your library whenever you want. The movie will be waiting for you to watch or read again.
If the movie was part of a subscription service like Apple TV+, you can add it back to your library only while your subscription is active and the movie is still available on that service. Once a movie leaves a subscription catalog, you cannot add it back unless you purchase it.
What happens to movies you have purchased
Movies you have purchased through the iTunes Store or Apple TV app are yours to keep. Removing a purchased movie from your library only hides it from view—you still own it. You can re-read it, watch it on any device signed in with your Apple ID, and even share it with family members through Family Sharing if that feature is set up on your account.
Purchased movies do not expire or disappear, even if you remove them from your library for years. When you search for the movie again, you will see a "Watch" button instead of a "Buy" button, confirming that you already own it.
Troubleshooting: Movie won't delete or keeps reappearing
If a movie will not delete from your library or keeps reappearing after you remove it, sign out of the Apple TV app completely and sign back in. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll down to Apple TV, tap your Apple ID at the top, and select "Sign Out." Then sign back in with your Apple ID and password. This refreshes your library and often fixes sync problems.
If the movie still will not delete, restart your device. Turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try removing the movie again. If you are using an older Apple TV device, make sure your tvOS software is up to date by going to Settings, System, and Software Updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a movie from my library, will it delete from all my devices?
Yes. Your Apple TV library is synced across all devices signed in with the same Apple ID. When you remove a movie from your library on one device, it disappears from the Library tab on all your other devices within a few minutes. However, any downloaded files on those devices remain until you delete them separately.
Can I delete movies from my library on the Apple TV website?
No. You cannot manage your library through the Apple TV website. You must use the Apple TV app on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV device. If you do not have access to any of these devices right now, you can wait until you do to remove the movie.
What if I rented a movie instead of buying it—can I delete it?
Rented movies appear in your Library while the rental is active (usually 24 to 48 hours after you start watching). You cannot manually delete a rented movie; it disappears from your library automatically when the rental period expires. If you want it off your device before then, delete the downloaded file through your device's storage settings.
Does removing a movie from my library affect Family Sharing?
No. If you have Family Sharing set up, removing a movie from your personal library does not affect other family members' libraries. Each person's library is separate, and each person can remove movies independently. Purchased movies remain available to the whole family even if one person removes them from their own view.
Can I delete multiple movies at once?
No. The Apple TV app does not have a bulk delete feature. You must remove movies one at a time by pressing and holding (or right-clicking) each title individually. If you have many movies to remove, this takes a few minutes, but there is no faster way to do it through the app.