Cut Apple Music iPhone Storage Usage in Minutes – Here's How - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Cut Apple Music iPhone Storage Usage in Minutes – Here's How

by

As an Apple Music subscriber, you're able to download songs, playlists, and albums from the Apple Music catalog to your iPhone or iPad for offline listening, but this can gradually eat up your device's storage space over time.

pin apple music app ios
Fortunately the Music app includes a handy feature that can spring into action whenever your device's storage space runs low, and automatically offload songs you haven't played for a while in order to make space for newer ones.

It's called Optimized Storage, and here's how you can enable it.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down to the apps list and select Music.
  3. Under Downloads, tap Optimized Storage.
    settings

  4. Toggle the Optimized Storage switch to the "on" position so that it shows green.
  5. Choose a minimum storage amount that you want to keep for music before downloaded songs start being removed from your device.

You can also monitor storage space by turning off automatic downloads and making sure to download new songs manually when needed. There's also an option to remove downloaded songs one by one from the Apple Music app if you prefer not to have songs offloaded by Apple automatically.

Top Rated Comments

SFjohn Avatar
26 weeks ago
I had the opportunity to have 3 free months of Apple Music due to a recent purchase, I passed on it. I have all the music I want ~40,000 songs ripped from CDs. I also have a few SACD that I cherish. 👍🏻
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
burgman Avatar
26 weeks ago

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one that feels offline music is the way to go. I never understood going to streaming only.

Knappeduivel: I feel the same way about the Apple ecosystem. And thanks for introducing me to Swinsian. I'll have to check that out.
I don't understand wanting to own music these days. Back in the day before high quality streaming ok. If people get enjoyment from owning vinyl or even tape again ok. I have a medium sized library that I hardly ever listen to. I use YouTube music, nothing comes close to their catalog of one off performances , official band videos, concert videos, etc. With Premium subscription it's great. The algorithm works well for casual listening. Only issue is sound quality isn't the best but the tradeoff is worth it to me.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
repoman016 Avatar
26 weeks ago

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one that feels offline music is the way to go. I never understood going to streaming only.

Knappeduivel: I feel the same way about the Apple ecosystem. And thanks for introducing me to Swinsian. I'll have to check that out.
Maybe I can help. I prefer streaming because if I'm ever going to be offline, I can download the songs to play them offline. It doesn't require learning any new programs, manipulating files, downloading software.. nothing. Its simple. When I was younger offline was my jam, but now that I'm older, I just dont have the time/energy to scour the web to find a song i wanna download, then try to learn how to get them on to my phone wether it be iTunes or a different software. Back in the day you used to find songs that had some of the DJ in the intro still lol. I'm sure this isnt the case now, but just my perspective. It's also nice being able to stream from any device. I can listen from my phone, or log into my TV and listen through my stereo. Listen via my iPad. Doesn't require me to set up a home server and play music from there which is another hobby to learn in itself
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jakebrosy Avatar
26 weeks ago
I guess we're old-school. We tried Apple Music but could never get it to play the music we wanted to listen to. It's like there's some agreement that I have to have a Kanye West song and a Taylor Swift song every 20 minutes...and don't get me started on George Michael's Last Christmas!

We repurposed a retired 512gb iPhone 13 as a storage device connected to our "sound system" (really 2 bookshelf speakers-we are decidedly low tech on that front) and pushed most of our music (29k+ songs) onto it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iamgalt Avatar
26 weeks ago

But my eventual plan is to cancel my $10/m plan and revert BACK to old-school offline music

Agree, offline is the way to go. I maintain a paid streaming acount (currently Tidal since it is better) but my main focus is my offline music since there is no way to build a proper collection online. Single stars as a rating, playlists and maps ar just noit good enough. Swinsian is my music player because it is better than iTunes in its best days. I use Apple Music (the app) mainly to get music on my Phone.
Sad, I used to feel at home in the Apple ecosystem but at this point I am drifting away.
Glad to hear that I'm not the only one that feels offline music is the way to go. I never understood going to streaming only.

Knappeduivel: I feel the same way about the Apple ecosystem. And thanks for introducing me to Swinsian. I'll have to check that out.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rachid Vàzquez Avatar
26 weeks ago
This option has never worked properly. Even with a storage threshold set, you’ll still need to delete your music manually.

(I’m sure many people have experienced the same issue for years.)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apple music

Apple Music Now Costs $11.99 as Apple Increases Subscription Prices

Friday July 17, 2026 11:25 am PDT by
Apple today increased the price of Apple Music and some Apple One subscription bundles. An individual Apple Music subscription is now $1 more expensive in the United States, going from $10.99 to $11.99 per month. Pricing on the Apple Music Family plan increased by $3, increasing from $16.99 to $19.99. Student pricing is up $1, with the plan now priced at $6.99. The price of the individual ...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Feature

'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30 am PDT by
Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during the term, ...