How To Erase Songs from Your iPod

No matter how large the capacity of your iPod is, there will come a time when you will have to free up some space by deleting songs or playlists. To do so, you need several items:

• Your iPod 
• A USB connector or iPod dock.
• Your own iTunes software - this will be your main interface to edit your iPod.

You need to connect your iPod to the computer to erase the data, using iTunes, and revise your iPod.  Note that the iPod is not designed to have songs or playlists deleted manually without a computer.

Deleting songs or playlists can be done automatically or manually. The method you use depends on the preferences that you have set in iTunes. 

To automatically delete songs or playlists from your iPod:

• Set your iPod to sync all music with iTunes, which is the default setting.
• What you do to your iTunes library also happens to your iPod. Songs or playlists added to or removed from the library will also be added to or removed from your iPod when it is connected to the computer.

To manually delete playlists/songs on your iPod:

• Connect your iPod to your computer, and then open iTunes.
• In the source list, choose iPod.
• Choose the song or playlist that you want to delete.
• You may also choose multiple songs or playlists. Then, go to the "Edit" menu and choose "Clear", or press the "Delete" button on your keyboard.
• If a dialog box appears, press "Yes" to confirm deletion of file.
• The song or playlist will then be removed from your iPod. Some versions of iTunes will give you the option of removing the file only from your iPod or from your iTunes library as well.
• Deleting a song from a playlist will not remove it from your iPod. You will have to choose iPod in the source list and find the song that you would like to delete.

Do not format your iPod as a way to erase songs or playlists.  Also, using any disk utility programs (such as Disk Utility or Drive Setup) to erase any data in your iPod is unwise. Doing this can hinder your iPod's music playing capabilities, and you may have to revise or reset your iPod to make it work properly again.

To reset an iPod with Scroll Wheel, Touch Wheel, or Circle Wheel, connect your iPod to the power adaptor and plug it into an outlet. You may also connect your iPod to Mac's built-in FireWire port. Then, press the Hold switch on and off. Next, press and hold the Play button and the Menu button for about 6 to 10 seconds, until the Apple logo can be seen on the screen.

To reset an iPod with Click Wheel, press the Hold switch on and off. Then, press and hold the Menu and Select buttons for 6 to 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears on the display screen.

With all these tips, your iPod will surely have lots of free space and work like new.