Are you trying to free storage, remove a purchased movie from view, or delete a title from an Apple TV box? The steps differ. iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows PC can store Apple TV downloads; Apple TV 4K/HD and most smart-TV, streaming-device, and console apps normally stream movies instead of storing Apple TV app downloads. Purchased movies are hidden from the Library rather than erased from your Apple Account purchase history.
First, identify what you want to remove
| Your goal | Correct action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Free space on an iPhone or iPad | Delete the downloaded copy | The local file is removed; the purchase remains available. |
| Free space on a Mac or Windows PC | Delete the download in the Apple TV app | The local copy is removed. A purchased title may be hidden from the Library. |
| Stop a purchased movie appearing in your Library | Hide the purchase on a Mac or PC | It is removed from supported Library views, but the purchase record remains. |
| Remove a movie from Apple TV 4K/HD | Usually no deletion is required | These devices generally stream Apple TV content rather than storing app downloads. |
| Remove an imported video | Delete its Library entry and check the original file | The entry and the source file can be separate. |
| Remove a playlist entry only | Choose Remove from Playlist | The movie stays in the main Library and on the device. |
Apple’s labels and available categories can vary by operating system, app version, country, region, and content type. Apple’s current deletion guidance is available at Apple Support.
Check whether the movie is downloaded
Open the movie in the Apple TV app. A Download icon indicates that a local copy exists. If there is no Download icon, the title is streaming and deleting a file will not free storage. The Downloaded category may be absent when nothing is stored locally; on Windows, it may need to be enabled from the More menu.
Delete a downloaded movie on iPhone or iPad
- Open the Apple TV app.
- Tap Library.
- Tap Downloaded.
- Swipe left on the movie.
- Tap Delete and confirm if asked.
This removes only the downloaded copy from that iPhone or iPad. It does not cancel the purchase or erase it from your Apple Account, so the movie can generally be downloaded again on a supported device. See Apple’s iPhone instructions at Apple Support.
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Delete a downloaded movie on a Mac
- Open the Apple TV app.
- Select Downloaded in the sidebar.
- Move the pointer over the movie.
- Click the More button.
- Choose Delete from Library and confirm.
For a movie purchased from the Apple TV Store, Apple describes this control as hiding the item. For an imported or personally added video, it removes the item from the Apple TV app’s Library. Before deleting an imported title, use Show in Finder to check whether the original video file is still where you expect it. Mac controls are documented in Apple’s TV app guide.
Delete a downloaded movie on Windows PC
- Open the Apple TV app.
- Select Library, then Downloaded.
- If Downloaded is missing, open More and enable it.
- Move the pointer over the movie and click More.
- Choose Delete from Library and confirm.
Deleting a downloaded copy does not remove a purchased movie from your purchase history.
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Hide a purchased movie from the Library
There is no normal Apple workflow for permanently erasing a purchased movie from the Apple Account. Instead, hide it:
- On a Mac or Windows PC, open the Apple TV app.
- Go to Library and locate the purchased movie.
- Open its More menu.
- Select Delete from Library and follow the prompt to hide it.
Hiding removes the title from Library views on devices using the same Apple Account, but the purchase remains in purchase history and can generally be restored through Hidden Purchases or Hidden Items, then Manage and Unhide. A copy already downloaded to another device may remain there and must be removed separately. Apple’s hide and unhide instructions are at Apple Support.
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What to do on Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, or a smart TV
Apple says movies and TV shows cannot be downloaded through the Apple TV app on Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, smart TVs, or other streaming devices. These apps stream purchased content from your Library, so there is normally no local movie file to delete. See Apple’s redownload guidance.
To stop seeing a title, hide the purchase on a Mac or Windows PC. Also verify that the TV device is signed in to the intended Apple Account and that the correct Library or Family Sharing member is selected. The Apple TV app’s Library behavior on televisions, streaming devices, and consoles is described at Apple Support.
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Remove a movie from a playlist without deleting it
- Open the playlist in the Apple TV app on a Mac.
- Open the movie’s More menu.
- Choose Remove from Playlist.
This changes only the playlist. The movie remains in the main Library and on the storage device.
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Purchased movies
A downloaded purchase can be removed locally and downloaded again later. Hiding changes Library visibility, not the purchase record.
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Rentals
A rental leaves the Library automatically when its rental period ends. Apple allows 30 days to begin watching and, once playback starts, 48 hours to finish. Rentals can be downloaded on supported computers and mobile devices, but not on Apple TV, smart TVs, or other streaming devices. Details are in Apple’s rental policy. Deleting a rental does not reset or extend its rental period.
Apple TV+ and Apple TV Channels
Subscription and channel titles are not listed as purchases. Their availability follows the relevant subscription or channel, so hiding a purchase is not the applicable remedy.
Family Sharing
A movie may belong to another family member. On iPhone, check Library › Family Sharing and select the relevant person; similar collections can be selected on Apple TV and other TV devices. Removing a local copy from your device does not affect the owner’s purchase or other devices.
If the Delete option is missing
- Check Library › Downloaded, not only the general Movies or Purchases view.
- Look for the Download icon. Without it, there may be no local copy.
- Confirm that you are signed in to the intended Apple Account.
- If it is a purchased title that remains visible, use the Mac or Windows hide workflow.
- Check whether the title is shown under a Family Sharing member’s Library.
- If the movie was synced by USB from a Mac or PC, turn off computer syncing and sync again.
- For an imported video, verify the original file location before removing the Library entry.
- Restart the device only after checking the account, category, and sync status.
These checks follow Apple’s troubleshooting guidance at Apple Support.
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Can you download the movie again?
After deleting a purchased download, open the Library on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC and download it again, provided the purchase is available in your region and you are using the associated Apple Account. Apple TV 4K/HD, smart TVs, and other streaming devices stream the title instead of downloading it.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
| Device or goal | Path |
|---|---|
| iPhone or iPad download | Library › Downloaded › swipe left › Delete |
| Mac download | Downloaded › More › Delete from Library |
| Windows download | Library › Downloaded › More › Delete from Library |
| Purchased movie from Library | Mac or PC: Delete from Library, then hide it |
| Apple TV 4K or HD | No local Apple TV app movie download normally exists to delete |
| Playlist only | More › Remove from Playlist |
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