Deleting Phantom Books in iTunes

Jwt0001 · 08-28-2014, 08:52 AM

I hope this is the correct forum. I have had no luck getting an answer in the Apple Support Forums.

I have 580 books appearing in my iTunes library when I go to sync my iPad. However, these books don't really exist! I deleted them, but can't delete them from my sync screen. I have attached a screenshot that shows this.

At one point, I had a weblink that discussed this issue, but can't find it now. Can anyone point me in the correct direction?

My only other thought is to create a new iTunes library and move things over, but that seems way to time consuming for something that should be easy.

Thanks!
Joel

pwalker8 · 08-28-2014, 09:37 AM

Are the books in iTunes or iBooks? Also, Is this on a mac or pc?

Jwt0001 · 08-28-2014, 11:30 AM

They don't exist anymore. I deleted them, but the listings won't disappear in iTunes when I sync my iPad. They don't appear in iBooks or in my iTunes library anywhere else.

I hope this makes sense.

pwalker8 · 08-28-2014, 12:02 PM

Is the a mac or a pc? The reason that I'm asking is that ebooks were recently moved out of iTunes on the mac and into iBooks on the mac. It still shows up when you sync, but the actual books are in iBooks for the mac. Does you iTunes still have a page of ebooks even when the iPad is not connected? If you are using a pc, then I'm not sure what is going on.

Jwt0001 · 08-28-2014, 12:46 PM

It's a Mac, sorry.

I know about the split. There are currently no books in my iBooks library on my computer. In theory, there should be no books in my iTunes library for syncing either. The books don't actually exist. If I attempt to sync one, nothing is sent to the iPad, since they don't really exist. I also don't get an error message.

pwalker8 · 08-28-2014, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jwt0001

It's a Mac, sorry.

I know about the split. There are currently no books in my iBooks library on my computer. In theory, there should be no books in my iTunes library for syncing either. The books don't actually exist. If I attempt to sync one, nothing is sent to the iPad, since they don't really exist. I also don't get an error message.

Try resettting your warnings and clear your cache in iTunes and reset your warnings in ibooks. If that doesn't work, try organizing your content in iTunes. Did you move the location of your iTunes library recently?

Jessica Lares · 08-28-2014, 09:57 PM

You might have to delete the iBooks app itself on the iPad.

kyteflyer · 08-29-2014, 06:09 PM

You can delete from your iPad, not itunes. Go into iBooks, choose edit, select all, Delete. Worked for me.

The problem is that every book you ever downloaded will always be available to you in the book store. Until the last ibooks update you were stuck with those being listed. Now, you arent. You're not deleting them from your account, just deleting reference to them on your iPad (and thus, itunes)

Jwt0001 · 08-30-2014, 10:49 AM

I don't even have iBooks currently installed on my iPad.

pwalker8 · 08-31-2014, 10:54 AM

Not sure what to tell you then. Sorry that I couldn't help.

Jwt0001 · 08-31-2014, 12:24 PM

No worries. I finally just created a new iTunes library and moved all the other libraries over. I then restored my iPad and the phantom books are now gone.

Clearly some sort of bug, but at least a found a solution.

Thanks all for your suggestions!

Fluribus · 09-01-2014, 08:31 PM

If what was happening was what I think it was.... Then what you could have done was go into iTunes on your computer. Go to purchased. Click on the Books tab. Tap on the little x on the corner of the icon to make it disappear.

The stuff wouldn't be deleted, it would be hidden. Apple doesn't want you to delete anything.

hellen0125 · 03-11-2015, 08:56 PM

Hi

I have the same problem and am unable to find a solution. Some of my books appear on iBooks as multiple gray copies. I am unable to open them and delete them. When once I deleted one book via syncing with iTunes, as soon as I tried to download it, same problem happened. I would appreciate any advice that can help me.

Thank you

dilo_sec · 08-05-2016, 08:36 AM

This is an old thread, but I have a working solution - so hope this helps someone ...

DO NOT CONNECT DEVICE (e.g. iPad) TO COMPUTER
Start iTunes - I am using latest 12.4.1.6 on Windows 7
Just under the System Menu, if it shows Music, click on it for dropdown menu, then select Books
If Books is not listed, click on Edit Menu... and tick the Books item, click Done, then select Books
Under Library, click on Books or PDFs, then on right-hand side select one or more books, right-click and Delete

DS

08-28-2014, 08:52 AM	#1
Jwt0001 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Ipad	Deleting Phantom Books in iTunes I hope this is the correct forum. I have had no luck getting an answer in the Apple Support Forums. I have 580 books appearing in my iTunes library when I go to sync my iPad. However, these books don't really exist! I deleted them, but can't delete them from my sync screen. I have attached a screenshot that shows this. At one point, I had a weblink that discussed this issue, but can't find it now. Can anyone point me in the correct direction? My only other thought is to create a new iTunes library and move things over, but that seems way to time consuming for something that should be easy. Thanks! Joel Attached Thumbnails

08-29-2014, 06:09 PM	#8
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,844 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone 12 Mini	You can delete from your iPad, not itunes. Go into iBooks, choose edit, select all, Delete. Worked for me. The problem is that every book you ever downloaded will always be available to you in the book store. Until the last ibooks update you were stuck with those being listed. Now, you arent. You're not deleting them from your account, just deleting reference to them on your iPad (and thus, itunes) Last edited by kyteflyer; 08-29-2014 at 06:11 PM.

08-05-2016, 08:36 AM	#14
dilo_sec Member Posts: 21 Karma: 244219 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: K3	This is an old thread, but I have a working solution - so hope this helps someone ... DO NOT CONNECT DEVICE (e.g. iPad) TO COMPUTER Start iTunes - I am using latest 12.4.1.6 on Windows 7 Just under the System Menu, if it shows Music, click on it for dropdown menu, then select Books If Books is not listed, click on Edit Menu... and tick the Books item, click Done, then select Books Under Library, click on Books or PDFs, then on right-hand side select one or more books, right-click and Delete DS Last edited by dilo_sec; 08-05-2016 at 08:37 AM. Reason: typo.

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08-28-2014, 09:37 AM	#2
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Are the books in iTunes or iBooks? Also, Is this on a mac or pc?

08-28-2014, 11:30 AM	#3
Jwt0001 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Ipad	They don't exist anymore. I deleted them, but the listings won't disappear in iTunes when I sync my iPad. They don't appear in iBooks or in my iTunes library anywhere else. I hope this makes sense.

08-28-2014, 12:02 PM	#4
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Is the a mac or a pc? The reason that I'm asking is that ebooks were recently moved out of iTunes on the mac and into iBooks on the mac. It still shows up when you sync, but the actual books are in iBooks for the mac. Does you iTunes still have a page of ebooks even when the iPad is not connected? If you are using a pc, then I'm not sure what is going on.

08-28-2014, 12:46 PM	#5
Jwt0001 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Ipad	It's a Mac, sorry. I know about the split. There are currently no books in my iBooks library on my computer. In theory, there should be no books in my iTunes library for syncing either. The books don't actually exist. If I attempt to sync one, nothing is sent to the iPad, since they don't really exist. I also don't get an error message.

08-28-2014, 09:57 PM	#7
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	You might have to delete the iBooks app itself on the iPad.

08-30-2014, 10:49 AM	#9
Jwt0001 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Ipad	I don't even have iBooks currently installed on my iPad.

08-31-2014, 10:54 AM	#10
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Not sure what to tell you then. Sorry that I couldn't help.

08-31-2014, 12:24 PM	#11
Jwt0001 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Ipad	No worries. I finally just created a new iTunes library and moved all the other libraries over. I then restored my iPad and the phantom books are now gone. Clearly some sort of bug, but at least a found a solution. Thanks all for your suggestions!

09-01-2014, 08:31 PM	#12
Fluribus Guru Posts: 891 Karma: 8893661 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	If what was happening was what I think it was.... Then what you could have done was go into iTunes on your computer. Go to purchased. Click on the Books tab. Tap on the little x on the corner of the icon to make it disappear. The stuff wouldn't be deleted, it would be hidden. Apple doesn't want you to delete anything.

03-11-2015, 08:56 PM	#13
hellen0125 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: iPad	Hi I have the same problem and am unable to find a solution. Some of my books appear on iBooks as multiple gray copies. I am unable to open them and delete them. When once I deleted one book via syncing with iTunes, as soon as I tried to download it, same problem happened. I would appreciate any advice that can help me. Thank you

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