'How to remove U2 album' Google search takes off

Apple CEO Tim Cook greets Bono from the band U2 after they performed at the end of an Apple event in California. Photo/AP

Angry Apple customers have taken to social media to complain about digital violation after millions of copies of U2's new album were downloaded on to people's devices without their permission.

Songs of Innocence, U2's 13th album, was released, free, on Wednesday to help promote the launch of Apple's next-gen hardware.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal cost Apple US$100 million ($123 million).

The album is set to be followed up by a second, called Songs of Experience.

"If you like Songs of Innocence, stay with us for Songs of Experience. It should be ready soon enough," Bono said this week in a statement after the release of the spam album.

But some Apple users are not happy about the company's decision to download the album to their devices.

One of the most-searched Google phrases last week was "How to remove U2 album".

The topic was also a hot discussion trend in forums, including Apple's own Support Community.

Many took their gripes to Twitter:

Apple has force-fed U2 songs into my iPhone. I feel violated.

— Laurie Lipton (@laurielipton) September 14, 2014

Thanks apple for giving me a whole U2 album that I neither asked for nor wanted and that I don't know how to get rid of it

— Emma Hughes (@ItsEmmaHughes) September 13, 2014

The free U2 album is fine but Apple would have really impressed me if they had convinced Dr. Dre to finish his last album and give that away

— Matt Mueller (@MMleDiga) September 14, 2014

How to remove Songs of Innocence from your iPhone

Firstly, the album has been distributed to iTunes users via iCloud - which means it'll show up in your library but unless you've got auto-downloads turned on, it won't actually be stored locally on your computer or iPhone.

If when you navigate to the album you see little cloud icons with download arrows by every song, then you haven't downloaded it. If those icons aren't there, swipe left on each song and click the big red delete button.

Now, however, you need to hide the album from iTunes (yes, even if you've just deleted it). To do this you need to open up iTunes on a computer, log into your account, find the album, hover over the cover and then click the X in the top left.

If it keeps on re-appearing then you need to turn off auto-downloads. You can do this from your computer or from your iPhone - just navigate to settings, scroll down to iTunes & App Store, then turn off automatic downloads. There: all done.

And for non-Apple users who also want to delete some U2? Well, you'll have to wait until Songs of Innocence goes on general release on October 13, buy the thing, then delete it, just so you don't feel left out.

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- Agencies