Apple has introduced a one-button tool to remove the U2 album it gifted to customers, following a ­backlash from iTunes account holders.

At the iPhone maker's live event last week, CEO Tim Cook announced that all 500 million of Apple's iTunes customers would receive a free copy of the Irish band's new album, Songs of Innocence, five weeks ahead of its release in October.

The release, which saw the album pushed to users' iCloud accounts, left many feeling as though the album had been forced upon them by Apple. Thousands took to social media looking for ways to remove the album, with options not immediately obvious.

The introduction of the removal option comes as company senior vice ­president Eddy Cue announced that 33 million iTunes users had so far accessed the album.

Mr Cue called the number record-breaking, but did not elaborate.