This is the most mysterious category. Before Zayn left in March 2015, the band had started experimenting with solo-heavy tracks meant for a scrapped sixth album. These exist only as low-quality voice notes.
Thanks to studio leaks, demo tapes, and songwriting registries (like ASCAP and BMI), we now have a sprawling map of nearly . This article catalogs every known One Direction unreleased track, from legendary demos to songs you can actually find online.
: Platforms like Reddit and Discord servers are active hubs for discovering leaked audio and discussing release rumors. all one direction unreleased songs
: Some tracks, like "Night Changes" and "Story of My Life," have faced legal scrutiny in the past, but unreleased tracks generally remain in legal limbo within the record label's archives.
Written by Ed Sheeran specifically for the band after Zayn’s departure. The lyrics are about a breakup that isn't romantic—it's about losing a brother. The band recorded it, but it was deemed "too raw" and shelved. Louis confirmed its existence in a 2017 tweet (since deleted). This is the most mysterious category
As the band matured, so did their sound. The unreleased tracks from this era lean heavier into rock influences and emotional ballads.
: Many "lost" tracks are uploaded by fans as lyric videos or audio clips, though these are frequently subject to copyright removals. Context of Their Recording Thanks to studio leaks, demo tapes, and songwriting
| Song Title | Session Year | Writers (Known) | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 2015 | Julian Bunetta, Liam Payne | Registered for Made in the A.M. but cut for time. | | "Black or White" | 2014 | Louis Tomlinson, John Ryan | FOUR outtake. Louis called it "too personal" in a 2015 interview. | | "Don't Forget Where You Belong" (Original) | 2013 | Tom Fletcher (McFly), Niall Horan | The Midnight Memories version is a rewrite. The original had a different chorus. | | "Iris" | 2012 | N/A | A studio cover of the Goo Goo Dolls classic, recorded for a scrapped BBC Live Lounge. | | "Just Can't Let Her Go" | 2011 | Savan Kotecha, Carl Falk | Up All Night outtake. Described as "teenage 'Hotel California'." | | "Love to Love You Baby" | 2015 | Harry Styles, Jeff Bhasker | A blues-rock song. Harry reportedly wanted it for HS1 after 1D ended. | | "No Control (Original Arrows Mix)" | 2014 | Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne | A heavier, electric guitar version before it became the fan-favorite pop-punk track. | | "Rock Me (V2)" | 2012 | Ed Sheeran, Jake Gosling | Ed wrote two versions of "Rock Me." The band chose the Queen-inspired one. V2 is a folk ballad. | | "She Got a Man" | 2011 | Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk | An early "enemy to lover" track. Leaked as a 30-second snippet only. | | "Walk of Shame" | 2015 | Jamie Scott, Niall Horan | Made in the A.M. outtake. Niall called it "too honest" in a 2017 podcast. | | "We Are the Brave" | 2013 | Steve Robson, Liam Payne | A charity-single contender that lost to "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)." |