How to redirect Music to use an external SSD on Mac Studio?

I was using a 2TB drive on my last Mac to play my songs with Music. How do I import the songs into Music but leave the actual files on the external drive?

I tried settings>files but its not actually importing anything in Music.

Mac Studio

Posted on Aug 2, 2023 6:32 PM

Similar questions

How do I make the Apple Music work on my iMac with all media files on an external SSD? My 2020 iMac is running out of storage space, so I bought an external SSD, intending to offload some big files from the iMac to the SSD. After reading several articles about how to move my music files to an external drive, I am not there yet. I screwed up, and after multiple tries, somehow there are duplicate copies of all my songs on the external SSD. I'd like to start over and do it right this time. Does anyone know where I can find clear, step-by-step instructions how to make this work? I am presently running Sequoia (15.6.1) and Music 1.5.6, but before that, I had iTunes, so my Music folder is kind of a mess. Q1. Where should the file named "Music Library.musiclibrary" be located? Should it stay on the iMac or be located on the external SSD? And in what folder, subfolder, etc.?
885 7
Moving Music from Macintosh HD to external SSD, while preserving all playlists and metadata. I found various websites telling me how I could move my music from the MUSIC folder on my Macintosh HD to an external SSD in order to free up valuable space, while preserving all playlists and metadata. My Macintosh HD is full! Unfortunately, I tried their suggestions, and nothing worked. All my songs were purchased, ripped from CDs, or recorded myself (I am a musician), and are located in a single folder (Music/New Sound Files). Even after changing the Music Media Folder location in Apple Music to the external SSD, Apple Music did not copy the songs to the external drive (as one website said it would do). After manually copying the songs myself and changing the Music Media Folder location Apple Music still points to the Macintosh HD to find the songs in my library. I tried to get help from Apple directly, both in a chat and a phone call, and they said it could not be done. They told me Apple requires the songs to be stored on the internal Macintosh HD.
3122 4
How can I move some music files to external HD on macOS Sequoia? my mac Sequoia has a lot of folders and files und the Music Folder, see attached jpg. some are under itunes etc. Is this a mess that can be fixed by deleting some of these files/renaming or whatever. [Edited by Moderator] Original Title: I want to move music to external hd,
364 2

1 reply

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

750,785 points

Aug 2, 2023 7:27 PM in response to axolotyls

Launch Music with the Option key held down and choose the library on that drive. If it doesn't contain the database files, create a new one and drag the songs into the application window.

(242686)

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to redirect Music to use an external SSD on Mac Studio?

Welcome to Apple Support Community

A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.

Learn more Sign up