How do I use an external drive music folder with Music ?
Is it possible for the Music program to use a folder from an external drive for the music folder with the library in it?
How do I set up Music using an external drive music folder ?
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Is it possible for the Music program to use a folder from an external drive for the music folder with the library in it?
How do I set up Music using an external drive music folder ?
1freedom1 wrote:
Is it possible for anyone to understand that I'm asking for the music folder for the music program to be on an external drive instead of the desktop ?
Freedom,
Please refer to the classic guide by @turingtest2 on that topic:
Make a split library portable - Apple Community
1freedom1 Said:
"How do I use an external drive music folder with Music ?: Is it possible for the Music program to use a folder from an external drive for the music folder with the library in it? How do I set up Music using an external drive music folder ?"
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Adding Home Music to Music App:
Links to Use:
1freedom1 Said:
"How do I use an external drive music folder with Music ?: How do I change the HD music file that is on the Mac to a music folder that is on the external drive?"
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I read your post the other way.
Exporting iTunes Library to Hard Drive:
Does thaqt put that copy files to my computers hard drive ?
You do understand I'm asking how to make a folder on an external drive the music folder right ?
I don't want any of the files on my computer.
External drive only set up.
Some strange answers have been given to you.
First you can have an external location AND the default music library location so no need to move or delete any default folders. When you import songs into Music it either copies it to the default music library folder or only copies the external location (so that it knows where it is). This is a setting in the import settings dialog. (i.e untick the copy to library when importing box). So just import all your external files once you have set this up. (you can just drag the whole folder into the icon or open app. It will take a while so maybe do it in batches. I think this will mean you cannot use the "keep folder organised" for the external location so you miss out on Music finding album covers and organising the folder nicely. But you could copy your external library in and then export it back out once the app has done its magic.
You keep the default music library folder for stuff you buy from the music store or for import copies (change the checkbox or see short cut in article below) so you have some albums with you when you don't have your EHDD.
You can relocate the default library folder if you want (I put it in the iCloud for a while) but I haven't found the particularly useful, it is slow and not available on flights etc and with apple's bizarre iCloud algorithm you have no control of whether it stays available or not. Most likely it will pop it back into the cloud just when you get on a plane.
I suppose if you put the default music library in the EHDD you won't be able to play anything on the music app without the HDD but I am not sure. maybe it will do a single play from its location (as long as the copy when importing is set to off) but it won't have any library to refer to for any other functions.
see Add files to your library but not to your Music folder
Change where your music files are stored on Mac – Apple Support (UK)
1freedom1 wrote:
Is it possible for the Music program to use a folder from an external drive for the music folder with the library in it?
How do I set up Music using an external drive music folder ?
In general you can press and hold down option while starting Music to choose or create a library on your external drive. If a Music folder pops into existence unexpectedly on the desktop that might be because Music isn't able to write to the intended location. See Repair security permissions for iTunes/Music for Mac - Apple Community, and make sure the target location is formatted as APFS/HFS+. (Note reformatting a drive will erase current contents!)
tt2
Is it possible for anyone to understand that I'm asking for the music folder for the music program to be on an external drive instead of the desktop ?
The first two do not apply.
The third, "Change where your Music files are Stored on Mac, is only for files that are imported from then on go there.
I have a large music folder on an external drive.
How do I change the HD music file that is on the Mac to a music folder that is on the external drive?
I'm not on a PC.
I have changed the location of my music folder through settings and nothing is different.
I've restarted the computer and everything is the same.
Worthless program and or computer if you can not work off of an external hard drive.
1freedom1 Said:
"How do I use an external drive music folder with Music ?: I'm not on a PC. I have changed the location of my music folder through settings and nothing is different. I've restarted the computer and everything is the same. Worthless program and or computer if you can not work off of an external hard drive."
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Export as a Compressed Folder:
Open the Library's Home Folder and then, right click, selecting "Compress[library name]". Next, drag & drop the compressed folder to the hard drive. Then, decompress the file, by double-clicking on it.
1freedom1 Said:
"How do I use an external drive music folder with Music ?: Does thaqt put that copy files to my computers hard drive ? You do understand I'm asking how to make a folder on an external drive the music folder right ? I don't want any of the files on my computer. External drive only set up.”
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Yes. It will be on the Mac, just trash it from the folder, once you Drag & Drop it.
On the Settings>Files tab designate the folder on your external that contains your files. My external has other folders for various, music stuff but one folder for all my Music.app files that is named simply MUSIC.
On that tab all other stuff is unchecked.
On my internal drive, in my user directory is a folder named Music that has my 'Music Library.musiclibrary' file in it.
That is what I described in my answer. To be clear, when I say "in my user directory is a folder named Music that has my 'Music Library.musiclibrary' file in it" I am saying there is only that file in my user userdirectory/Music, not the music files themselves. All the music is on the external drive. Is that not what you meant by "the music folder for the music program to be on an external drive instead of the desktop"?
How do I use an external drive music folder with Music ?