I want to store my music on an external drive. This is for the MacOS app, NOT the Music service.

Question

I want to store my music on an external drive. This is for the MacOS app, NOT the Music service.

I am running low on space allocated to Music (iTunes) on my Mac. I would like to put the music on an external drive, but I'm not clear on whether I simply move the Media folder to the external drive, while leaving the Music Library (the database) on the original drive, or if I am supposed to move only the Media folder. I have tried both options, have reset Music>Settings>Files to point to the external drive. However, when I restart Music, select a song from my collection, get info(command-I)>File - it is STILL pointing to the original drive, not the external.

What am I missing?

Posted on Feb 8, 2024 11:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

278,015 points

Feb 8, 2024 11:11 AM in response to B. Bruce Brinson

Move/copy the entire ~/Music/Music folder to the external drive, then press and hold down option as you launch music, click the choose library option, then browse to and open <External>/Music/Music Library.musiclibrary. If your music wasn't all inside ~/Music/Music/Media you will need to reset the media folder path to <External>/Music/Media, then consolidate your media to the new path. Once the library has been consolidated and tested you can delete the original content that remains on the internal drive to reclaim space.

See Managing your Mac media libraries - Apple Community for further background.

tt2

Reply

Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,015 points

Feb 8, 2024 1:16 PM in response to B. Bruce Brinson

Read the user tip I linked to. The media folder would normally be called Media for the Music app. While you can use something different Music may not adjust the library properly if you then copy the Music folder (containing the Music Library(.musiclibrary) package as a unit. The copy of the library on the external drive may still want to refer to files on the internal paths. Renaming your media folder to Media and opening Music should massage the library into the conventional shape, which in turn is less likely to have issues when you move it to an external drive.

tt2

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 8, 2024 11:46 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks - this doesn't quite work for me. Rather than a folder within ~/Music named Music, I have a folder named LapTop iTunes in which I keep the media - see attached screenshot. The last folder in there is simply an alias to a dropbox folder, not relevant to this discussion.

So I would think I move the LapTop iTunes folder to the external drive. Now - do I ALSO need to move the "Music Library" file to external, or should I leave it where it is, and simply reset Music>Settings>Files to point to LapTop iTunes on external?

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 9, 2024 5:33 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks - I think you're right. It seems Music internally expects a specific path/tree, even though it is difficult to find where is specified externally in any user documentation - you user tip seems to be the place.

Pesky, but if that's the requirement I'll attempt to follow it.

You've been very helpful, and patient. I appreciate it.🙏

Reply

I want to store my music on an external drive. This is for the MacOS app, NOT the Music service.

Similar questions