Choose Where Your Music Files Are Stored macOS Catalina
In macOS Catalina, your music files are stored in the Music app’s media folder, which by default is located at /Users/yourusername/Music/Music. You can change this location through the Music app’s Preferences, and you should do so before importing a large library to avoid copying files manually later.
Background: How Catalina Changed Music Storage
When Apple released macOS Catalina in October 2019, it replaced iTunes with three separate apps: Music, TV, and Podcasts. The Music app inherited iTunes’ role for managing your audio library, but it also introduced a new folder structure. Under iTunes, your library was stored in ~/Music/iTunes. Catalina moved that to ~/Music/Music to reflect the new app name.
This change matters because any app that relied on the old iTunes folder path—like some third-party music managers or backup tools—needs to be updated. If you upgraded from an older macOS, Catalina typically migrated your existing iTunes library to the new Music folder automatically, keeping your playlists, ratings, and play counts intact.
How the Music Media Folder Works
The Music app stores two types of data: the library database (a file called Music Library.musiclibrary) and the actual media files (songs, albums, artwork). The library database is a package that contains your playlists, metadata, and references to the files. The media files themselves live in a subfolder called Music inside that package, organized by artist and album.
When you import a song, the Music app copies it into this media folder by default. The setting that controls this is called “Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library.” If you turn it off, the app only references the original file location instead of duplicating it. This is useful if you want to save disk space, but it means you must keep the original files in place or the songs will show as missing.
How to Change the Storage Location
Changing where your music files are stored is straightforward, but you should do it before importing a large library to avoid moving files manually later. Here are the steps:
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- From the menu bar, choose Music > Preferences (or press
Command+,). - Click the Files tab.
- Click Change next to “Music Media folder location.”
- Select a new folder (for example, an external drive) and click Choose.
- If you want the app to automatically copy new files into the new location, make sure “Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library” is checked.
- Click OK.
If you already have files in the old location, the Music app will ask if you want to move them. Clicking “Move” will relocate all your media to the new folder, preserving the folder structure. If you choose “Keep,” the app will update its references but leave the files where they are—which can lead to missing files if you later disconnect an external drive.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
One frequent issue is that after changing the location, some songs show an exclamation mark and won’t play. This usually means the file is not in the expected folder. To fix it, select the song, go to Song > Get Info, click the File tab, and choose “Find File” to locate it manually.
Another problem is that the Music app might not appear in the menu bar if you’re using a full-screen app. In that case, press Option+Command+F to exit full screen, or use the Music app’s dock icon to bring it to the foreground.
If you’re moving your library to an external drive, make sure the drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS. ExFAT works for reading but can cause issues with file permissions and metadata.
External Drives and Network Storage
Many users choose to store their music on an external drive to free up internal storage. When you do this, the Music app will need the drive to be connected every time you want to play a song. If you disconnect the drive, the library will still open, but the files will be unavailable.
For network storage (like a NAS), the Music app can work, but it’s not officially supported for the media folder. Latency can cause stuttering during playback, and the app may not recognize the network volume as a valid location. If you must use a NAS, consider keeping a local copy of your library and using the network drive only for backups.
Backing Up Your Music Library
Regardless of where you store your music, you should back it up regularly. The safest approach is to back up the entire Music folder, including the library database and media files. If you only back up the media files, you’ll lose your playlists and metadata.
Time Machine will back up your Music folder automatically if it’s on your internal drive. For external drives, you can add them to Time Machine’s backup set, but note that Time Machine doesn’t back up the internal drive’s Music folder if you’ve moved it externally—you’ll need to back up the external drive separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the default Music folder in Catalina?
The default location is /Users/yourusername/Music/Music. The first “Music” is the standard macOS folder for all media, and the second “Music” is the app-specific folder created by Catalina.
Can I move my Music folder to an external drive?
Yes, you can change the media folder location to any drive that’s connected. After changing it, the Music app will ask if you want to move existing files. Choose “Move” to transfer everything automatically.
Will my playlists be preserved when I change the folder?
Yes, playlists are stored in the library database, not in the media folder. Changing the media folder location doesn’t affect your playlists, ratings, or play counts.
What happens if I turn off “Copy files to Music Media folder”?
When this is off, the Music app only references the original file location. If you move or delete the original file, the song will show an exclamation mark and won’t play. This setting is useful for saving space but requires careful file management.
How do I find a missing song file?
Select the song, press Command+I, go to the File tab, and click Find File. Navigate to the actual file on your disk and select it. The Music app will update the reference.
Does the Music app support network drives for storage?
It can work, but Apple doesn’t officially support network volumes as the media folder. You may experience lag or errors. For best results, use a locally connected drive.
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