relocating music folder by copying it and pointing music.app to relocated Music Library doesn't work

Dear community,

on a Studio Mac running Sequoia 15.5, I tried relocating the music folder by copying it to another volume and pointing music.app to the relocated Music Library file (on that other volume) by starting Music from the cos with option-click. Doing so prompts me to choose or point to the Music Library file of my choosing, and allows me to choose the one on the other volume. Music Settings then allow me to set the new location. None of that changes the location of the files Music actually uses. Despite the Settings, the Finder location of any media file is still in the previous location (the home folder). Why? And what to do?

Thanks!

Mac Studio, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 23, 2025 11:53 AM

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3 replies

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Jun 24, 2025 03:45 AM in response to Nikolai Franke

Changing the location of the media folder tells Music where new content should be stored, not where to find content that has been moved or copied from some other path. When generally works well is to start with the library in the default layout of a Music folder containing the Music Library.musiclibrary package and a Media folder that has all of the media that has been added to the library. When things are in this layout you can move/copy the entire Music folder to some new path or drive, then option-start-Music to access the library on the new path. The media folder path should update automatically and remain as Media in the Music folder.

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

tt2

Jun 24, 2025 01:11 PM in response to turingtest2

Hello turingtest2,

Thanks! I did that, and then chose File > Library > Organise Library > Consolidate Files. That seems to have done the trick.

Thanks again!

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Jun 24, 2025 02:07 PM in response to Nikolai Franke

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

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relocating music folder by copying it and pointing music.app to relocated Music Library doesn't work