Error (-3201) when saving Music Library on Mac

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Level 1

4 points

Error (-3201) when saving Music Library on Mac

I am downloading some mp3 files and I usually have no problem- it launches right away in Music. Now it will not acccept any new files to play, and the error message comes up. I checked for weird .tmp files, and opened music in safe mode, rebooted, to no avail.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: "The Music Library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occured (-3201)" keeps coming up and I am not sure what the issue. How can I find the offending file and remove it? This just started a few weeks ago.

Mac mini, macOS 12.7

Posted on Jul 29, 2025 06:52 AM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Jul 31, 2025 08:49 AM in response to patsternyc

Try holding down option as you launch Music to explicitly select your library in case it is inexplicably linked to a cached version of the database that doesn't get updated correctly.

Try holding down option+cmd as you launch Music to open it in its safe mode. They may help fix internal errors in the library.

Did you look for .tmp files inside the Music Library.musiclibrary package?

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Jul 31, 2025 10:32 AM in response to patsternyc

Apologies, I know I covered some steps you're already tried, but did you try my first step? After doing that it may be worth trying the second step again, which is why I left it in.

If you have Time Machine set up and covering the Music folder you might try restoring a copy of the .musiclibrary package from a date before this issue cropped up.

tt2

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Answer 3

Jul 31, 2025 08:51 AM in response to patsternyc

macerror -3201

Mac OS error -3201 (kENOENTErr): No such file or directory

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Answer 4

patsternyc Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 31, 2025 08:58 AM in response to turingtest2

I stated that I opened the music library in safe mode and looked for .tmp files in my original question.

Any other ideas? I am going to make some more space on my drive to see if that is the issue.

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