Can I store my music folder in iCloud Drive on iMac?

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Level 1

126 points

Can I store my music folder in iCloud Drive on iMac?

Before Apple Music was introduced, I stored all my music files in my "iTunes" Library... This included all my iTunes purchases and all the songs I "ripped" from my CD Collection, plus other song files I copied from my LP and cassette collection. Everything I use is stored in my 20 GB "Music" Folder on my computer. I use "Home Sharing" so I can use my iPhone and iPad to enjoy my music at home. I do not want a Music subscription as I prefer to own "MY" music files. My question is "Can I store MY Music Folder on my I Cloud Drive so I could access it wherever a WiFi network is available?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Apple Music and I Cloud

iMac 24″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Aug 24, 2025 10:58 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 26, 2025 12:34 PM in response to Joeswell

I thought I'd try it, and I am surprised to see that the Music app will play tunes in iCloud Drive! I'm not sure if the organization and playlists and stuff works. Of course, you can just hit the spacebar to play the file, or you can drag it to Quicktime Player.

If you have backups of your Music folder, then you should just try it! If you drag music files to iCloud Drive, they will disappear from your Music folder, so you need to put them someplace safe, and do a copy rather than just drag and drop. As I have recently learned, that's option-drag and drop.

In the Music app's Settings, you can specify the location of the iTunes Music folder.

I'm not sure how this works in iCloud Drive on an iPhone.

Interestingly, it seems that iCloud Backup does not include the iTunes Music Library. Hmm.

But then, I've not tried moving the whole thing to iCoud…

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

89,972 points

Aug 26, 2025 05:16 AM in response to Joeswell

You can store the files in iCloud, sure. But, that won’t work as far as streaming music or using the music app.

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