With iTunes Match on, where are music files from CDs I imported onto my Mac?

I have about 150 CDs I imported into iTunes years ago. Since then, I have subscribed to iTunes Match so my music is accessible from anywhere.


I was looking for a way to back up these music files to a cloud service, and cannot find the music files.


Here's the strange thing: I realized I did successfully backup these music files a few years ago. I backed everything up to Microsoft OneDrive. On this backup, I see every artist, every album, and each song on that album listed as a separate file. The path is iTunes/iTunes Music/(Artist)/(Album)/(Song).


I remember when this same directory tree was shown on my Mac and I could easily find music on my hard drive, but I can't find the files now. When I search for the same of an artist or album on my hard drive, they don't come up.


Where did these files go? Is there any way to bring them back besides downloading from my backup, which seems kind of strange.


Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Posted on Aug 30, 2025 06:47 AM

Reply
6 replies

Aug 31, 2025 07:57 PM in response to RKNYC

Hi RK,

Subscribing to iTunes Match does not cause files to vanish, but other things may have. I am guessing OneDrive is your culprit. See this:


"When you enable the OneDrive folder backup for Desktop, Documents, or Pictures, it moves your local files to OneDrive, effectively removing the original local copy .... "


Sep 2, 2025 05:22 AM in response to RKNYC

If you're going to download these files to your computer take a look at Managing your Mac media libraries - Apple Community first. iTunes Music is the old name for the media folder. Now that you're using Music this would normally be ~/Music/Music/Media where ~ is your user's home folder. You can either download the existing file from iTunes Match (right-click a selection in Music and click Download) or you can potentially download from OneDrive, then Add to Library. The local additions should merge with what is already in the cloud. Given you don't already have the files on the computer I would take the first option, with the second being a backup approach if you find any mismatches, e.g. clean vs. explicit, etc.


tt2

With iTunes Match on, where are music files from CDs I imported onto my Mac?

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