Adding tracks to Music library

[tiedyemargie]

My music library is saved to an external drive.

The path where the music files are located is identified in the Music app under Music/Settings/Files

"Keep Media Music Folder" organized is selected

Issue: When adding music to the library from an external thumb drive, the music app is not actually saving the new music to the external drive. Instead, it is saving the album and track information and still trying to find the new music on the thumb drive.

Example of new track: /USB DISK/Luck and Strange Boxed Set Disc 1/1-01 Black Cat.m4a

Where I would like the new track to be saved: /Music/iTunes/Margie/Library/Music/Music/David Gilmour/Luck and Strange Boxed Set Disc 1/1-01 Black Cat.m4a

I’ve had the music library on an external drive for many years and it didn’t used to do this. I think the new music needs to be ‘imported’ into my music library; however, the option to import isn’t there.

I could manually move the album to the external drive and identify where it has been moved to using "The song “Black Cat” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?”; however, I have 10 albums that need to be added to my library and identifying one track and a time will be very time consuming.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!


Macbook Pro 2019
macOS: Sequoia 15.3.2
Processor 8-Core Intel Core i9

 

[kitKAC]

Do you have this ticked?

 

[tiedyemargie]

View attachment 2495384

Do you have this ticked?

No, “Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library” is not selected.

I did have that selected previously. The reason it was de-selected is that whenever I would play a track that was purchased from Amazon, the music app would move it from the external drive to the Macbook pro and I didn’t want it to do that.

If I select “Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library” will it add them to the external drive when they are added to the library or the Macbook Pro?

 

[kitKAC]

No, “Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library” is not selected.

I did have that selected previously. The reason it was de-selected is that whenever I would play a track that was purchased from Amazon, the music app would move it from the external drive to the Macbook pro and I didn’t want it to do that.

If I select “Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library” will it add them to the external drive when they are added to the library or the Macbook Pro?

If your Music Media folder is on the external drive (and that's where the Music Media folder Location is pointing to), then yes.

 

[tiedyemargie]

This appears to be resolved. Thank you so much for your help

 

[Liam Minhel]

My music library is saved to an external drive.

The path where the music files are located is identified in the Music app under Music/Settings/Files

"Keep Media Music Folder" organized is selected

Issue: When adding music to the library from an external thumb drive, the music app is not actually saving the new music to the external drive. Instead, it is saving the album and track information and still trying to find the new music on the thumb drive.

Example of new track: /USB DISK/Luck and Strange Boxed Set Disc 1/1-01 Black Cat.m4a

Where I would like the new track to be saved: /Music/iTunes/Margie/Library/Music/Music/David Gilmour/Luck and Strange Boxed Set Disc 1/1-01 Black Cat.m4a

I’ve had the music library on an external drive for many years and it didn’t used to do this. I think the new music needs to be ‘imported’ into my music library; however, the option to import isn’t there.

I could manually move the album to the external drive and identify where it has been moved to using "The song “Black Cat” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?”; however, I have 10 albums that need to be added to my library and identifying one track and a time will be very time consuming.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!


Macbook Pro 2019
macOS: Sequoia 15.3.2
Processor 8-Core Intel Core i9

It sounds like you're very close — and you're right, the new tracks need to be properly imported into your external library, not just referenced from the thumb drive.


Here’s what's likely happening:
Even though "Keep Media Folder Organized" is selected, the "Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library" setting also needs to be enabled.
If that’s unchecked, the Music app will only create a reference to the file's original location (your USB drive) without copying it over.


Here’s how to fix it:

1. Open the Music app.
2. Go to Music > Settings > Files.
3. Make sure "Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library" is checked.
4. After that, when you add music, it will automatically copy the files into your designated external drive location.

For your existing albums already added incorrectly:

• Highlight the new tracks in your Music library.
• Use the File > Library > Organize Library option, and select "Consolidate files".
• This will copy all external media (like from your USB drive) into your proper external library folder.
• After consolidation, you can safely eject the USB thumb drive.