Master your Music Library

OUR MUSIC LIBRARY is managed on your Mac by a database, previously called iTunes.itl and now called Music Library.musiclibrary. This references a folder, officially “the Music Media folder” but actually just called Music, which by default lives in your macOS user account’s home folder. Music files you import can be stored here or left elsewhere.

Then there are tracks from the iTunes Store. In the Library views, an item you’ve purchased on the iTunes account you’re signed into, but haven’t downloaded, is identified by a cloud icon. If you play it, it’ll stream from Apple’s servers. If you click the cloud, the file downloads to your Music folder and in future will play from there, whether or not you’re signed in or online.

If you have Apple Music, tracks added from there work similarly. And while iCloud Music Library is enabled by an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription, music you’ve imported from elsewhere will also appear in your library on all devices to stream