How To Manage Your Mac Media Libraries with Apple Tools

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This guide will help you understand where media files are stored on your Mac from Catalina onwards and how to reorganize your media library if you’ve migrated from an older iTunes setup. Whether you’re moving your library or just cleaning up, these tips can make the process easier.

If you’re unsure about what changed with the release of macOS 10.15 Catalina, Apple’s support page offers a good overview. When migrating your iTunes library from a much earlier version, you can retain your ratings, play counts, playlists, and other data by holding down the Option key while opening the Music or TV app for the first time. This lets you select your old iTunes library file (.itl) to convert it into the new format. You only need to do this once per app. After conversion, all your data will remain in your original media folders.

To keep your library organized, you might want to tidy up any lingering legacy content. Moving your media library to match the structure used by the latest apps can make future upgrades smoother. For legacy libraries from before Mojave, you can even update the older iTunes library on a Mojave system before migrating it to Music.

When managing your media files manually, the recommended method is to declare the folder you want to use through Preferences under Music or TV > Files, then consolidate your library to that location. Keep in mind, this process copies files instead of moving them, so you’ll need enough space for both copies during the process.

Moving your media folder within the same volume is much easier since macOS handles it well. For example, you can rename your old iTunes Media folder to “Media” and move it to a new location like ~/Music/Music/Media, as long as it stays on the same drive. After relocating, it’s a good idea to review any leftover iTunes content you no longer need and clear it out.

When starting a new music library, here’s what the structure generally looks like:

Your home folder
A “Music” folder where all music-related content is stored
Inside “Music,” you’ll find:
- A “Music” library file (with a .musiclibrary extension)
- A “Media” folder containing:
  - Artist folders, with album folders inside each
  - Individual tracks inside albums
- An optional “Previous Libraries” folder if you’ve upgraded from an older version
Other folders include Apple Music (if subscribed), “Automatically Add to Music” for new files, “Compilations,” “Downloads,” and possibly nested artist folders if your library migrated from iTunes.

Some files like album artwork or redundant “Automatically Add” folders can be safely deleted once your library is stable.

For audiobooks and books, these are managed through the Books app. Audiobooks can be imported into Books or added to the Music app first for metadata correction. The folder where Books stores files is hidden, located at:

~/Library/Containers/com.apple.BKAgentService/Data/Documents/iBooks

Podcasts subscriptions now sync with your Apple ID and are stored in the cloud, making it difficult to migrate old files. The podcasts library is stored here:

~/Library/Group Containers/243LU875E5.groups.com.apple.podcasts

If you’re starting a new TV library, it will typically have a folder structure like this:

Your home folder
A “Movies” folder for all video content
Inside “Movies,” a “TV” folder containing:
- A “Media” folder for all media
- An “Automatically Add to TV” folder for new media
- Subfolders for “Home Videos,” “Movies,” and “TV Shows”
- Optional “Previous Libraries” folder if upgraded
- The main TV library file, ending in .tvlibrary

Moving media within the same volume is straightforward. You can rename and relocate your folders, then update settings in Music or TV to reflect the new location. For detailed steps, check Apple’s official support pages.

Keeping your media organized helps in managing your collection and ensures smoother upgrades in the future. Whether you’re reorganizing after migration or starting fresh, understanding where everything is stored will make your media management much easier.