There are a few different places where your music files may be stored on an Android device. The exact location depends on factors like what music apps you use, whether you store files locally on your device or on an SD card, and what version of Android you have. This article provides an overview of the Android file system and common storage locations for music. It also covers how to find specific music files, system folders for audio, transferring music to a computer, backups, and alternative storage options.
Android File System Overview
The Android file system is organized in a hierarchical structure similar to Linux (Android is based on the Linux kernel). At the top level are six main directories that contain different types of files:
- /system – contains operating system files and read-only apps
- /data – contains user data and settings
- /cache – contains temporary cached data
- /sdcard – contains external storage (SD card) files
- /efs – contains equipment specific files like IMEI number
- /mnt – mount points for other storage devices
The /sdcard directory is commonly where music, photos, videos, and other user files are stored. This can refer to the built-in internal storage or an external microSD card if one is installed. The /data/media directory is another location for multimedia files and music installed by apps.
Source: https://thesecmaster.com/explore-the-android-file-system-hierarchy-in-depth/
Music Apps Storage Locations
The major music apps like Spotify, Google Play Music, etc. each store their offline music files in different default locations on Android devices. Understanding where each app saves its music cache can help you locate specific songs or transfer music libraries.
Spotify stores offline music within the “/Android/data/com.spotify.music/files/music” directory. For devices with external SD card storage, Spotify may store music in “/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.spotify.music/files/music” instead [1]. The Spotify app only allows exporting playlists as text files, so accessing the internal music storage folders provides a way to export the actual audio files.
Google Play Music saves any downloaded or cached tracks to “/sdcard/Android/data/com.google.android.music/files/music” by default. For external SD cards, it may use “/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.google.android.music/files/music” [2]. This storage location holds the cached songs even after uninstalling the app, so clearing the folder provides a clean slate.
Device Storage vs SD Card
Android devices come with built-in internal storage, usually ranging from 8GB to 128GB depending on the model. This is where apps, music, photos, and other files are stored by default. Many Android devices also allow expanded storage via an external micro SD card, which can add anywhere from 32GB to 512GB of additional space.
When it comes to music storage, using the built-in device storage versus an external SD card each have their pros and cons:
- Device storage:
- Music can be accessed more quickly since internal storage is faster than SD cards.
- No need to purchase separate SD card.
- Limited capacity that may fill up faster.
- SD card:
- Much more storage capacity for large music libraries.
- Music files can be easily transferred between devices.
- SD cards are slower than internal storage.
- Need to purchase SD card separately.
Overall, device storage is faster and more seamless, but limits how much music you can store locally. SD cards allow virtually unlimited music storage, but may have slower transfer speeds. Many users opt to store a portion of their library on device storage for everyday listening, and keep their entire collection on an SD card for additional storage capacity.
Finding Specific Music File Locations
The exact location of music files on an Android device depends on which app was used to download or save the files. Here are some steps to find where specific music apps store their files:
For music downloaded using YouTube or YouTube Music:
- Open the File Manager app on your device.
- Navigate to folder path Internal Storage/Android/data/com.google.android.youtube/files/Music. This is where YouTube stores downloaded music.
For Spotify downloads:
- Go to Internal Storage/Android/data/com.spotify.music/files/music. Spotify stores downloads here.
For Google Play Music files:
- Go to Internal Storage/Android/data/com.google.android.music/files/music. Google Play music downloads are stored here.
Checking these app-specific folders is the easiest way to locate music files downloaded from major streaming or media apps on your Android device. You can also search “music” in the File Manager app and it will show results across folders.
System Folders for Music
Android organizes music files into a few main system folders. The exact folders used depend on the version of Android, but some common ones include:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.pnhdroid.foldplay&hl=en_US&gl=US
– Music – This is the main folder where most music players will look for audio files by default. It contains subfolders for artists, albums, genres, playlists etc.
– Ringtones – Stores ringtones and notification sounds.
– Alarms – Contains audio files used for alarm sounds.
– Notifications – Stores notification sounds.
– Android/media/audio – Lower level folder that may contain raw audio files.
The exact location of these folders can vary, but they are usually found in the internal storage or SD card under directories like Music, Ringtones, Alarms, Notifications.
Transferring Files to Computer
To transfer music files from your Android device to a computer, follow these steps:
First, connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable. Make sure USB tethering and USB debugging are turned off on your device (you can check this in Settings).
Next, on your Android device, swipe down from the top and tap the “USB for file transfer” notification. This will allow your computer to access files on your device.
On your computer, the connected Android device should appear as an external drive. Open the drive and navigate to one of the folders where music is stored, such as Music or Ringtontones. Select the music files you want to transfer and copy/paste them to a folder on your computer.
Alternatively, you can use the Android File Transfer program on Mac or Windows to easily transfer files between your device and computer. After connecting your device, open Android File Transfer, browse to music files, and drag and drop them to copy to your computer.
You can also use third-party apps like iSyncr or ShareIt to wirelessly transfer music from your Android device to a computer over WiFi. These apps install on both devices and let you copy music files over the same WiFi network.
Refer to Google’s guide or this tutorial for more details on transferring music from an Android device to a computer.
Backing Up Music Library
Backing up your music library on Android is important to prevent losing your tracks if your device is damaged, lost, or stolen. There are several good options for backing up an Android music library:
Google Photos – The Google Photos app can be used to backup music files along with photos and videos. Enable backup under ‘Back up & sync’ in the app settings. Music files will be stored in your Google account’s storage [1].
Dropbox – Install the Dropbox app and enable photo and video backups. Your music library can be automatically uploaded. Use shared folders to access your music from other devices [2].
IDrive – This service allows unlimited storage for backups. Install the IDrive app and select the music folders you want to backup. IDrive also offers options for scheduling backups [3].
Other options like pCloud, Mega, and Sync offer similar automatic syncing and backup of music libraries from Android devices to cloud storage. Regularly backing up your music library safeguards your collection.
Alternative Storage Options
In addition to storing music directly on your Android device or SD card, there are other options for accessing your music library such as using cloud storage services. Popular cloud storage options like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive allow you to upload your music to the cloud and then stream or download it on any device. This gives you access to your full music collection anywhere without taking up device storage. Some cloud services like CloudBeats even have dedicated music player apps that integrate with cloud storage.
Another option is using a dedicated cloud music locker service like Amazon Music, Apple Music, or Google Play Music (being replaced by YouTube Music). These services let you upload your personal music collection to the cloud and combine it with their catalogs of tens of millions of songs for access across devices. Some offer free storage for a limited number of songs while others provide unlimited cloud storage for a monthly subscription fee.
Compared to local device storage, cloud storage gives you access to your full music library anywhere while saving device storage. The tradeoff is you must have an internet connection to stream the music. For those with large libraries, cloud lockers are ideal, while general cloud storage can supplement local device storage for key playlists and albums you want accessible at all times.
Conclusion
In summary, Android stores music in a few different default locations depending on where the files originated from and what app is being used to play them. Music downloaded directly to the device is often saved in folders like Music or Ringtones under main internal storage. However, third party music apps may use their own folders for managing your library. External SD cards can also be used for supplemental music storage and are helpful for large collections. While default folders are commonly used, files can be accessed from many locations using a file explorer. Regularly backing up your Android’s music library is recommended to avoid losing tracks. With an understanding of the various storage options, you can better organize and manage your personal music collection on an Android device.