Move Logic Pro for Mac and MainStage content

To save space on your Mac, you can move the Logic Pro and MainStage Sound Library to an external storage device.

The Sound Library contains all the sounds for the software instruments included with Logic Pro and MainStage. If you've installed Logic Pro and MainStage on the same Mac, both apps share the same Sound Library. When you move the Sound Library, it moves the Sound Library for both apps.

You can store the Sound Library on an external storage device such as a Solid Stage Drive (SSD) or a USB thumb drive. You can't share a Sound Library between Mac computers. If you have more than one Mac running Logic Pro or MainStage, each Mac needs its own Sound Library.

How you move the Sound Library depends on your version of Logic Pro or MainStage:

Move sound library in Logic Pro 12 or MainStage 4 or later

Move the sound library in Logic Pro 11.2.2 or MainStage 3.7.1 or earlier

Make sure to click Allow when Logic Pro or MainStage asks for permission to access the external device.

Move the Sound Library in Logic Pro 12 or MainStage 4 or later

By default, the file containing the sound library in Logic Pro 12 or MainStage 4 or later is stored in the Music folder. You can move it to any location at any time, including to an external storage device:

  1. In the Music folder on your Mac, locate the file called "Logic Pro Library.bundle."

  2. Drag the file to another location. If you copied the file to an external storage device, you can delete the original file to save space on your Mac.

Move the Sound Library in Logic Pro 11.2.2 or MainStage 3.7.1 or earlier

  1. Make sure you're logged in to your Mac as an administrator.

  2. Connect the storage device to your Mac.

  3. If your storage device isn't formatted for use with Mac, use Disk Utililty to format your external storage device as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

    • You can't store the Sound Library on a volume used for Time Machine backups. 

    • You can add an APFS volume to the storage device, then use one volume for Time Machine backups and the other for storage of other files.

  4. Open Logic Pro, then choose Logic Pro > Sound Library > Relocate Sound Library, or MainStage > Sound Library > Relocate Sound Library.

  5. If you are asked to give the app access to files on a removable device, click Allow.

  6. In the window, select the storage device or volume where you want to store the Sound Library, then click Relocate. A notification appears when the Sound Library has moved.

If you get an error that says content can't be relocated, give Logic Pro or MainStage access to your external storage device or volume.

Don't rename the storage device or volume after you've moved the Sound Lbrary. If you do, Logic Pro and MainStage won't be able to find the Sound Library.

Give Logic Pro or MainStage access to your external storage device

If you get an error that says content can't be relocated, give the app access to your external storage device or volume.

  1. Quit Logic Pro or MainStage.

  2. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings.

  3. Click Privacy and Security and in the sidebar.

  4. Click Files and Folders on the right.

  5. Click Logic Pro or MainStage to show options, then turn on Removable Volumes.

Move the Sound Library back to your Mac

After you've moved the Sound Library to an external storage device, you might want to move it back to your Mac. For example, you might have a performance and you don't want to bring the storage device.

  1. Choose Logic Pro > Sound Library > Relocate Sound Library, or MainStage > Sound Library > Relocate Sound Library.

  2. In the window, select Macintosh HD, then click Relocate.

Download additional content

When you download additional Sound Library content for Logic Pro or MainStage from Apple, it's installed in the new location. To download additional content, choose Logic Pro > Open the Sound Library, select the content you want to download, then click Install. To install all content, click Select All Uninstalled, then click Install.

If the external storage device with the Sound Library isn't connected

If the external storage device that contains the Sound Library isn't connected to your Mac when you open Logic Pro or MainStage, you can choose what to do:

  • To open Logic Pro or MainStage and use the Sound Library on the storage device, connect the device and click Retry.

  • To continue to use the app without the Sound Library content, click Ignore. Any tracks with content from the missing Sound Library will be replaced with basic tones.

  • To install the Sound Library on your Mac, click Reset, then click Reset again. Logic Pro or MainStage will use the Sound Library on your Mac. Later, you can move the Sound Library back to your storage device.

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