Where downloaded Yandex Music tracks on Android are stored

Users of the popular Yandex Music service are often faced with the need to transfer their favorite songs to another memory card or simply want to know how much space their playlists take up in the internal memory of their smartphone. Despite the intuitive interface of the application, the physical location of the files remains hidden from the eyes of the average user due to the peculiarities of Android.

In this article we will look in detail at where exactly Yandex Music saves downloaded tracks on devices running Android, why you cannot find them using standard methods and what are the nuances of accessing this data depending on the version of the operating system.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Google's security policy is constantly changing, limiting access to system folders of third-party applications. Understanding the directory structure will help you effectively manage free space and avoid downloading the same files twice.

Data storage specifics in modern versions of Android

Starting with Android 11, Google has introduced strict restrictions on directory access /Android/data/. This was done to improve system security and prevent files from being randomly scattered across the storage root. Now each application, including Yandex Music, is required to store its user data in a strictly designated sandbox.

Previously, users could easily go to the root of the memory card and see the music folder. Now standard file managers, pre-installed on many smartphones, simply do not show the contents of this system folder without obtaining special permissions. This causes confusion among those who are accustomed to the old way the file system works.

It is important to understand that the downloaded tracks are not ordinary MP3 files in the classical sense, available for playback by any player. The application encrypts or masks them so that the content cannot be copied and distributed outside the service ecosystem, which is a requirement of licensing agreements with copyright holders.

⚠️ Attention: Attempts to manually rename or move files from the application system folder may result in Yandex Music no longer recognizing them, and you will have to download the playlists again.

The exact path to the folder with downloaded music

To get to treasured files, you need to know the exact directory hierarchy. The path to the application data is universal for most devices, but may differ slightly depending on whether you have SD card installed or use only internal memory.

If you are using internal storage, the directory navigation sequence is as follows. You need to open the root folder of the device and sequentially go to the following directories, observing the case of letters:

• 📂 Folder Android
• 📂 Inside it is a folder data
• 📂 Next, look for the directory ru.yandex.music
• 📂 Then go to files
• 📂 And finally, the folder Music or Cache

The full path address will look like /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/Music. This is where the files are located that the application considers downloaded for offline listening. Please note that on some firmware the folder may be called download instead of Music.

If in the application settings you specified saving to an external memory card, the path will change. It will start with the card ID, for example /storage/SDCARD_ID/Android/data/.... You can find this identifier by opening any other folder on the memory card through the file manager.

Why downloaded tracks are not visible in the gallery or file manager

Many users ask the question: “I downloaded the album, but why don’t I see these files?” The answer lies in the way streaming services work. The files you "download" in the app are essentially cached datarather than ready-made audio files.

Yandex Music uses a proprietary storage format or encryption to protect content from piracy. Even if you find a 5 MB file in the application folder, trying to open it through a third-party player like VLC or PowerAmp will most likely result in an error or play silence.

In addition, there may be a file named .nomediain the folder. This hidden system file tells the Android operating system to ignore this directory when scanning media content. This is why your tracks do not appear in the phone’s general music library.

File type	Extension	Playability	Purpose
Audio track	.ymf / .tmp	Only in the application	Encrypted stream
Album cover	.jpg / .png	Any viewer	Visualization
System marker	.nomedia	Not applicable	Hide from gallery
Metadata	.json / .db	Text editor	Playlist information

There is a myth that you can simply change the file extension from .ymf to .mp3. This will not work in modern versions of the application, since the file headers are also modified. To legally listen in other players, you must use the export function, if available in your subscription, or record sound with a system recorder.

Technical details of encryption

The files are divided into small chunks and stored scattered. The application collects them into a single stream only at the time of playback in RAM, without unpacking them completely to disk.

How to find music through the settings of the application itself

The most reliable way to find out where your tracks are physically located without delving into the wilds of the file system is to use the application’s built-in diagnostic tools. Yandex Music provides information about the save path in its settings, although not always explicitly.

Go to the user profile by clicking on the icon in the corner of the screen and select Settings. Scroll down to the "Storage" or "Cache" section. The current path for saving data will be indicated there. If you click on this item, the system may offer to clear the cache or show the amount of space occupied.

Some interface updates have made it possible to change the save directory directly from the menu. To do this, select the item Memory and press Change. The system will prompt you to select internal memory or microSD card. After confirmation, all new downloads will go to the new address.

⚠️ Attention: When changing the save path, old tracks may not be transferred automatically. You will have to delete them from the list of downloaded ones in the application and download them again so that they appear in a new folder.

Clearing the cache and freeing up space on the smartphone

Over time, the folder with downloaded music can grow to several gigabytes, which is critical for devices with a small amount of built-in memory. If you use a subscription and listen to music online, regularly cleaning outdated tracks becomes a necessity.

The safest cleaning method is through the app interface. Go to the "My Music" section, select the "Downloads" tab. You will see a list of all available offline tracks. You can delete individual albums by swiping left or clear the entire list through the control menu.

If the application does not work correctly or you want to remove absolutely all traces of the presence of the service, you can use the Android system settings. Go to Phone settings → Applications → Yandex Music → Storage. There you will find the “Clear cache” and “Clear data” buttons.

The difference between these actions is significant. Clearing the cache will only remove temporary files, including downloaded music, but will preserve your account and settings within the app. Clearing data will reset the application to its factory state, removing logins, passwords and all personal preferences.

Access problems in Android 13 and later

Owners of modern smartphones based on Android 13 and 14 face even more stringent restrictions. The Scoped Storage system now completely closes the folder Android/data even for third-party file managers if they do not have special privileges.

When you try to access this folder through a popular Total Commander or standard explorer, you may see the message “Folder is empty” or access denied. This is not an error, but the operation of a mechanism to protect the confidentiality of application data.

To bypass this limitation in new OS versions, the use of a special storage access API is required. Some advanced file managers, such as Material Files, can request this permission through the SAF (Storage Access Framework) system window.

You will need to click the "Use this folder" button and confirm granting full access to all files in the storage root. Only after this procedure will you be able to see the contents of the Yandex Music directory and manage files manually.

⚠️ Attention: The interface and capabilities of the file system may differ depending on the manufacturer's shell (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). In some cases, access to the data folder is closed at the firmware level without the possibility of change.

Is it possible to copy music from Yandex to a flash drive?

Technically, you can copy files, but they will be encrypted. Simply copying files from a folder ru.yandex.music to a flash drive will not allow you to play them on a car radio or other player. The files are tied to a specific account and device.

Why does the music disappear after a reboot?

This can happen if you installed the application on an SD card, but the system did not have time to mount it before starting the service. The reason may also be a file failure .nomedia or corruption of the application database. Try clearing the cache.

Where are album covers stored?

Cover art is usually saved in the same folder files or in a subfolder images inside the application directory. They have standard extensions .jpg or .png and weigh little, so they take up little space.

How to transfer music to a new phone?

You cannot transfer downloaded files directly due to encryption. The surest way is to install Yandex Music on a new device, log into your account and press the download button again on the desired albums.

Is it possible to listen to music without the Internet after clearing the cache?

No. Clearing the cache deletes all temporarily saved data, including tracks downloaded for offline mode. To listen without a network, you will need to re-download the content if you have an Internet connection.