Downloaded tracks from Yandex Music are stored on the device in encrypted form, and they cannot simply be copied through Explorer like regular MP3 files. This feature of the service protects copyrights, but creates difficulties for users who want to transfer music to a new smartphone or tablet. Unlike offline cache Spotify or Apple Music, where files are also linked to the account, Yandex Music there is no built-in function for exporting playlists with saving downloaded tracks.

In this article we will examine 5 proven methods transferring music between Android devices —from official methods to workarounds using third-party tools. It is important to understand that some options require root access or violate the user agreement of the service. We will point out such points separately so that you can assess the risks.

If you are planning to switch to a new device, first check whether it is possible simply re-download the tracks in the application Yandex Music under the same account. This is the most legal and safest method, but it will only work if:

  • 🔄 You have subscription (a free account does not allow you to download tracks to several devices at the same time).
  • 📱 The new device is supported by the service (some models, especially Chinese ones, may be blacklisted).
  • 🎵 Tracks are still available in the library Yandex Music (they could have been deleted for licensing reasons).
📊 How do you usually transfer music between devices?
Via the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Disk)
By cable (USB OTG, computer)
Via local network (Wi-Fi Direct)
I use third-party applications
I have never transferred

1. Official method: re-downloading tracks in the application

The easiest method is to log in Yandex Music on a new device and download the tracks again. This does not require technical skills and does not violate the rules of the service. However, the method has limitations:

Firstly, number of devices for offline listening limited by subscription. In the free plan, you can download music only to 1 device, to Yandex Plus Music - up to 5 devices. If the new device becomes the sixth, you will have to delete the cache from one of the old ones.

Secondly, not all tracks available for download indefinitely. For example, some albums disappear from the library due to the expiration of licensing agreements. If a track has been deleted from the catalog, it cannot be downloaded even on an old device after reinstalling the application.

⚠️ Attention: If you use family subscription, downloaded tracks are linked to the profile, not to device. When authorizing on a new smartphone under another family member, previously downloaded music will not be displayed.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Install Yandex Music from Google Play on a new device.
  2. Login using the same account as on your old smartphone.
  3. Go to the section My music → Playlists or Albums.
  4. Click on the three dots next to the playlist/album and select Download.
  5. Wait for the download to complete (progress is displayed in the notification panel).

Make sure there is enough memory on the new device|Check stability of the Internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi)|Disable VPN (some regions block downloading)|Log in with the correct account (not to be confused with the family profile)-->

2. Transfer via cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex Disk)

If re-downloading is not possible (for example, due to lack of subscription or deleted tracks), you can try copy encrypted files via the cloud. This method works because Yandex Music stores downloaded tracks in a folder /Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music, but access to it is limited.

To bypass restrictions you will need:

  • 📱 Old smartphone with root access (root) or access to system folders via ADB.
  • ☁️ Account Google Drive, Yandex Disk or other cloud service.
  • 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (or adapter for Micro-USB) for connecting to a PC.
⚠️ Attention: Without root access, you will not be able to copy files directly through Android Explorer. You will have to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or specialized file managers like FX Explorer with root mode enabled.

Instructions for users with root:

  1. Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
  2. Go to the path /Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music.
  3. Select all files with the extension .ym (these are encrypted tracks) and copy them to the cloud.
  4. On the new device, download files from the cloud to the same folder (previously install Yandex Music and log in).
  5. Restart the application - the tracks should appear in the section Offline.
What to do if .ym files are not are played?

Encrypted tracks .ym are tied to the device and account. If after transfer they do not appear in the offline library, it means:

1) On the new device it is different Account ID (even if the login is the same, it may have changed internal identifier).

2) The files are damaged during copying (check the checksums).

3) Yandex Music updated the encryption algorithm.

In this case, transfer via the cloud will not work - try other methods from the article.

3. Using a local network (Wi-Fi Direct or FTP server)

If you do not have root access, but have a stable one Wi-Fi connection, you can transfer files over a local network. To do this, the old device must act as an FTP server, and the new one must connect to it as a client. This method is faster than the cloud method, since it does not depend on the Internet speed.

What is needed:

  • 📶 Both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or use Wi-Fi Direct).
  • 📱 On an old smartphone you need to install FTP server (for example FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
  • 🔒 On the new device - any file manager with FTP support (the same FX or ES Explorer).

Step-by-step setting:

  1. On the old device, open FX File Explorer, go to Menu → FTP server → Launch.
  2. Remember the server address (for example, ftp://192.168.1.100:2221) and data to log in.
  3. On the new device in the file manager, select Connect to FTP and enter the address.
  4. Go to the folder /Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music on the old device and copy files .ym to a similar folder on the new one.

The transfer speed will depend on the power of the Wi-Fi router. On average, 1 GB of music is transferred in 5–10 minutes. The main advantage of the method is that you do not need to connect the devices to the PC.

💡

If the FTP server does not start, check whether firewall or power saving modeis blocking it. Add the application to exceptions and disable battery optimization for it.

4. Transfer via computer (ADB or manual copying)

For users without root access, but with access to a PC, the via method is suitable Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This is a debugging tool that allows you to access protected folders without becoming root. The disadvantage of this method is that it requires installation ADB drivers and basic knowledge of the command line.

What you will need:

  • 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
  • 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
  • 🛠️ Utility ADB (can be downloaded from Android Studio).
  • 📱 The mode is turned on on the smartphone USB Debugging (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times, then return to Settings → System → For Developers).

Commands for copying files:

  1. Connect the old device to the PC and execute in the terminal: 
    adb devices

    Make sure that the device is detected.

  2. Copy the music files to a folder on the PC: 
    adb pull /sdcard/Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music C:\YandexMusicBackup
  3. Disconnect the old device, connect the new one and transfer the files back: 
    adb push C:\YandexMusicBackup /sdcard/Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music
⚠️ Attention: If the folder /Android/data/ on the new device does not exist, create it manually via ADB Shell: 
adb shell mkdir -p /sdcard/Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music

Otherwise the command push will end with an error.

5. Third-party backup applications

If the previous methods seem complicated, you can use specialized backup applications. They automate the process of copying protected files, but require payment. data-i="196">Application or show advertising:

Application Does root required? Cost Features
Titanium Backup ✅ Yes Free (Pro - ~300 ₽) Creates a backup copy of the application along with the data, but music can only be restored on a device with the same account.
App Backup & Restore ❌ No Free Copies only APK and cache, music cannot be transferred.
Swift Backup ✅ Yes Free (Pro - ~200 ₽) Supports selective recovery of application data, but requires root.
Helium ❌ No (but requires a PC) Free Backs up data via ADB, but does not guarantee the functionality of the transferred tracks.

Of those listed, only Titanium Backup and Swift Backup theoretically can transfer music, but:

  • 🔐 The tracks will remain encrypted and linked to the account.
  • 🔄 When restoring on a new device, you will have to log in under the same profile Yandex Music.
  • ⚠️ There is no guarantee that the files data-i="219">will be recognized by the application after restoration. .ym will be recognized by the application after recovery.
💡

Third-party backup applications do not decrypt tracks Yandex Music. They only copy encrypted files, which may not work on a new device without proper linking to the account.

6. Alternative method: recording sound from the screen

If all the previous methods did not work, the last option remains - record sound from the screen of the old device and save it in MP3 format. This violates the user agreement Yandex Music, but is technically possible. The sound quality will be lower than the original due to compression.

To record you will need:

  • 🎤 An application for recording sound from the internal speaker (for example, Internal Audio Recorder - requires root or ADB).
  • 🎵 Music player (you can use the application itself Yandex Music).
  • 🖥️ A app for converting recorded files to MP3 (for example, Audacity).

How to record tracks:

  1. Install Internal Audio Recorder and configure the sound source on Internal Audio.
  2. Start playing the track in Yandex Music and at the same time start recording.
  3. After completion, export the file in format WAV or M4A.
  4. Transfer the file to a new device and convert to MP3 if necessary.
⚠️ Attention: Recording sound from the screen may be blocked copy protection (DRM) In this case, the track will be recorded with distortion or will not be played back at all. Also keep in mind that such use of the content may violate copyright.

Comparison of transfer methods

Method Complexity Required root? Is quality maintained? Legality
Re-download ⭐ (simple) ❌ No ✅ Yes ✅ Legal
Cloud (Google Drive) ⭐⭐ (average) ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ⚠️ Gray method
Local network (FTP) ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) ❌ No ✅ Yes ⚠️ Gray method
ADB (via PC) ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) ❌ No ✅ Yes ⚠️ Gray method
Sound recording ⭐⭐ (average) ✅ Yes/❌ No ❌ No (quality loss) ❌ Illegal

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer music from Yandex Music to iPhone?

No, this is not possible directly. The files .ym are not compatible with iOSand the iPhone application uses a different cache format. The only option is to re-download the tracks through the app on your iPhone (if you have a subscription) or use the sound recording method (see section 6). Yandex Music for iPhone uses a different cache format. The only option is to re-download the tracks through the iPhone app (if you have a subscription) or use the audio recording method (see section 6).

Why are the tracks not displayed offline after transfer?

This is due to:

  1. Account mismatches — files .ym attached to a specific profile.
  2. Application updates — Yandex Music could change the encryption algorithm.
  3. File damage when copying (check the checksums).

Try to uninstall and reinstall the application, then transfer the files again.

Is it possible to convert .ym to MP3?

Technically yes, but for this you need:

  • Decrypt files (knowledge of the encryption algorithm is required Yandex Music).
  • Use specialized scripts (for example, on Python with the library pycryptodome).

There are no ready-made public tools for this, since the distribution of decrypted tracks violates license agreement.

How many devices can be used for offline listening?

The limits depend on the tariff:

  • Free account: 1 device.
  • Yandex Plus Music: up to 5 devices.
  • Family subscription: up to 6 devices (1-2 for each family member).

To free up a slot, delete the application cache on an unnecessary device or de-authorize in your account settings.

What happens if you delete a music folder manually?

When you delete a folder /Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/music:

  • All downloaded tracks will disappear from the section Offline.
  • The application will automatically recreate the folder the next time you download.
  • If the folder is deleted on root level (with root), the application may break down.