Users who prefer to listen to music offline often face a lack of free memory on their smartphone. The service Yandex Music allows you to save tracks for listening without the Internet, but these files are not always easy to find in a standard file manager. This is due to the peculiarities of the Android operating system and the content protection policy implemented by application developers.
Understanding the directory structure helps not only to find the necessary audio recordings, but also to competently manage storage, transferring heavy files to a memory card or deleting unnecessary cache. In this article, we will look in detail at where exactly the data is located, how to identify it, and what nuances should be taken into account when working with the file system of modern versions of Android.
It is worth noting right away that the path to the files may differ depending on the version of the operating system and the model of your device. However, the general logic of data placement remains unchanged, which makes it easy to navigate the folder structure even after updating the software.
Features of storing offline content
When you click the download button in the application, the music is not saved in the usual MP3 format in the “Downloads” folder. Instead, a specific directory structure is used to protect copyright. Files are split into small segments and packed into containers that can only be read by the application itself encryption and a specific directory structure designed to protect copyright. Files are split into small segments and packed into containers that can only be read by the application itself Yandex Music.
This approach, known as DRM (Digital Rights Management), prevents tracks from being easily copied and distributed outside the service. That is why you cannot simply copy the found file to your computer and open it with a standard player without special manipulations or conversion.
In addition, modern versions of Android, starting with version 11, have tightened the rules for accessing system folders. Now, to view the contents of some directories, you may need to provide special permissions or use the system's built-in file manager rather than third-party applications.
⚠️ Attention: Directly editing or renaming files in the application's system folders may lead to incorrect operation of the service, disappearance of tracks from playlists, or complete inoperability of the offline listening function.
Standard path to files on Android 10 and below
On devices with older versions of the operating system, access to the file system was more open. To find downloaded tracks, you need to go to the root directory of the internal storage. The path associated with the development package is most often used.
You need to open the file manager and follow the following route: /sdcard/Yandex/Music/. In some cases, especially on devices with a pure operating system, the path may look different: /Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/. This is where the main application data is located.
Inside the folder you will find several subdirectories, but you should be interested in the section often called download or tracks. Encrypted blocks of audio files are stored here. Their extension may be non-standard, for example .ymf or absent altogether, which makes them invisible to regular audio players.
- 📂 Open the "Files" or "Explorer" application on your smartphone.
- 📂 Go to the "Internal Storage" section.
- 📂 Find the folder named
Yandexor go toAndroid/data. - 📂 Look for the directory
ru.yandex.musicand the folder inside itfiles.
If you are using a device from the manufacturer Xiaomi or Samsung, the standard Explorer may hide some system folders. In this case, it is recommended to enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings or use a more advanced tool such as Total Commander.
To quickly navigate to a folder, use the “Favorites” function in the file manager so as not to search for the full path again every time.
Search for tracks on Android 11, 12, 13 and later
With the release of new versions of Android, Google has implemented a policy Scoped Storage (limited storage). This has significantly changed the rules of the game: applications no longer have free access to the entire file system, and the user is limited in the rights to view the folder Android/data.
Now standard Explorer may show this folder empty or not display its contents at all. To access music, you may have to use the built-in file manager, which will ask for special permission, or connect to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP).
The path remains the same: Android/data/ru.yandex.music/files/, but it becomes more difficult to enter. The security system strives to protect application data from outside interference by treating it as confidential. Therefore, when you try to open a folder, you may see a request to grant access.
| Android version | Access to Android/data | Required actions |
|---|---|---|
| Android 9 and below | Full | Available immediately through any explorer |
| Android 10 | Limited | Access confirmation required |
| Android 11+ | Locked | Requires system explorer or PC |
| Android 13+ | Strict | Permission required for each file type |
It is important to understand that these restrictions apply not only to Yandex Music, but also to other applications that store data in general directory. This is a global change in the security architecture of the mobile platform.
⚠️ Attention: Shell interfaces (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS) may change. If you do not find the described folders, check the current structure in the official documentation of the manufacturer of your smartphone.
Deciphering formats and file names
Even after finding a folder with music, you may encounter incomprehensible file names. Instead of the usual “Artist - Song.mp3” you will see a set of characters, for example 14829301.ymf or simply long digital identifiers. This is done to optimize the operation of the application database.
Format .ymf (Yandex Music Format) is a proprietary container. Inside it there may be an audio stream in the codec Ogg Vorbis or AAC, but it is packaged and encrypted. Decryption keys are stored separately and tied to your account and a specific device.
Attempts to change the file extension manually by simply renaming it to .mp3 will not lead to the desired result. The file will not be played because its internal structure is broken and there is no header that is understandable to standard decoders.
- 🎵 Files have unique hash sums to check integrity.
- 🎵 Metadata (covers, titles) are stored in a separate SQLite database.
- 🎵 Without authorization in the application, playback of these files is impossible.
There are third-party utilities that can convert these files, but their use often violates the user agreement of the service and may be unsafe for your device. It is better to rely on the standard application tools.
Is it possible to restore deleted tracks?
If you deleted a file from the Yandex Music folder, you can only restore it by downloading it again from the service cloud, since the local copy will be damaged or lost forever.
Memory management and clearing the cache
Downloaded music takes up a significant amount of memory, and over time this can become a problem. The application does not always correctly delete temporary files when you cancel downloading a track. Therefore, periodic manual checking of the storage can be useful.
To clear unused data, you can use the built-in tools of the system. Go to Settings → Applications → Yandex Music → Storage. Here you will see a Clear Cache button. This action is safe and will not delete your playlists, but can free up several gigabytes of space.
If you want to delete specific tracks, it is more correct to do this through the interface of the application itself, and not through the file manager. When deleting through the app, it will automatically find the corresponding files in memory and delete them correctly, updating the database.
☑️ Clearing smartphone memory
It is also worth paying attention to the download quality settings. If you set the quality to high (for example, “High” or “Maximum”), each track will take up 2-3 times more space than with standard settings.
Transferring music to a memory card
Many users want to transfer music to an SD card to free up internal space. Unfortunately, modern versions of Yandex Music and Android often do not allow you to change the default save path to an external memory card for reasons of security and stability.
However, if your smartphone model and OS version support the application working with an external memory card, you can try changing the settings in the application itself. Log in Settings → Quality and storage → Download folder. If there is no such option, it means that the manufacturer of your device has blocked this feature at the system level.
In some cases, formatting the memory card as internal storage (Adoptable Storage) helps. This turns the SD card into part of the system partition, after which the application can start using it to store data. But this process requires formatting the card, which will delete all data on it.
⚠️ Attention: When formatting the card as internal storage, it is encrypted and cannot be read by other devices. Do not remove such a card without first unmounting it.
The most reliable way to free up space is to delete old albums through the app, rather than searching for files manually in the system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why I don’t see the folder Android/data on a new phone?
Starting with Android 11, access to this folder is restricted by the security system. Use the built-in file manager or connect your phone to your computer to get full access to the content.
Can I copy music to another phone?
Simply copying files will not allow you to play them on another device, since they are tied to your account and have DRM protection. You need to download the tracks again through the app on the new device.
Where is the cache of album covers stored?
Covers are usually stored in a folder cache inside the application directory. They can take up significant space, but are deleted automatically if there is not enough memory or manually through the app settings.
How to learn how much space Yandex Music takes up?
Go to your phone settings, select “Applications”, find Yandex Music. It will show the total size divided by the application size, user data and cache.
Will the tracks disappear when you delete the application?
Yes, when you delete the application, all downloaded offline tracks will be permanently deleted from the device. Your list of tracks and playlists will be saved in the cloud and will be available after re-installing and logging into your account.