BTR AMP
BTR AMP runs on Apple-silicon Macs as the iPad app. Your iTunes Library (the Music app’s library) scans normally, but macOS handles access to the Music app’s files, and to protected or not-yet-downloaded songs, differently from iPhone and iPad. The differences only show up when you press play. This page explains what you’ll see and what to do.
Requires BTR AMP 22.2.2 or later. On earlier builds, no iTunes Library song plays on a Mac at all. If you’re on an older version, update first.
Why won’t my Music library songs play on my Mac?
Short answer: update to BTR AMP 22.2.2, then grant access to your music folder when asked.
On a Mac there are three kinds of songs in a Music library, and BTR AMP treats each differently:
| Song type | What you’ll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Files on your Mac (purchased, ripped, or imported into Music) | An “Allow Access to Your Music” prompt the first time | Choose the folder once; it plays from then on |
| Cloud songs (iCloud Music Library, iTunes Match, purchases you haven’t downloaded) | “Download this song in the Music app to play it in BTR AMP” | Download it in Music, then it plays |
| Protected songs (Apple Music subscription, older protected iTunes purchases, Apple Books audiobooks) | “This protected item can only be played in Apple’s Music or Books app” | Play it in Apple’s app; BTR AMP can’t play it on a Mac |
Each case is covered in detail below.
What is the “Allow Access to Your Music” prompt, and is it safe?
macOS requires your permission before BTR AMP may read the folder that holds your Music library’s files. The first time you play one of these songs (or right after the library scan finishes), BTR AMP shows an alert titled Allow Access to Your Music. It names the folder it needs, for example MUSIC, and has a Choose Folder button.
Tap Choose Folder, pick the named folder in the macOS folder chooser, and playback starts.
A few things to know:
- It’s read-only. BTR AMP only reads your music files. It never modifies, moves, or deletes them.
- You only do it once. The permission is remembered across restarts. If your library is spread over several folders or an external drive, you’ll be asked once for each folder.
- A background rescan follows. After you grant access, BTR AMP rescans the library in the background to fill in file details it couldn’t read before (codec, sample rate, ReplayGain). On a large library this can take a few minutes.
Tip: You can check which folder Music uses in the Music app under Settings > Files > Music Media folder location. Songs added to Music “by reference” can live anywhere on your Mac, which is why the alert names a specific folder.
The folder chooser opened in the wrong place. What do I pick?
The folder chooser may open at the top of your disk rather than at the right folder. The alert tells you the name of the folder to find. Navigate to it and choose it.
If you pick a folder that doesn’t contain the music, BTR AMP tells you so and asks again for the named folder. If you’re not sure where your music is, check Settings > Files > Music Media folder location in the Music app.
Why does BTR AMP say to download the song in the Music app?
The song isn’t on your Mac. It’s in the cloud (iCloud Music Library, iTunes Match, or a purchase you haven’t downloaded), and BTR AMP can’t play cloud songs on a Mac until they’re downloaded.
When you tap one, BTR AMP shows Download this song in the Music app to play it in BTR AMP and nothing else happens. BTR AMP does not launch the Music app for you.
Fix: download the song in the Music app. After BTR AMP’s next library sync it becomes a normal on-disk song and plays like any other.
Why can’t BTR AMP play my Apple Music or protected songs on the Mac?
Protected (DRM) items can only be played by Apple’s own apps. That includes Apple Music subscription songs, older protected iTunes purchases, and Apple Books audiobooks.
When you tap one, BTR AMP shows This protected item can only be played in Apple’s Music or Books app. Downloading doesn’t help. Play these in the Music or Books app instead.
On iPhone and iPad, none of this applies: BTR AMP plays cloud and protected items there through the system player, as before.
Why are CLOUD and DRM items off by default on the Mac, and should I turn them on?
Because BTR AMP can’t play either kind on a Mac, the CLOUD items and DRM items library settings are OFF by default there. Your library is cleaner when it only lists songs that will actually play.
If you turn either one on under Settings > Library, BTR AMP shows an explanation with Continue and Cancel. Choosing Continue lists those songs in your library, but:
- Cloud songs still have to be downloaded in the Music app before BTR AMP can play them.
- Protected songs still can’t be played by BTR AMP on a Mac at all.
Turn CLOUD items on if you want to see what’s in the cloud so you know what to download. Leave DRM items off unless you specifically want protected songs visible for browsing.
Other things to expect on a Mac
- Native Music App Playback has no effect on a Mac. The Player setting that decides when the system player is used only applies to iPhone and iPad. On a Mac, BTR AMP always uses its own audio engine.
- Mixed selections skip what can’t play. If you start playback from a downloaded song in a selection that also contains cloud or protected songs, those are skipped from the queue. The usual “songs filtered” notice appears if that notification is enabled.
- Mounted folders now stay mounted. As of 22.2.2, folders mounted in the Files tab (Mount Folder) stay mounted across restarts. On earlier builds you had to Remount after each launch. After updating, remount once more and it sticks.
Can’t update yet?
If you’re stuck on a build earlier than 22.2.2, turn off iTunes Library integration and add your music folder directly via Files > Mount Folder. Your files will play, but Music-app playlists and ratings aren’t available that way.