Music folder read-only after TimeMachine restore

Hello.


I have a problem with the entire Music folder on my Mac.


The problem appeared after the following scenario:

1. I was cleaning up my Music library and deleted a few pieces to the paper basket.

2. Made an error and suddenly everything for a very important artist was gone.

3. Tried to put files back from the paper basket but that option was not available.

4. Closed the Music application and restored the entire library file and all media from at TimeMachine backup made the same Morning.

5. Started the Music.app application again but the broken artist was not there.

6. Rebooted the machine, and now the missing artist appeared.


The Music.app began to show this message "The Music Library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-54)" every 10 seconds. I tried starting Music while holding down the Option key, and then selecting the Library file. A new message appeared: "The iTunes Library file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file.".

The Library file, and the entire Music folder and sub-folders appear Finder -> Info to be read/write, and not locked.

I have had the computer started several times, also in safe mode - same result.

When I work from Finder, it is not possible to change anything in the Music folder without Administrator confirmation using Touch ID or password. My wife's computer is identical to mine, and there are no problems.


Just to be safe, both Music.app and Terminal.app have been given full access to the HD in Systems Settings.

I have been doing some experiments from the Terminal.app in order to get a picture:

% cd ~

% ls -l

...

drwx------ 7 myusername staff 224 26 Mar 16:01 Movies

drwx------@ 8 myusername staff 256 26 Mar 14:52 Music

% cd Music

% echo > test.txt

zsh: permission denied: test.txt

% ls -l

drwxr-xr-x@ 3 myusername staff 96 23 Dec 2021 $RECYCLE.BIN

drwxr-xr-x@ 5 myusername staff 160 17 Apr 2024 Ableton

drwxr-xr-x@ 10 myusername staff 320 26 Mar 14:53 Music

-rw-r--r--@ 1 myusername staff 504 23 Dec 2021 desktop.ini


So even with full access to the ~/Music folder, Terminali.app and Music.app can't write to the folder.


Does anybody have a clue how to get rid of this problem?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Mar 26, 2025 10:21 AM

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Mar 27, 2025 5:09 AM in response to turingtest2

Yes, this solution helped.


I had actually been across the remedy but skipped it for several reasons:

  1. I had tested in Terminal.app using "sudo find . -type f -flags +uchg" that there were no locks.
  2. Also file info (Command-I) did not show any locks.
  3. Permissions were correct (read/write).
  4. And I didn't find the gear in order to "Apply to enclosed items ..." - in MacOS Sequoia 15.3.2 it has been replaced by a tiny circle with 3 dots.


Thank you for your help.


/R

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Music folder read-only after TimeMachine restore

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