Music files
The MP3, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, video, karaoke and other playable files that VirtualDJ reads from their permanent locations.
DJ Bill Bass presents
Never lose your VirtualDJ library.
Protect the music, My Lists, HotCues, saved loops, beatgrids, POIs and tags you have spent years building—and make the working library easy to move to another VirtualDJ computer when you need it.
Library protected
After every gig
Internal DJ MUSIC → portable SSD
DJ PORTABLE
exFAT · readable and writable on Mac + PC
A separate volume organizes the library. A separate physical drive protects it.
If the laptop’s internal SSD fails, both internal volumes can disappear together. The external clone—and ideally a third versioned archive—is the actual protection.
01 Why this matters
Your library is far more than a folder of songs.
The irreplaceable part is often the work surrounding the audio: the preparation, organization and personal decisions that let you perform quickly under pressure.
My Lists and List Folders
VirtualDJ’s crate equivalent: event, genre, decade, clean-only, request, wedding and emergency collections.
Performance preparation
HotCues, saved loops, POIs, beatgrid anchors, BPM, key, analysis results, play counts and track colors.
Tags and computer setup
Comments, genres, ratings, custom fields, history, mappings, pads and the settings that support your workflow.
VirtualDJ’s built-in Database Backup is valuable—but it does not copy the music itself.
VirtualDJ source ↗
It can package the database, folders, history, mappers, pads, playlists and settings. Use it as one layer, then clone the complete DJ MUSIC volume so the actual media and drive-local library data are protected too.
02 The architecture
The whole system in one picture.
The internal SSD is divided into a system volume and a dedicated DJ MUSIC volume. VirtualDJ keeps its normal Home folder on the system volume and creates a drive-local database for the media stored on DJ MUSIC.
GIG LAPTOP · INTERNAL PHYSICAL SSDTwo logical volumes
Volume 1
System
The computer, VirtualDJ application and computer-specific data.
macOS or Windows
VirtualDJ application
Default VirtualDJ Home folder
Drivers, mappings and settings
Volume 2
DJ MUSIC
The clean, dedicated root for the working media library.
VirtualDJ / database.xml
HotPlug list data for this drive
Disco / Hip-Hop / R&B
House / Latin / Wedding
DJ PORTABLE SSD
An exFAT-formatted mirror of DJ MUSIC that can be connected to another Mac or Windows computer running VirtualDJ.
Readable and writable on Mac + PC
Same root folder structure
Music and drive-local database
Writable for HotCue and list changes
Kept current after every gig
Keep VirtualDJ’s Home folder on the normal system volume. The media volume should remain a different mounted drive so VirtualDJ stores that drive’s track information in its own root
VirtualDJ/database.xml.03 Why use a separate volume?
Cleaner roots. A database that travels with the drive.
The major advantage is a predictable drive-based structure. VirtualDJ can keep the metadata for files on that volume in a local database at the root of the same drive.
Music buried inside the system accountUser-dependent
Mac: /Users/Username/Music/Disco/Artist - Title.mp3PC: C:\Users\Username\Music\Disco\Artist - Title.mp3The path includes a specific computer account name.
Track information is stored in the computer’s main VirtualDJ Home database.
The library is easier to scatter across Desktop, Downloads and Music.
Music on a dedicated mounted volumePreferred
Mac: /Volumes/DJ MUSIC/Disco/Artist - Title.mp3PC: M:\Disco\Artist - Title.mp3The username is no longer part of the music path.
The mounted volume becomes the consistent library root.
VirtualDJ stores drive-local metadata in
DJ MUSIC/VirtualDJ/database.xml.HotPlug-enabled My Lists can travel with the drives containing their tracks.
Why this setup works
When the media lives on a drive separate from VirtualDJ’s Home folder, VirtualDJ maintains a local database for that drive. Cloning the entire root copies the music and the database that contains its HotCues, BPM, comments, POIs and related library information.
04 Build the dedicated volume
Set up the computer before moving the library.
Create VirtualDJ’s built-in Database Backup and a complete independent copy of the actual media before changing the disk layout.
01
Back up both the VirtualDJ database and the media.
Use Browser Options → Database → Create Database Backup, then close VirtualDJ and copy the current music to another physical drive.
02
Open Disk Utility.
Choose the existing APFS container or volume. On modern Macs, adding an APFS volume is usually preferable to creating a rigid old-style partition.
03
Choose Add APFS Volume.
Name the new volume DJ MUSIC.
04
Use a normal APFS format for the internal volume.
APFS volumes in the same container share available free space. A quota is optional.
05
Verify that DJ MUSIC mounts separately in Finder.
The path should begin with /Volumes/DJ MUSIC/.
06
Leave VirtualDJ’s Home folder in its default system location.
On newer installations it is normally ~/Library/Application Support/VirtualDJ. Do not relocate it onto DJ MUSIC.
01
Back up both the VirtualDJ database and the media.
Use Browser Options → Database → Create Database Backup, then close VirtualDJ and copy the current music to another physical drive.
02
Open Disk Management as an administrator.
Right-click the Start button and choose Disk Management.
03
Shrink the existing C: volume.
Right-click C:, choose Shrink Volume and enter the space to reserve for the DJ library.
04
Create a New Simple Volume.
Use NTFS for this Windows-only internal volume and label it DJ MUSIC.
05
Assign a stable, recognizable drive letter.
A high letter such as M: or V: is less likely to collide with temporary USB devices. Keep it consistent.
06
Leave VirtualDJ’s Home folder in its default system location.
On newer installations it is normally C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\VirtualDJ. Do not move it onto DJ MUSIC.
VirtualDJ-specific rule: do not place the Home folder on the music volume.
The Home folder holds the main computer database and software data. Keeping it on System allows DJ MUSIC to remain a separate drive with its own portable local database.
05 Build the folder structure
Keep the library simple, permanent and HotPlug-ready.
The genre names can be yours. The important part is that every local track receives a permanent home on DJ MUSIC and that portable My Lists are built from tracks on that drive.
DJ MUSICRecommended root structure
▾ DJ MUSIC
▾ VirtualDJ
▸ database.xml
▸ MyLists / HotPlug list data
▸ VDJ COMPUTER BACKUPS
▸ 00_INCOMING
▸ Disco & Funk
▸ Hip-Hop
▸ 80s · 90s · 2000s · 2010s
▸ R&B & Soul
▸ House & EDM
▸ Latin
▸ Reggae & Dancehall
▸ Rock
▸ Wedding
▸ Current Music
Five rules that prevent most library problems
1
Give new music a permanent home first.Do not build the library from Downloads, Desktop or temporary unzip folders.
2
Keep all local performance media on DJ MUSIC.Portable lists work best when every local track they contain lives on the same dedicated volume.
3
Move, copy, rename or delete from inside VirtualDJ.Use Browser File Operations so VirtualDJ can update the database along with the file.
4
Keep My Lists HotPlug-enabled.Right-click a List Folder and make sure Disable HotPlug is not selected when the list needs to travel.
5
Never manually reorganize the root VirtualDJ folder.Treat
database.xml and its supporting folders as application data.
Add the completed root to VirtualDJ’s Search Database.
VirtualDJ source ↗
In the VirtualDJ Browser, right-click DJ MUSIC and choose Batch Add to Search DB. This indexes the folder and its subfolders; it does not move, copy or analyze the files.
06 Move an existing library safely
Move the library from inside VirtualDJ—not Finder or File Explorer.
VirtualDJ’s own File Operations can move the files and update their database information together. Make a complete backup first, then migrate in controlled batches.
1
Create two safety copies before changing anything.
Use VirtualDJ’s Create Database Backup, then close VirtualDJ and copy the current Home folder and all media to an independent drive.
The built-in backup protects library data; the separate media copy protects the actual files.
2
Reopen VirtualDJ and use File Operations → Move to.
In the Browser, select the existing music folders and move them to DJ MUSIC from inside VirtualDJ. For a large library, move one top-level folder at a time.
3
Add DJ MUSIC to the Search Database.
Right-click the new root and choose Batch Add to Search DB. Confirm that DJ MUSIC/VirtualDJ/database.xml now exists.
4
Check every portable My List.
Make sure Disable HotPlug is not selected. A HotPlug-enabled list is distributed across the drives containing its tracks; keeping all local tracks on DJ MUSIC gives the cleanest portable result.
5
Test widely, then create the first portable clone.
Load tracks from multiple folders and lists. Confirm HotCues, loops, BPM, beatgrids, comments and colors; close and reopen VirtualDJ; create a fresh Database Backup; then run the first full clone.
07 Know what must be copied
A complete VirtualDJ recovery has three layers.
The portable music volume carries the working tracks and their drive-local database. VirtualDJ’s built-in backup protects the computer-level library items needed for a fuller recovery.
1. All media files
DJ MUSIC / all genre folders
- The playable audio, video and karaoke files
- Permanent filenames and folder structure
- Any tags embedded in the files themselves
2. Drive-local VirtualDJ data
DJ MUSIC / VirtualDJ / database.xml
DJ MUSIC / VirtualDJ / MyLists
- BPM, HotCues, POIs, comments, play data and other track information
- HotPlug-enabled My Lists associated with tracks on the drive
- Copied automatically when the entire volume is cloned
3. Computer-level backup
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/VirtualDJ
PC: C:\Users\<name>\AppData\Local\VirtualDJ
- Main database and My Lists information
- History, mappers, pads, playlists and settings
- Best protected with Create Database Backup plus an occasional Home-folder archive
Put VirtualDJ’s built-in backup ZIP on the volume that will be cloned.
Database Backup guide ↗
In Options, set databaseBackupLocation to DJ MUSIC/VDJ COMPUTER BACKUPS. On the desktop machine, point it to the matching folder on DJ PORTABLE. Each full clone will then include the latest computer-level recovery package.
08 Prepare the portable SSD
Format the portable SSD as exFAT.
For this workflow, exFAT is the preferred external-drive format because both macOS and Windows can read from it and write to it without additional file-system software.
Preferred format for DJ PORTABLE
Use exFAT for the external SSD.
Recommended
When formatting the portable drive, choose exFAT and label it DJ PORTABLE. Mac and Windows both provide native read-and-write access, allowing the same music and VirtualDJ local database to move between either platform.
Mac read + writeWindows read + writeNo extra file-system driver
Workflow
Format
Practical note
Mac and WindowsPreferred
exFATBest match for this portable-library method. Both platforms can read and write the drive without extra file-system software.Mac onlyAPFSA strong Mac-only option, but Windows does not support APFS natively.
Windows onlyNTFSA strong Windows-only option, but macOS normally cannot write to NTFS without additional software.
Write access is mandatory.
VirtualDJ permissions guide ↗
A read-only drive may let tracks play while HotCues, BPM, comments, lists and other database changes disappear after VirtualDJ closes. Confirm that you can create, rename and delete a test file, then make one test HotCue or comment and verify it survives a restart.
09 Create two clearly named jobs
Direction is the most important setting.
Carbon Copy Cloner on Mac and Bvckup 2 on Windows can both support this workflow. Use explicit one-way tasks instead of an ambiguous two-way sync.
Job one · normal direction
After the gig
INTERNALNewer source
PORTABLEDestination
Create VirtualDJ’s Database Backup first
Source: the complete DJ MUSIC volume
Run only after VirtualDJ is fully closed
Review the completion log every time
01 AFTER GIG — DJ MUSIC TO DJ PORTABLE
Job two · reverse direction
Return to the gig laptop
PORTABLENewer source
INTERNALDestination
Use only after editing on DJ PORTABLE
Do not open VirtualDJ before the return copy
Confirm source and destination out loud
Test recent edits after completion
02 RETURN TO LAPTOP — DJ PORTABLE TO DJ MUSIC
Carbon Copy Cloner 7 users: force a full rescan after the portable drive has been edited elsewhere.
CCC 7 Quick Update note ↗
Hold the Option key while clicking Start to suppress Quick Update and make CCC rescan the entire source and destination. CCC will still copy only items it determines are different.
Never make both directions automatic when the drive is connected.
These jobs intentionally point opposite ways. They should require a deliberate choice so the older copy never overwrites the newer one by surprise.
10 The working cycle
Only one copy is the master at a time.
Use the buttons to see which copy owns the newest music and VirtualDJ database at each stage. This single-master rule prevents conflicting edits.
Current master
Gig laptop · DJ MUSIC
The laptop contains the newest play history, My List changes, HotCue adjustments and any media added during the working cycle.
- Create Database Backup
- Close VirtualDJ
- Run Job 01
Receiving copy
Portable SSD
The external drive is updated to match the working DJ MUSIC volume and its drive-local VirtualDJ database.
- Review the log
- Test selected tracks
- Eject properly
After the gig, the internal DJ MUSIC volume is authoritative. Back up VirtualDJ, close it, then copy the volume outward before doing any desktop library work.
11 The detailed routine
Back up VirtualDJ, close it, copy deliberately and verify.
The software is less important than the discipline: create a recovery ZIP, close the database-writing application, confirm direction, review errors and test the library.
At the gig laptop
Use Create Database Backup, close VirtualDJ normally and wait until it is fully closed. Connect the external SSD and run the internal-to-portable task.
At the comfortable workstation
Connect DJ PORTABLE before opening VirtualDJ. Confirm the drive is writable, verify the HotPlug My Lists, and work directly from the portable library.
Before the next gig
Create a fresh Database Backup on DJ PORTABLE, close VirtualDJ, connect the drive to the gig laptop and run the reverse task before launching VirtualDJ there.
Do not edit both copies independently between transfers.
If new tracks are added to the laptop while HotCues, tags or My Lists are changed on the portable drive, a simple mirror cannot know which independent changes you intended to keep.
12 Operating checklists
Use the same sequence every time.
These boxes are interactive in the browser and print cleanly as a quick-reference sheet.
Checklist A
After every gig
Checklist B
Desktop library work
Checklist C
Return to the gig laptop
13 Strengthen the system
A mirror is current. An archive remembers.
A current portable clone handles a failed laptop. A third versioned or offline copy protects against accidental deletion, corruption, ransomware or a bad reverse sync.
Internal DJ MUSIC
The normal day-to-day music and drive-local VirtualDJ library on the gig laptop.
Fastest working copyDJ PORTABLE
The current external mirror, desktop working copy and emergency performance library.
Fast replacementDJ ARCHIVE
A disconnected, versioned or off-site copy containing media, the VirtualDJ folder and recovery ZIPs.
History and recovery14 Test before an emergency
A backup is only proven after a restore test.
Connect DJ PORTABLE to another compatible VirtualDJ computer and confirm that the drive-local database and HotPlug lists behave correctly before relying on them for a live event.
Portable-library test
Expected My Lists and List Folders appear.
Recently added tracks are present.
Tracks load without an Error message.
HotCues, loops, POIs, beatgrids and BPM appear.
Comments, colors and play data are current.
A test change survives after VirtualDJ closes and reopens.
Emergency computer test
Install a compatible VirtualDJ build and sign in.
Install the required controller or mixer drivers.
Connect DJ PORTABLE before opening VirtualDJ.
Test audio outputs and load music from multiple lists.
Use Restore Database Backup only when computer-level items are also needed.
VirtualDJ gives external and separate media drives their own local database.
VirtualDJ transfer guide ↗
When the music, VirtualDJ/database.xml and HotPlug list data are correctly maintained on the drive, connecting that drive to another VirtualDJ computer carries the associated track preparation with it.
15 Avoid these mistakes
The dangerous failures are usually procedural.
Most of this system is simple. The risk comes from moving files outside VirtualDJ, disabling HotPlug, copying in the wrong direction or assuming a backup is healthy without testing it.
Running a clone while VirtualDJ is open
Close VirtualDJ first so database.xml and related files are not changing during the copy.
Choosing the wrong direction
The older destination can overwrite or delete newer work. Read the source and destination before clicking Start.
Editing both copies independently
A one-way mirror cannot intelligently merge two different sets of new changes.
Using a read-only external drive
Tracks may play while HotCue, BPM, comment and list changes fail to persist.
Moving or renaming tracks outside VirtualDJ
Use VirtualDJ File Operations so the database can follow the file to its new location.
Disabling HotPlug on portable My Lists
That keeps the list on the main computer instead of distributing it to the drives containing its tracks.
Believing the second volume is the backup
Both internal volumes remain vulnerable to failure of the same physical SSD.
Relying only on Create Database Backup
The recovery ZIP protects library data, not the actual music collection. The media must be copied separately.
16 Fast answers
Common questions about the VirtualDJ backup system.
These answers explain the difference between the media, the drive-local database, VirtualDJ’s Home folder, HotPlug lists and the backups that protect everything.
Does the second internal volume count as a backup?
No. It is a separate logical volume on the same physical SSD. It improves organization and portability, but the external SSD is the independent copy.
Why does a dedicated music volume make VirtualDJ easier to move?
VirtualDJ stores the track information for media on a separate drive in that drive’s own VirtualDJ/database.xml. Cloning the entire root carries both the media and its drive-local preparation.
What is the difference between the Home folder and the drive-local database?
The Home folder is computer-level VirtualDJ data on the system drive. A separate media drive gets a local database for the tracks stored there. Keep the Home folder in its default location and back it up with Create Database Backup.
What does HotPlug mean for My Lists?
A HotPlug-enabled list is distributed across the drives containing its tracks. When a drive is connected, VirtualDJ adds that drive’s portion of the list. Do not select Disable HotPlug for lists that need to travel.
Why is exFAT the preferred format for DJ PORTABLE?
Both macOS and Windows can read and write exFAT without extra file-system software. That lets the same portable VirtualDJ library move between a Mac laptop, Windows desktop or emergency backup computer.
Is VirtualDJ’s Create Database Backup enough by itself?
No. It protects database and application-level items but not the actual media. Use it before the full-volume clone so both layers are available.
Can I work on the laptop and desktop at the same time?
Not safely with this mirror workflow. Pick one current master, finish the work, close VirtualDJ and transfer that complete state before editing the other copy.
What about legacy M3U playlists or third-party library tools?
For the most portable VirtualDJ workflow, use My Lists/List Folders with HotPlug enabled. Legacy or third-party playlists can have different path behavior, so test them separately and keep a stable drive letter on Windows whenever possible.
17 The entire method
Five rules to remember.
This is the condensed version to put beside the DJ computer.
Rule 01Keep all local DJ media on its own clean volume.
Rule 02Keep VirtualDJ Home on System and My Lists HotPlug-enabled.
Rule 03Create Database Backup, then close VirtualDJ before cloning.
Rule 04Know which copy is master and confirm the direction.
Rule 05Keep a third archive and test recovery.
18 Official documentation
Current setup and recovery references.
Software interfaces and menu names can change. These guides cover VirtualDJ database backup, local drive databases, My Lists, HotPlug behavior, file operations, disk setup and backup software.
Create and restore a Database BackupVirtualDJ Manual ↗
Transfer VirtualDJ to a new computerVirtualDJ Support ↗
My Lists, List Folders and HotPlugVirtualDJ Manual ↗
VirtualDJ 2024+ list file formatVDJPedia ↗
Add a drive or folder to the Search DatabaseVirtualDJ Manual ↗
Move, copy, rename and delete with File OperationsVirtualDJ Manual ↗
External drives on Windows and MacVirtualDJ Support ↗
Write permissions and settings not savingVirtualDJ Support ↗
Database backup and HotPlug optionsVirtualDJ Manual ↗
Add an APFS volume on MacApple Support ↗
Create and format a volume in WindowsMicrosoft Support ↗
Set up a Carbon Copy Cloner taskBombich Software ↗
CCC 7: suppress Quick Update for a full rescanBombich Software ↗