> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.soundcloud-desktop.fun/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Download a track or listen offline

> Save a track as a file, a playlist for offline, all likes. And where they are

<Info>
  Need the app itself? [Which file to download](/en/install/download)
</Info>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="For offline" icon="download">
    * **Track:** click **Save offline** on the track page or in the track row.
    * **Playlist or album:** on its page click **Download -> Save for offline**.

    Saved items show up in the left menu under **Offline**.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="As a file" icon="file-audio">
    * **Track:** click **Download** on the track page or in the right-click menu and choose where to save. The file is named Artist - Title.m4a.
    * **Playlist or album:** on its page click **Download -> Download to a folder**. Pick the format, M4A or MP3, and a folder. Cover art and tags are written into the files.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="All likes" icon="heart">
    Open **Offline** and click **Download all likes**. Or **Settings -> Storage -> Cache -> Cache liked tracks**.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**To listen:** left menu **Offline** (the **Local library** page), tabs **Likes**, **Playlists**, **Cache**, **My files**. You do not need to turn the internet off.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Where the tracks are" id="where">
    Open **Settings -> Storage -> Cache location -> Open folder**. By default it is:

    | System | Folder |
    | - | - |
    | Windows | `%LOCALAPPDATA%\com.soundcloud.desktop` |
    | macOS | `~/Library/Caches/com.soundcloud.desktop` |
    | Linux | `~/.cache/com.soundcloud.desktop` |

    Cache files have no titles, only track numbers. For a file with a title use **Download** (the **As a file** tab above).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The cache takes a lot of space or I need another drive" id="move-cache">
    1. Open **Settings -> Storage -> Cache location** and click **Change folder...**
    2. Pick a folder on the drive you want.
    3. Click **Move and restart**.

    A **SoundCloud Desktop** folder appears inside the folder you picked. The app restarts.

    To make the cache smaller, set **Settings -> Storage -> Cache -> Audio cache limit**. **Off** deletes a track right after it plays.

    In Flatpak only /media, /run/media, /mnt and the Music and Downloads folders are available.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Your own mp3 and flac files">
    Open **Offline -> My files** and click **Add files** or **Add folder**. You can also drag files into the app window. mp3, m4a, flac, ogg, opus and wav work.

    The files stay where they are. You cannot like them or send them to SoundCloud.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why a track downloads first">
    The app downloads the whole track and only then plays it, so the sound does not break up. The percent on the cover is the download. Stuck at 1%: [what to do](/en/fix/tracks-not-loading).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="It does not save as a file, or there is no MP3">
    A single track saves only as M4A. MP3 exists only for a playlist or album: **Download -> Download to a folder**.

    To save a file the app needs ffmpeg: it downloads it by itself, once. Open **Settings -> Storage -> Transcode Forge**: **Engine** should say **Ready**. **Preparing** - wait, the one-time download is running. **Unavailable** - write to us and attach desktop.log: [how to write](/en/help/contact).

    The message **Cannot export to m4a: audio transcoder is still preparing or unavailable** means the same: wait until the track is processed (in **Offline** it has the **FORGING** stamp) and try again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Clear the cache">
    Open **Settings -> Storage -> Cache** and click **Clear** on the row you need. **Audio** does not touch likes and offline playlists.

    The row **Likes, offline playlists and saved tracks (protected cache)** deletes their files: you will have to download them again.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>


## Related topics

- [Is there a feature, and where](/en/use/features.md)
- [Tracks don't load or stay at 1%](/en/fix/tracks-not-loading.md)
- ["All hosts are down" or the app goes offline](/en/fix/servers-down.md)
- [A track plays only 30 seconds or is unavailable](/en/fix/preview.md)
- [Black screen or "Something went wrong"](/en/fix/black-screen.md)


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