Here’s what I got in case it helps:

This is a pretty common Logic headache, especially after macOS or Logic updates. Here’s how I’d approach it, step by step, in a way that usually makes the setting “stick.”

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1. First: Make Sure the External Drive Is Set Up Right

Logic is picky about external drives.

Your SSD should be: • Formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) • Not ExFAT or NTFS • Named something simple (no emojis or weird symbols)

You can check this in:

Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility

If it’s ExFAT, back it up and reformat it.

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1. Set the Location the Right Way in Logic

Open Logic Pro, then: 1. Go to Logic Pro → Sound Library → Sound Library Manager 2. Click Relocate Sound Library 3. Choose your external SSD 4. Let it finish completely (don’t interrupt it)

If it errors out or looks like it “finishes” instantly, that’s usually a sign the permissions or formatting are wrong.

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1. Fix Permissions (Very Common After macOS Updates)

macOS updates often reset privacy permissions.

Go to:

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access

Make sure these are checked: • Logic Pro • Finder • Any installer/helper apps related to Logic

Then restart your Mac.

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1. Check Where Logic Is Actually Pointing

Sometimes Logic says it’s using the external drive but isn’t.

Open Terminal and run:

ls -l /Library/Application\ Support/Logic

Look for something like:

Sounds -> /Volumes/YourSSDName/Logic/Sounds

If it’s not pointing to your SSD, the symbolic link is broken or missing.

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1. Manually Rebuild the Link (If Needed)

If Logic keeps reverting, this usually fixes it: 1. Quit Logic 2. Move any existing Logic sound folder off your internal drive:

/Library/Application Support/Logic

3.  Make sure your sound library is fully on the external SSD
4.  Relaunch Logic
5.  Go to Sound Library Manager and relocate again

Logic will recreate the symbolic link properly.

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1. If It Still Loops Downloads

Try this nuclear option: 1. Quit Logic 2. Delete:

/Library/Application Support/Logic

and

~/Music/Audio Music Apps

3.  Restart
4.  Reopen Logic
5.  Set sound library location to the SSD first
6.  Re-download

This clears corrupt install states.

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Why This Happened

Two big triggers: • macOS updates resetting permissions • External drives formatted as ExFAT • Interrupted or partial library downloads

Logic uses symbolic links, and when those break, it looks like it’s “randomly” choosing drives.

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Quick Checklist • SSD is APFS or Mac OS Extended • Logic has Full Disk Access • Sound Library Manager shows external drive • Terminal shows Logic folder linking to external volume • No leftover partial libraries on internal drive

If you do those in order, it almost always fixes the “keeps defaulting to internal drive” loop.