Add audio and folders

Build your library from source folders

Audely builds its library from folders you choose. It scans audio in place, including audio inside subfolders, and imports each file as an audiobook part or podcast episode.

Supported audio

Audely supports AAC, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, CAF, FLAC, M4A, M4B, MP3, and WAV files, along with compatible audio types recognised by the system. Hidden items and non-audio files are skipped. Some files may still be unreadable when their particular audio encoding is not supported by the current system.

Information stored inside each audio file produces the best titles, artwork, audiobook or podcast grouping, dates, and part or episode numbering. Audiobooks can also use author, narrator, series, and publication information. When metadata is incomplete, Audely also uses filenames and folder context. You can correct the library later in Book settings, Part settings, Show settings, or Episode settings without changing the audio file. See Edit details for editable fields, book or show defaults, and part-specific values.

New files group by their album tag. Files without an album tag group by their containing folder, so separate folders named Disc 1 stay separate. Tagged and untagged files can form different groups within one folder. Rescanning preserves existing assignments, including groups you have renamed or corrected.

Add a source folder

Transfer audio over USB

1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable, unlock it, and trust the computer if prompted.
2. In Finder, select the device, open Files, and drag your audio folders onto Audely. On Windows, use file sharing in Apple Devices.
3. In Audely, open Settings › Library, choose Add folder, and select the transferred folder under On My iPhone › Audely or On My iPad › Audely.
4. Choose the folder’s content type and complete the import.

The transferred folders are also available in the Files app. Copying a new folder does not add it to your library until you link it in Audely.

After adding more audio to a linked folder, scan it again to import it immediately.

Choose what the folder contains

• Audiobooks imports every supported audio file as an audiobook part.
• Podcasts imports every supported audio file as a podcast episode.
• Audiobooks and podcasts opens Choose audiobook files, where you select the audiobook files in the folder hierarchy. Unselected audio files are imported as podcast episodes.

An audiobook-only or podcast-only folder remembers that choice for later scans. A mixed folder asks you to classify newly discovered audio before importing it. Choosing a folder that is already linked refreshes access and scans it with its established type instead of asking you to change it.

Local folders and iCloud Drive

A local folder exists only on that device. An iCloud Drive folder may appear on several devices, but every device still needs its own permission to access it. Audely does not sync folder permissions or file locations.

Scan a folder again

Scan after adding, moving, renaming, or changing audio inside a linked folder. Folder information shows its location and status, plus counts for audio files, non-audio files, unsupported audio, audio that is not downloaded, unavailable audio, and audio excluded from import where relevant. A source scan is a local file operation. It is separate from cross-device library sync.

For a mixed folder, newly discovered audio waits for your classification. Closing that review lets you continue choosing or deliberately ignore the files. Ignored files remain untouched and can be reviewed later from the folder’s options.

Reimport files you removed from your library

Audely remembers which items you removed from your library and skips their files on later scans. To scan the folder again and include those files, open Folder information and choose Allow reimport. On Mac, choose Allow beside Allow reimport.

If sync is on, reimported items may also reappear in your library on other devices. Your audio files stay untouched.

Remove a folder safely

Removing a folder from Audely stops the app from scanning it on the current device. Parts or episodes available only from that folder may stop playing. A library item can remain visible, but synced library data on another device does not make its audio playable there.

If a folder moves

Restore folder access with Choose folder, then select the original folder at its current location. Audely refreshes the existing folder entry and scans it, preserving library data and source audio.

If audio remains unavailable, see Troubleshooting.