Music Library Doctor
Library repair

Fix missing tracks in Serato DJ

Bulk path repair across Serato's main DB and every crate file in one pass. External drives handled as 'offline'. Works with Serato DJ Pro and Lite.

Download Free → See pricing

The problem

Serato's library is file-based: each crate references absolute paths, and paths live in two places — Serato's main database AND each individual crate file. If your music folder moved, Serato marks every track as missing and there's no built-in bulk relocate. The workaround — re-importing folders manually — loses Smart Crates, breaks `%%` nested crate hierarchy, and often wipes hot cues.

How Music Library Doctor does it

  1. 1 Install Music Library Doctor and add your music folders (including external drives and network volumes).
  2. 2 MLD scans and cross-references every file against Serato's main database and every `.crate` file in `_Serato_/Subcrates/`.
  3. 3 It proposes re-links based on filename and track length, and recognizes the Serato `%%` hierarchy for nested crates.
  4. 4 Review each proposed re-link. Preview candidate files with the built-in player before committing.
  5. 5 MLD writes corrected paths to Serato's main DB and every affected crate in one pass. Open Serato — missing indicators clear up.

Supported today

Rekordbox · Serato DJ · VirtualDJ (incl. Favorite Folders) on Windows 10+ and macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel). No DJ software? Folder Library mode audits plain music folders too.

See it in action

72 seconds on a real library: 5,584 files it could no longer find, located and repaired on camera — with every candidate scored so you see why a match is a match.

More walkthroughs on our YouTube channel.

Why native integration matters

Serato stores paths in two places: the main library database and each individual crate file. Fixing one without the other leaves you half-broken — a known pitfall of manual re-imports. MLD updates both in a single coordinated pass and preserves the `%%` nested crate hierarchy. Unplugged external drives are treated as offline, not deleted, so you don't lose library entries when a drive isn't connected.

Frequently asked questions

Does this touch my Serato hot cues?

No. MLD only updates path references — cue points, loops, and beatgrids stay where they are.

What about tracks analyzed but not in any crate?

MLD repairs both the main library and every crate, so orphan tracks get fixed along with everything else.

Does it back up before writing?

Yes. The whole `_Serato_` folder is copied to a timestamped backup before any write.

Does this work on Serato DJ Lite?

Yes. The database and crate format is identical between Lite and Pro.

What happens when my external drive isn't plugged in?

Tracks from that drive are shown as *offline*, not missing. They won't be flagged for cleanup just because the drive is disconnected.

Get your library in shape in minutes

Free tier covers scanning and detection. Pro is a one-time lifetime license, or a monthly plan if you prefer. Current pricing is on the homepage.

Download Free See pricing

Download Music Library Doctor

It finds Rekordbox, Serato and VirtualDJ on its own, and reads plain music folders when you use none of them. Nothing to configure before the first scan.

macOS 10.15+ or Windows 10+. Notarized and code-signed. See pricing

Related guides

Serato 5
Serato 5 missing files: what changed, and how to fix them
Measured on a 50,611-track library with the Serato DJ 5.0 public beta. Where your library lives now, why crates can vanish, and how to tell an unplugged drive from a file that is really gone.
Library diagnostics
Your DJ library, scored 0–100
A single health score — missing tracks, duplicates, broken links, scattered folders — with one-click actions to push it up. Works across Rekordbox, Serato, and VirtualDJ.
Library repair
Fix missing tracks in Rekordbox
Automatic bulk re-linking, encrypted master.db supported, external drives handled as 'offline' instead of deleted. Windows + macOS.