"couldn't find project data folder" message

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

I recorded a podcast last night and saved the project. Shortly after I converted other podcast episodes to mp3 I attempted to open my most recent aup file and when I do it gives me “couldn’t find project data folder” and now it none of my previously recorded projects will open. I am on 2.4.2, any help greatly appreciated.

2

There are two parts to an Audacity project:

  1. The “.AUP” (Audacity Project) file.
  2. The “_data” folder (contains all of the audio data for the project)

Both parts are essential (see: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/audacity_projects.html#AUP)
Do you have both parts?

3

Did you move any files? An [u]Audacity Project[/u] is an AUP file plus an associated folder with many little files. …It’s easy to foul things up if you copy, move, or share projects.

4

I have both files, the .aup file is located in the folder that is labeled _data

5

the .aup file is located in the folder that is labeled _data

And that’s the problem. They have to be in the same location, but separate.

Koz

6

How would I go about separating them? I’m on Windows 10 and I’m pretty awful at all this haha

7

How would I go about separating them?

We should wait for a Windows elf. There’s just too many screen variables and optimizations and I’m a Mac elf.

I am moved to ask how the AUP file got inside the _DATA folder in the first place. Audacity doesn’t put it there when you save a project.

and now it none of my previously recorded projects will open.

Somebody needs to do the step by step with you. What you’re describing is really unlikely in a well-behaved machine.

Koz

8

I moved the file into the folder I believe. I can’t remember my reasoning for doing so haha but I’m unsure of how to remove it.

9

So the first thing to do is in File Manager, click on the “View” tab. You will see a list of three checkboxes near the top right of the screen. Make sure “File name extensions” is checked.

If this is all you did, it should be a simple matter to move it back. You should have two files in the same directory:
XYZ.aup and XYZ_data (directory). (XYZ being the name of your project).

I hope this helps. :smiley: