Where Does Merlin Bird ID Store Bird Packs?
Where Merlin Bird ID keeps bird packs and sound recordings on Android and iPhone, and what to redownload.
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Merlin Bird ID downloads large bird packs per region. Those packs sit in private app storage, which is why the app can pass a gigabyte without showing files in your music or documents. Your eBird account holds sightings. The phone holds packs and raw sound recordings.
Android exposes a Merlin folder in shared storage on many builds, with recordings inside. iPhone keeps recordings in the app container until shared. Deleting a pack from inside the app is the safe way to free space. Clearing app data from settings also works but forces a full pack redownload.
Where Merlin Bird ID stores this, by platform
/sdcard/Android/data/com.labs.merlinbirdid.app/files
Bird packs live privately. Recordings often appear here too. Copy the Recordings subfolder for backup. Reinstalls wipe packs, so download regions again after sign in.
On My iPhone/Merlin
Packs and recordings live in the Merlin container under On My iPhone. Share recordings to Files to keep them. Sightings sync through eBird when signed in.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move Merlin bird packs to a new phone?
Packs live in private app storage and do not transfer. Install Merlin on the new phone, sign in if you use eBird, then open Bird Packs and download your regions again over WiFi. Packs are large, so this takes a while on slow connections.
Do my Merlin sightings survive a reinstall?
Your eBird life list syncs when signed in, since sightings upload to eBird. Sound recordings stay on the phone unless you saved them. Back up the Recordings folder on Android or share files to Files on iPhone before wiping.
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