Does Crates need to copy my files to import them?

No.

Crates does not need to copy or move your files to import them.

You can simply import your existing music folders, and Crates will index them in place, preserving your current folder structure exactly as it is.

• Right-click on Collection
• Select Import files or folders
• Choose folders to import 

Note: If you use Actions like ‘Move to Collection’, or ‘Move to Archive’, Crates may move or reorganize files as part of the workflow (these can be changed in Settings > Actions).
These are optional features designed for handling unsorted files, and are not required for library imports.