Let T T be a topological space admitting a compatible proper metric, that is, a locally compact, separable and metrizable space. Let M T \mathcal {M}^T be the non-empty set of all proper metrics d d on T T compatible with its topology, and equip M T \mathcal {M}^T with the topology of uniform convergence, where the metrics are regarded as functions on T 2 T^2 . We prove that the set A T , 1 \mathcal {A}^{T,1} of metrics d ∈ M T d\in \mathcal {M}^T for which the Lipschitz-free space F ( T , d ) \mathcal {F}(T,d) has the metric approximation property is a dense set in M T \mathcal {M}^T , and is furthermore residual in M T \mathcal {M}^T when T T is zero-dimensional. We also prove that if T T is uncountable then the set A f T \mathcal {A}^T_f of metrics d ∈ M T d\in \mathcal {M}^T for which F ( T , d ) \mathcal {F}(T,d) fails the approximation property is dense in M T \mathcal {M}^T . Combining the last statement with a result of Dalet, we conclude that for any ‘properly metrizable’ space T T , A f T \mathcal {A}^T_f is either empty or dense in M T \mathcal {M}^T .