Apple Music users can now finally transfer their playlists to YouTube Music. Until now, Apple hasn’t made it easy to move playlists to other services, so YouTube Music is the first to let you do this.
But there are a few things to be aware of. Only songs that YouTube Music has in its library will transfer over, so you’ll have to leave behind podcasts, audiobooks, and any personal music files. What is more, curated playlists, playlists shared without collaboration, and the organizational folders you've created in Apple Music will not be included in the transfer.
With those limits in mind, let’s get started!
Apple Music Playlists to YouTube Music: Step-by-Step
Here’s how to shift your playlists to YouTube Music:
- Make sure your accounts are active. Make sure your Apple Music and YouTube Music subscriptions are active to get started.
- Go to the Data and Privacy page and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Once you’re in, look for the tab saying “Transfer a copy of your data” and click on it.
- Apple will walk you through the process. Just follow the prompts to choose the playlists you want to move.
- The process may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours to complete (based on how many playlists you’re moving).
And that’s it!
A Few Considerations
Once your transfer is complete, you’ll receive an email from Apple confirming that everything has gone through.
You’ll find your playlists waiting for you in the Library tab. However, it’s worth noting that if you notice some of the songs aren’t there, it’s likely because those tracks aren’t on YouTube Music. So, you might notice a few gaps here and there.
Keep in mind that if you decide to change the playlist after it’s been moved, those changes won’t reflect in YouTube Music. Essentially, each service operates separately once the transfer is done.
Lastly, if you choose to cancel your transfer partway through, don’t worry! Any playlists that have already made the switch will still be in YouTube Music, so you won’t lose what you’ve already moved over.
Back From YouTube Music to Apple Music
Now, what if you want to go back? Transferring your playlists back to Apple Music is super simple, too:
- Go to Google Takeout to start the process of exporting your playlists from YouTube Music.
- Just follow the instructions on the screen to begin the export.
- Choose Apple Music as the target destination and log in to your Apple account.
- Click Allow so that Google has the necessary permissions.
- You will get email notifications from Apple about the transfer status at the email address linked to your account.
Go to the Data and Privacy page to view the progress or stop your transfer.
How Do I Export Apple Music?
You’re not limited to just transferring between platforms, you can also move your playlists from iTunes on your computer to another computer.
Start by opening the iTunes app on your PC. If you just want to save a specific playlist, click on it in the sidebar. Then go to File, select Library, and choose Export Playlist. Make sure to pick XML as the format. If you’d rather save all your playlists at once, just choose Export Library instead.
When you want to import a playlist back into iTunes, open the app again and navigate to File > Library > Import Playlist. Select the XML file you saved earlier, and your playlist will come back, minus any tracks that aren’t in your iTunes library.
If you need to transfer song details to another app, you can export that info, too. Select your playlist, then go to File > Library > Export Playlist, and choose Text files as your format. This will give you a detailed list of all the songs.
How to Transfer Your Apple Music Playlists to Spotify
Moving your playlists from Apple Music to Spotify isn’t as easy as it is with YouTube Music, mainly because Apple Music doesn’t have a built-in feature for this. But there are third-party services that come to the rescue. One of the most popular options is Tune My Music:
- Start by visiting the Tune My Music website.
- Pick which playlists you want to transfer. You can either move specific ones or go for all of them at once. Just keep in mind that if you select everything, it might take a bit longer to complete.
- Then, select Apple as the source and Spotify as the target. Log in to both accounts so Tune My Music can access your playlists.
- You’ll see a prompt asking for permission to access your track information. Just click Allow.
- If you’re using the free version of Tune My Music, you’re allowed up to 500 tracks at a time. If you have more music to move, there is a premium plan for $4.50 a month.
- When you’re ready, click to start the transfer.
- Once the transfer is complete, open Spotify and see if all your playlists are there.
If you don’t plan on using the sync feature later, you can revoke access for Tune My Music in the settings of both Apple Music and Spotify.
Tune My Music works for the web, while its iOS counterpart, SongShift, works similarly as a third-party transfer service for various streaming platforms, including Amazon Music, Deezer, Discogs, HypeMusic, LastFM, Napster, Pandora, Qobuz, and Tidal.
Read also: YouTube Now Lets You Remix Music Videos on Shorts
Can I Move a Playlist From One iPhone to Another?
Absolutely! If you want to transfer a playlist from your old iPhone to your new one, just open the Music app and find the playlist or song you want to share. Tap the Share icon, then select AirDrop from the options that come up. Choose your new iPhone from the list of nearby devices, and you’re all set.
So, this should cover all the different ways of moving your Apple Music playlists.
