sodcalculator

10 Tech How-To

How to Import Spotify Playlists to Apple Music

Guide 10-8883 · Updated · Step by step

Moving your playlists from Spotify to Apple Music doesn’t require starting from scratch. This guide walks you through the entire process using a free third-party transfer service, so you can keep your carefully curated collections without manually rebuilding them. You’ll need your Spotify account login, your Apple Music subscription (or free trial), and a computer or mobile device with a web browser.

What You’ll Need

  • An active Spotify account (free or Premium works)
  • An Apple Music subscription or active free trial
  • A device with internet access and a web browser (phone, tablet, or computer)
  • Access to the email account associated with your Spotify profile (for verification)

Step-by-Step

  1. Choose a transfer service. Several free and paid services exist, such as TuneMyMusic, FreeYourMusic, and Soundiiz. For this guide, we’ll use TuneMyMusic because it’s free for up to 500 songs and doesn’t require installing software. Open your browser and go to tunemymusic.com.
  2. Select the source. On the homepage, click the “Spotifyâ€� icon. You’ll be prompted to log in to your Spotify account. Click “Agreeâ€� to allow the service to view your playlists. This is a standard OAuth authorization—it does not give the service your password, only permission to read your playlists.
  3. Pick your playlists. After connecting, you’ll see a list of your Spotify playlists, including any you’ve created and any you follow. Check the box next to each playlist you want to transfer. You can also select all playlists at once using the checkbox at the top. Click “Nextâ€�.
  4. Choose the destination. Now click the “Apple Musicâ€� icon. You’ll be asked to sign in to your Apple ID. Enter your Apple ID credentials and click “Sign Inâ€�. You may need to complete two-factor authentication if you have it enabled.
  5. Authorize the transfer. After signing in, the service will ask for permission to add playlists to your Apple Music library. Click “Allow� or “Authorize� to grant access.
  6. Start the transfer. Review the summary screen showing the number of playlists and songs. Click “Start Movingâ€� (or similar). The service will begin matching songs from Spotify to Apple Music’s catalog. This can take a few minutes depending on how many songs you’re moving.
  7. Wait for completion. Once the transfer finishes, you’ll see a success message. Some songs may not match perfectly (see Troubleshooting below). Click “Doneâ€�.
  8. Check your Apple Music library. Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android device. Go to Library → Playlists. You should see your imported playlists. Note that it may take a few minutes for them to appear on all devices if iCloud Music Library is syncing.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a free Spotify account: While free accounts work, some transfer services may have limitations. Make sure your playlists are public or at least accessible—private playlists might not appear.
  • Not having an Apple Music subscription: You must have an active Apple Music subscription (or trial). The free “iTunes Matchâ€� or just having an Apple ID is not enough—Apple Music is required for the playlists to sync.
  • Selecting “Followedâ€� playlists by mistake: If you select a playlist you follow but didn’t create, the transfer might fail or copy an empty playlist. Only select playlists you own unless you specifically want to copy someone else’s.
  • Logging into the wrong Apple ID: Make sure you’re signed into the same Apple ID that has your Apple Music subscription. If you have multiple Apple IDs, double-check before authorizing.
  • Closing the browser tab during transfer: The transfer runs in your browser. Closing it mid-process can interrupt the transfer, leaving you with partial playlists.

Tips

  • Clean up your Spotify playlists first: Remove any duplicate songs or tracks that aren’t available on Apple Music. This reduces the number of unmatched songs.
  • Use a desktop browser: While mobile browsers work, the interface is easier to manage on a computer, especially when selecting many playlists.
  • Transfer in batches: If you have hundreds of playlists, split them into groups of 10-20 to avoid timeouts.
  • Check for regional differences: Some songs available on Spotify in your country may not be on Apple Music in your country, and vice versa. This is normal and not a service error.
  • Export a backup: Before transferring, export your Spotify playlists as a CSV or text file using the service’s “Exportâ€� feature. This gives you a backup in case something goes wrong.

Troubleshooting

  • Some songs didn’t transfer: This is common. The service couldn’t find an exact match in Apple Music’s catalog. You can manually search for these songs in Apple Music and add them. TuneMyMusic also offers a “Fixâ€� option that suggests alternative matches—click on the unmatched songs and pick the correct one.
  • Playlists appear empty in Apple Music: This usually happens when the transfer service didn’t have permission to add songs, or the songs weren’t found. Go back to the service and check the transfer log. If it says “0 songs matched,â€� try re-authorizing the service with Apple Music.
  • Transfer fails with an error: Wait a few minutes and try again. Sometimes Apple’s servers are busy. Also, make sure you’re not using a VPN, which can cause authentication issues.
  • Playlists don’t show up on your phone: On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings → Music and toggle Sync Library off and on. This forces a refresh. On Android, close and reopen the app.
  • Apple Music asks for payment during transfer: You must have an active subscription. If your trial expired, you’ll need to subscribe. The transfer service cannot bypass this.
  • The service says “Spotify connection expiredâ€�: Reconnect your Spotify account by clicking the Spotify icon again and logging in. This happens if you’ve been inactive for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to transfer my playlists?

Yes. You’re copying your own playlists—lists of songs you’ve curated. This is not a copyright violation. You’re not downloading music files; you’re just telling Apple Music which songs to include in a playlist.

Will the transfer copy my playlist descriptions and cover art?

Most services copy the playlist name and description, but cover art is often not transferred. You can manually set a cover image in Apple Music after the transfer.

How long does a transfer take?

For a typical playlist of 100-200 songs, it takes about 1-2 minutes. Larger libraries (thousands of songs) can take 10-15 minutes. The time depends on the service’s server load and the number of unmatched tracks.

Can I transfer from Apple Music back to Spotify later?

Yes, the same services support the reverse direction. You can use TuneMyMusic or Soundiiz to move playlists from Apple Music back to Spotify. The process is identical—just select Apple Music as the source and Spotify as the destination.

Do I need to keep my Spotify subscription after transferring?

No. Once the playlists are in Apple Music, you can cancel Spotify. However, if you cancel Spotify, you lose access to those playlists on Spotify, but they remain in Apple Music.

What if I have more than 500 songs in a playlist?

TuneMyMusic’s free tier is limited to 500 songs per transfer. For larger playlists, you can either split the playlist into smaller ones on Spotify before transferring, or use a paid service like Soundiiz (which has a one-time fee for unlimited transfers).

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →