Switching between music streaming services has long been a hassle, especially when trying to bring along your cherished playlists. However, if you’re moving between Apple Music and YouTube Music, the process just got a whole lot easier. While it’s still a bit of a struggle if you’re thinking of jumping ship to or from Spotify, there’s good news for Apple and YouTube Music users: Apple Music now officially supports direct playlist transfers with YouTube Music. So, if you’re looking to switch between these two platforms, here’s a straightforward guide on how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
New Music Service Transfer Support from Apple
In a recent move to simplify music service transfers, Apple published two new support documents:
- Transfer a copy of your music playlists to Apple Music
- Transfer a copy of your Apple Music playlists to another service
These guides outline the steps to transfer playlists to and from Apple Music. While the documents are technically service-agnostic, meaning they don’t explicitly list all compatible platforms, Apple Music currently only supports direct transfers with YouTube Music. This is a significant step forward, even though the scope of what can be transferred is still limited to playlists alone.
Unfortunately, this means that you can’t bring over your entire music library, listening history, algorithmic preferences, or liked songs—just your playlists. But hey, it’s a start!
How to Transfer Your Playlists from Apple Music to YouTube Music
To move your playlists from Apple Music to YouTube Music, follow these steps:
- Open the Apple Music Support Document: Visit Apple’s official support page for transferring your playlists from Apple Music to another service.
- Choose YouTube Music as Your Destination: Once you’re on the page, you’ll find an option to select the destination for your playlist transfer. Currently, YouTube Music is the only supported destination service.
- Initiate the Transfer: Follow the on-screen instructions to authenticate your YouTube Music account and approve the transfer. Apple Music will automatically generate a copy of your selected playlists and move them over to YouTube Music.
- Verify the Transfer: After the transfer process is complete, open YouTube Music and check your playlists to ensure everything has been moved correctly.
How to Transfer Your Playlists from YouTube Music to Apple Music
Transferring playlists from YouTube Music to Apple Music is just as simple:
- Access the Apple Music Transfer Support Page: Start by visiting Apple’s support page for importing playlists into Apple Music.
- Select Your Playlists from YouTube Music: Follow the instructions to connect your YouTube Music account and select the playlists you want to transfer.
- Set Apple Music as Your Destination: Confirm Apple Music as your target platform, and Apple will begin the process of importing your playlists.
- Complete and Check: Once the process finishes, head to Apple Music to see your playlists in your library.
The Catch: Only Playlists Are Supported…For Now
While it’s great that Apple Music now supports playlist transfers to and from YouTube Music, it’s important to remember that only playlists are currently supported. There’s no functionality for moving your entire music library, your liked songs, or your personalized listening history, which means you’ll have to rebuild some of your music experience manually.
What About Spotify?
If you’re hoping to see similar functionality for Spotify anytime soon, don’t hold your breath. Despite being the two largest players in the music streaming industry, Apple Music and Spotify have yet to reach an agreement that would allow for seamless playlist transfers between their platforms. While there are third-party tools like Soundiiz and SongShift that can help bridge this gap, official support remains elusive.
For now, the ability to easily transfer playlists between Apple Music and YouTube Music is a step in the right direction, and it’s a promising sign that music service transfers might continue to get easier in the future. So, if you’re ready to switch services without losing your favorite playlists, Apple Music and YouTube Music have you covered!