Apple Music Transfer Tool Launches in Nearly All Countries, Simplifying Switching From Spotify

[MacRumors]

Apple this month expanded its music transfer tool to almost all countries where Apple Music is supported, simplifying the transition from services like Spotify to Apple Music.

The transfer tool lets users import their playlists and libraries from competing streaming services into Apple Music.

Apple initially began testing the transfer tool in Australia and New Zealand in May, and then expanded it to the U.S. and six other countries in late August. It's now available worldwide, with the exception of China Mainland, Myanmar, and Russia, according to a new Apple Support document.

To use the Transfer to Apple Music feature, iPhone and iPad users can go to Settings > Apps > Music and tap on the Transfer Music from Other Music Services option. From there, choose a music service, sign into the service, and decide what to transfer.

Apple says that what can be transferred will vary by music service and what is available in the Apple Music catalog, but it is designed to transfer songs, albums, and playlists. In addition to Spotify, the transfer option works with streaming music services from Amazon, Deezer, Tidal, and YouTube. Apple partnered with SongShift for the transfer functionality.

In cases where an exact match for a song isn't able to be located, Apple will flag the music as Needs Review, displaying alternate versions that can be selected. Apple warns that some content might not be available or have an exact match in ‌Apple Music‌, and the company also says that only user created playlists can be transferred, not playlists created by another music service.

When going through the transfer process, source playlists and libraries in the other music service are not impacted and remain available.

(Thanks, Erdinc!)

Article Link: Apple Music Transfer Tool Launches in Nearly All Countries, Simplifying Switching From Spotify

 

[tomtad]

Out of curiosity do Spotify offer something similar for the other way around?

 

[Keebler]

I did this a few weeks ago. I’m in Canada and it worked spectacularly.

 

[elgipsy]

About time..... won't use it cause I'm already on Apple Music but all music providers should be forced to provide such tool so that customers can change from one service to the other easily.

 

[rexhunt]

Is it only availbenon MacOS as its not in ios26 on my 16PM

 

[jimimac71]

Out of curiosity do Spotify offer something similar for the other way around?

I don't pay (yet) for a music service.
Spotify offers an import feature. I guess most do.
Like YouTube Music, which is free with ads, I don't know if you need to be a subscriber or not. I would use Apple Music if free with ads.
Thinking Apple could make as much, if not more income, with ads.
Others are going with that concept.

 

[carswell]

Can't check because I no longer have an Apple Music account or the app installed on my iPhone but does it work with Qobuz?

 

[Ntombi]

Oh, thank goodness. I’ve been slowly transferring my music and playlists from Amazon Music, but I’m lazy about it and taking months when it should have only taken a couple of weeks. I’m sick of paying for two services.

I just did it, and the phone is transferring now.

 

[Ntombi]

Can't check because I no longer have an Apple Music account or the app installed on my iPhone but does it work with Qobuz?

Here’s the list.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Thanks, Apple. What I'd like is a tool that allows me to transfer my data and playlists from the Music app to almost any other app that doesn't suck as much. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

[LordArchie]

TBH, Apple Music has really leap frogged over Spotify

 

[sxbino]

Hoping that someday they add the ability to scrobble with last.fm, it's the only thing attaching me to Spotify

 

[webbuzz]

Would love to subscribe to Music, but the two times I trialed it, Music change a lot of metadata and artwork. Has that been fixed?

 

[aidler]

I personally like to diversify the services I use as much as possible. So, whatever you think of Spotify, I don't use it, and I will continue to use it because it is a great music service, but because it is not part of Apple (or Google).

 

[carswell]

Here’s the list.

View attachment 2549535

Thanks. Unfortunate that Qobuz isn't on the list.

Now that Apple Music plays back in lossless and hi-res on Sonos (my sound system), I'd been thinking of switching back. I like Qobuz and it reportedly sounds a little better than competitors but I listen mainly to classical (and jazz) and, the service's other issues notwithstanding, Apple Classical's search function is light years ahead of Qobuz's for that repertoire. But recreating my favourites list and playlists in AM would be a daunting task.

 

[Terrinb]

TBH, Apple Music has really leap frogged over Spotify

Agreed. Apple has been continuing improving the App. Added lots of fun Karaoke features.

 

[Terrinb]

Thanks, Apple. What I'd like is a tool that allows me to transfer my data and playlists from the Music app to almost any other app that doesn't suck as much. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

It seems like the party you want to switch to would be the one to devil the tool. Just saying. When you end up back in Apple Music at least you will have a tool.

 

[officialtlong]

I'm blown away this took 10 years to implement... Steve would have had it mandatory at launch. I remember him going on and on about iTunes Match at one of his last keynotes. It's an important feature to make people comfortable in your system and make it easy to switch...

 

[justanotherdave]

Instead of the usual wait cursor when things are processing they should have an emoji of Daniel Ek crying. By the time it’s finished he should simply wash away.

 

[matthew12]

Man, would've loved this 10 damn years ago with Apple Music launched.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

It seems like the party you want to switch to would be the one to devil the tool. Just saying. When you end up back in Apple Music at least you will have a tool.

Sorry the sarcasm in my post wasn't more obvious. Next time I'll add the "thank you for your attention..." quote, the winking emoji AND a "/s" just to make sure.

 

[jimimac71]

Thanks. Unfortunate that Qobuz isn't on the list.

Now that Apple Music plays back in lossless and hi-res on Sonos (my sound system), I'd been thinking of switching back. I like Qobuz and it reportedly sounds a little better than competitors but I listen mainly to classical (and jazz) and, the service's other issues notwithstanding, Apple Classical's search function is light years ahead of Qobuz's for that repertoire. But recreating my favourites list and playlists in AM would be a daunting task.

Being an old man, AM means radio. <giggles>
Lossless means nothing to me, but Spotify is finally going there too.
I may get a replacement iPad in the not to distant future and would hope for free Apple Music for 90 days. Once hooked, I just might have to stay.
Make my day Apple!

 

[Ntombi]

Thanks. Unfortunate that Qobuz isn't on the list.

Now that Apple Music plays back in lossless and hi-res on Sonos (my sound system), I'd been thinking of switching back. I like Qobuz and it reportedly sounds a little better than competitors but I listen mainly to classical (and jazz) and, the service's other issues notwithstanding, Apple Classical's search function is light years ahead of Qobuz's for that repertoire. But recreating my favourites list and playlists in AM would be a daunting task.

Yeah, I’m really enjoying Apple Music Classical. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best I’ve found so far.

 

[Doubleujay]

Why switch to Apple Music when Apple still hasn’t figured out proper integration with BlueSound for true lossless streaming? AirPlay 2 just doesn’t cut it. I’ll stick with Tidal.

 

[East India Company]

And this easy switching is made possible thanks to Spotify providing its APIs to automate such transfers.
Of course Apple doesn’t allow the same because it’s strategy is to trap customers and make sure the pain of switching is too high to act.