How to Transfer Music from One Apple ID to Another

By Adam Gorden Updated on June 9, 2023

transfer apple music to another id

I've been using a family apple ID for apps and music and up until now I've been the only to use apple music on it but recently my family started using it so we switched to a family plan. Is there any way to migrate my library (has both offline and apple music) from the family id to my personal id?

If you are switching to a new Apple ID, all the information including Apple Music songs from the old Apple ID will not be accessible in the new one, even will be decided as ineligible. Since you're going to use the new ID, the Apple Music account will also be renewed, the subscription as well. But is there a way to transfer music to a new Apple ID from the old one without losing any of your playlists and songs?

Yes, in the following parts, you're going to learn how to add Apple Music to another Apple ID in just a few steps.

Part 1. Can I Transfer Music Between Apple IDs?

Although Apple Music does not provide a direct method to transfer Apple Music between Apple IDs, there are some alternative ways for users to achieve the same outcome depending on how you want to access the music content.

For starters, you can export and save your library or playlists as an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file. When it comes to Apple Music on Windows PC or Mac computer, the XML file contains information about your music tracks, including the title, artist, album, genre, and other metadata. By exporting your entire music library you built up with your original Apple ID to the XML file, you can then import them to the device signed in with another Apple ID.

However, the XML files does not contain the actual music files themselves, as those are stored separately on your device. When you try to import the XML file, you may receive an error.

itunes xml file not be found

If you have put local files to the iTunes or Music app, you have to locate them on your computer manually, and then add them to another Apple ID's library. Alternatively, you can also choose to download all your Apple Music into transferrable music files there by using an Apple Music downloader.

Part 2. Transfer Apple Music from One Apple ID to Another as Data

Transfer Playlist Information and Metadata into Another Apple ID

Note

    Exporting and importing your playlist will only transfer the playlist information and metadata. The actual music files from Apple Music, including songs, albums, or playlists, cannot be transferred between Apple IDs due to Digital Rights Restrictions.

Step 1. Export Your Library/Playlist from Original Apple ID

  1. Open the iTunes or Music app on your Windows PC or Mac computer.
  2. Make sure you are signed in with your original Apple ID. Click Account, and you should see your Apple ID information.
  3. You can export some specific playlists or entire library with all your playlists. To export your entire library, click File > Library > Export Library, then save your library as an XML file named "Library.xml". To export a playlist, select it in the sidebar, and click File > Library > Export Playlist, then save it as an XML file.
  4. itunes library export playlist

  5. Once you have exported the XML file, you can then import it into the new Apple ID's library or playlists.

Step 2. Import Your Library/Playlist into New Apple ID

  1. Open the iTunes or Music app on your computer and sign in with the new Apple ID. In iTunes, click Account > Sign In.
  2. itunes songs empty

  3. You can import your playlists or entire library using the XML file. To import the XML file into your new Apple ID's library, click File > Library > Import Playlist, then select the XML file to open.
  4. import playlist itunes

  5. In the sidebar under Library or Playlists, you can see and access your playlists and music tracks.

Part 3. Transfer Apple Music from One Apple ID to Another as Music Files

If you need to transfer your music into another Apple ID as music files, you can transfer the local files, your purchased music and even all your Apple Music.

Transfer Local Files into Another Apple ID

If you need to transfer your local files to another Apple ID's library, you have to locate them on your computer and then add them to your new music library.

Step 1. Locate Local Files on Your Device

  1. Open the iTunes or Music app on your computer and make sure to sign in with your original Apple ID.
  2. You can locate the imported music files locally on your computer. To show the local files, navigate to them under Library or Playlists section, right-click on the song > Show in Windows Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS).
  3. music file show in finder mac

  4. This will open the location of the desired local file.

Step 2. Add Local Files into New Apple ID

  1. Sign out and sign in to another Apple ID.
  2. You can add the music files to your new music library. To add the local files, click File > Add File/Folder to Library (Windows) or File > Import (macOS), and then navigate to the files to open.
  3. add folder to library itunes

  4. This will add the selected music files to the program.

Transfer iTunes Purchases into Another Apple ID

If you want to transfer your music to another Apple ID as playable music files, you can choose to download your purchases as unprotected AAC files to your device.

Note

    When it comes to the purchases in the old Apple ID, all the downloaded purchases and other contents based on them (For example: playlist) should remain in iTunes when the old Apple ID has been signed out of iTunes and still be in principle even the new account is in use.

Step 1. Download Your Purchased Music

  1. Open the iTunes or Music app and sign in with your original Apple ID.
  2. Navigate to your purchased music under Library or Playlists section in the sidebar.
  3. Select the songs or albums you want to download. You can hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Command key (macOS) to select multiple items.
  4. Right-click (or Control-click) on the selected songs/albums and choose "Download" from the context menu This will download them to your computer.

Step 2. Locate Downloaded Music Files

  1. Find and locate where the downloaded Apple Music is stored on your computer.
  2. Note

      On macOS computers: /Users/[Your username]/Music/Music/Media/Music/.

      On Windows PC: C:\Users\[Your username]\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.

  3. Open the Windows Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) and go to the default location, where all the downloaded Apple Music files are stored.
  4. Find and locate the unprotected .aac files of the purchased music.

Step 3. Add Downloaded Music Files into New Apple ID

  1. In iTunes or Music app, sign out and sign in to another Apple ID.
  2. You can add the downloaded music files to Apple Music or iTunes. Click File > Add File/Folder to Library (Windows) or File > Import (macOS), and then navigate to the downloaded files to open.
  3. music app file import mac

  4. You can check to see the added music in the sidebar.

Transfer Music Files from Apple Music to Another ID

When accessing the downloaded Apple Music, there're M4P music files that are encoded in Digital Rights Management. While the purchased music can be transferred to Apple Music, the M4P music files cannot be transferred to another Apple ID. You have to convert and download them as transferrable music files using an Apple Music downloader called ViWizard Audio Converter. Go ahead!

Part 4. Download Apple Music from Apple Music as Transferrable Files

For users have personal Apple Music collections in iTunes, it is rather easier to transfer Apple Music from multiple Apple IDs with all those local music files. For users have downloaded purchases, the pleasant experience is similar but this has come with extra costs on the ACC files. However, what comes to all those want to transfer Apple Music is the duplicate subscription fee to activate Apple Music services with the new Apple ID.

From here we offer exclusives to save efforts and costs to transfer Apple Music songs to another account - downloading actual songs with the original Apple ID to add to the new one without a new Apple Music subscription to activate.

Thing You'll Need: ViWizard Audio Converter

Comes with an intuitive interface, the ViWizard Auido Converter is designed to convert all protected tunes in iTunes from Apple Music songs to radio shows into formats compatible with iTunes, including MP3, M4V and ACC accessible from iTunes Store.

With this tool, you’ll be able to download Apple Music songs and transfer them to the new account - no more subscription requires.

audio converter

Key Features of ViWizard Audio Converter

Free Trial Free Trial

* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.

  • Convert songs, albums, and playlists from Apple Music to MP3
  • Remove DRM protection from Apple Music, iTunes, and Audible
  • Save the converted audios with the original quality and ID3 tags
  • Support the conversion of up to 100 audio formats to others

Step 1Launch ViWizard and Import Apple Music Music Files

Launch the ViWizard Audio Converter and wait until it launches iTunes. You can drag and drop the audio tracks to ViWizard interface.

add apple music songs

Step 2Setting Output Format and Parameters

Once completed loading input files, you can click the "Format" tab at the bottom and choose the output format from MP3, M4V and ACC. You can also click the "Output" button and choose the output location. Save this change with the "OK" button.

set output settings

Step 3Start Converting

With format setting done, press the "Convert" button and ViWizard will start the conversion. Once the conversion is completes, feel free to click the "Converted" button to browse all the converted songs for later transferring.

convert apple music to mp3

Step 4Transfer Apple Music Songs to Another Account

All the steps for adding the contents still work to transfer converted Apple Music songs to a new Apple ID without limits.

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