7 Ways to Transfer Your iTunes Library (Playlists) to Apple Music

Method 1: Sync a Single iTunes Library Directly to Apple Music

For users with a single iTunes library, syncing it directly to Apple Music is often the simplest option. With an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription, the Sync Library feature handles most of the work in the Music app or iTunes. Apple Music matches songs already in its catalog and uploads tracks that are unique to the library.

In the Music app, open your library, go to Preferences (Mac) or Settings (Windows), and turn on Sync Library. After syncing, playlists, albums, and individual tracks become available on any device signed in with the same Apple ID. Downloaded songs remain available for offline listening, and managing files across devices becomes much easier.

Step 1 Open the Music app on Mac or iTunes on Windows.

Step 2 Make sure you are signed in with the Apple ID linked to your Apple Music subscription.

Step 3 Click Music > Preferences > General (Mac) or Edit > Preferences > General (Windows).

Step 4 Check Sync Library (Mac) or iCloud Music Library (Windows), then click OK.

Step 5 Wait while Music or iTunes uploads and matches your songs with Apple Music. Progress appears at the bottom of the sidebar as Updating Cloud Library.

Step 6 Open Apple Music on another device signed in with the same Apple ID to confirm that playlists, albums, and tracks appear.

Step 7 Click the Download icon next to any album, playlist, or track to make it available offline.

Method 2: Select and Sync the Right iTunes Library to Apple Music

When multiple iTunes libraries exist on the same computer, selecting the correct one for syncing helps prevent accidental overwrites or missing playlists. The process still uses Sync Library, but explicitly choosing the library defines the sync source and keeps the music collection organized.

Step 1 Close Music or iTunes if it is open.

Step 2 Hold the Option key (Mac) or Shift key (Windows) and launch Music or iTunes.

Step 3 In the Choose Library window, select the iTunes Library you want to sync.

Step 4 Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.

Step 5 Click Preferences or Settings > General, enable Sync Library or iCloud Music Library, then click OK.

Step 6 Wait while the library uploads and matches your songs with Apple Music.

Step 7 Open Apple Music on another device to confirm that the selected library is synced.

Method 3: Merge and Sync Multiple iTunes Libraries to Apple Music

Combining multiple iTunes libraries brings music from different sources into a single collection. One library should be set as the main library, while playlists from the others can be exported as XML files and imported. Features like Consolidate Files and Show Duplicates help tidy up the merged collection. The result is a single synced library that preserves playlists, album artwork, and metadata across all devices.

Step 1 Decide which library will be your main library.

Step 2 Open each secondary library by holding Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) when launching Music or iTunes.

Step 3 Select a playlist in the secondary library, go to File > Library > Export Playlist, and save it as an XML file.

Step 4 Quit the secondary library and open the main library.

Step 5 Go to File > Library > Import Playlist and select the XML files you exported.

Step 6 Go to File > Library > Organize Library, check Consolidate Files, then click OK.

Step 7 To remove duplicates, go to File > Library > Show Duplicate Items, select unwanted duplicates, and delete them.

Step 8 Make sure you are signed in with your Apple ID and turn on Sync Library.

Step 9 Wait for the merged library to upload to Apple Music, then check it on other devices.

Method 4: Rebuild and Sync a Complete iTunes Library to Apple Music

For libraries that have become broken or corrupted, creating a new library and reimporting audio files, followed by enabling Sync Library, restores order. Checking for missing metadata, fixing broken file paths, and refreshing the library structure can improve the syncing experience. Playlists become easier to manage, and albums are simpler to browse after cleanup.

Step 1 Quit Music or iTunes.

Step 2 Hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and click Create Library.

Step 3 Go to File > Add to Library (Windows) or File > Import (Mac) and select all your audio files to add them to the new library.

Step 4 Right-click (Mac: Control-click) any track and select Get Info / Edit Info to fix missing or incorrect metadata.

Step 5 Ensure all files are in the correct music folder so paths are not broken.

Step 6 Sign in with your Apple ID and turn on Sync Library.

Step 7 Wait for all tracks and playlists to upload and match with Apple Music.

Method 5: Export and Import iTunes Playlists to Apple Music

For users who focus on playlists, exporting and importing iTunes playlists lets you move collections without transferring the whole library. Music transfer tools like Soundiiz can simplify this process, and XML export is also supported. Select a playlist in iTunes, choose Export from the File menu, and save it in a compatible format such as XML. You can then import it into Apple Music while keeping the original order, track names, and playlist name intact.

Step 1 Open iTunes or Music and select the playlist you want to transfer.

Step 2 Go to File > Library > Export Playlist and save it as a .txt file. Alternatively, click the More button > Share Playlist > Copy Link.

Step 3 Open Soundiiz and sign in.

Step 4 Click CONNECT TO SERVICE and select iTunes. Upload the exported file or paste the playlist link from iTunes.

Step 5 Choose Apple Music as the destination and sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 6 Review the imported playlist, adjust any details if needed, and save.

Step 7 Open Apple Music and verify that the playlist appears correctly.

Step 8 Click the Download icon if you want the playlist available offline.

Method 6: Extract and Import iTunes Music to Apple Music

Moving music files directly to Apple Music can include tracks on Windows 11, Mac, iPhone, or Android, even without an Apple Music subscription. Audio files in supported formats such as M4A (AAC) or MP3 can be added to the Music app.

Tracks protected by DRM require tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter. This software removes DRM and converts music to standard formats while keeping original audio quality. Metadata such as track titles, album art, and lyrics are preserved. Converted files can then be added using Add Files/Folder to Library or transferred to other devices, making it possible to share playlists, move tracks between devices, or keep a backup of the music collection.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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• Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
• Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
• Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
• Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details

Option 1: Locate iTunes Audio Files on Your Computer

Option 2: Convert Apple Music to MP3

Method 7: Transfer iTunes Music to iPhone or Other Devices (Without Apple Music)

iTunes music can also be enjoyed without an Apple Music subscription. On iPhone, syncing local files typically requires iTunes, while Android devices allow copying files directly to the Music folder. Although these songs cannot be streamed through Apple Music, they remain fully accessible offline, providing full local control over the music collection.

For iPhone

For Android

Conclusion:

Moving your iTunes library to Apple Music is easy and flexible. Whether you have one library or several, Sync Library makes your playlists, albums, and songs available on all your devices. Merging libraries, rebuilding a library, or using tools like Soundiiz to transfer playlists helps keep your music organized.

For songs protected by DRM or for offline use, ViWizard Apple Music Converter can turn Apple Music tracks into MP3 or M4A files while keeping the song info like titles and album art. This makes it simple to add music to Apple Music or play it on other devices.

With these methods, your iTunes music stays organized, synced, and ready to listen anytime.