Apple has unveiled a new tool that makes it easy to transfer playlists from Apple Music to YouTube Music, addressing a common frustration for users who want to switch between music streaming services. Previously, the hassle of manually recreating playlists deterred many from changing platforms, but Apple’s new tool simplifies the process significantly.
The tool, detailed in a recent support document, allows users to “copy” their Apple Music playlists to YouTube Music without deleting the originals. Depending on the amount of data being transferred, the process can take just a few minutes. However, there are some limitations: music files you’ve uploaded to Apple Music, collaborative playlists you don’t own, and curated playlists are not included in the transfer. Additionally, playlists can only include songs available on YouTube Music, so other audio files like podcasts or audiobooks won’t be transferred.
The transfer process is managed through Apple’s Data and Privacy page, where users can sign in and choose to “Transfer a copy of your data.” They then log into their YouTube Music (Google) account to complete the transfer. The tool works similarly to Apple’s earlier option for moving iCloud photos and videos to Google Photos.
Interestingly, Spotify, Apple Music’s biggest competitor, is not supported by this tool. However, the process can be reversed, allowing users to transfer playlists from YouTube Music back to Apple Music.
