We've been experimenting with Apple Music for over a month now, but there are still a few important questions that pop up with the new music streaming service, the first being "How can I import my playlists from Spotify?"

How to Move Spotify Playlist to Apple Music 9
The short answer is that you can't without using third-party software. After much research, we've found there are two fairly reliable third-party services that work well. One is called STAMP, and the other is called Move to Apple Music. Both automatically search for and add tracks from Spotify to Apple Music so you don't have to manually go through your entire collection song-by-song. While the end result is pretty much the same, each app offers different features.

Before you get started, make sure you are logged into iTunes with your Apple ID and subscribed to Apple Music.

With both STAMP and Move to Apple Music, you can download the program from each company's website. Both apps must be given special permission to control your computer.

How to Move Spotify Playlist to Apple Music 5
For STAMP, you have to allow the program to control your Accessibility features under the Security and Privacy tab in your Mac's System Preference. For Move to Apple Music, you will be prompted to first "like" a song by clicking the heart icon next to it. You will then receive a series of alerts saying that the certification is invalid. If you click "continue each time the alert pops up, eventually, you will grant access for the program to intercept your iTunes data and replicate the action of clicking the "Add to My Music" button.

How to Move Spotfy Playlist to Apple Music 13
STAMP allows you to import any .CSV file that you've downloaded to your computer. So, whether you use Spotify, Rdio, or another music streaming service to create playlists, you can export anything that works with Exportify and then import them through this program. Move to Apple Music only allows you to move playlists from Spotify or Rdio.

How to Move Spotify Playlist to Apple Music 7
However, Move to Apple Music does not lock you out of your computer while it is finding and adding tracks to your music library. The process of finding songs using these third-party apps can take hours. STAMP takes over control of your keyboard and mouse during the import process. Move to Apple Music runs in the background so you can continue to use your computer while it runs.

How to Move Spotfy Playlist to Apple Music 14
Neither app recreates the playlist directly into your music library. They find and add tracks from Apple Music automatically. You must manually create a playlist after the tracks are added.

Both apps were not able to import every song from every playlist. However, they both were just about 70 percent accurate. The error is most likely due to Apple Music not supporting certain songs, or they are listed different in Spotify or Rdio than they are listed on Apple Music, and therefore cannot be found.

Troubleshooting

In STAMP:

If you get a message that reads "No Assistive Access" you may need to start over.

How to Move Spotify Playlist to Apple Music 4

  1. De-select STAMP from being able to control your Accessibility features by clicking on the remove (-) button.
  2. Quit both the STAMP app and iTunes.
  3. Restart your computer.
  4. Open the STAMP app again.
  5. Re-enable the app to control your Accessibility features.
  6. Continue with step three above.

If you get a message that reads "Can't get window 1 of process 'iTunes.' Invalid Index," try restarting iTunes and the STAMP app. I received that error a number of times and I just kept retrying until it eventually worked.

In Move to Apple Music:
When importing playlist files to iTunes, if you receive an error message that the .txt file is not a valid format.

How to Move Spotfy Playlist to Apple Music 9

  1. Create a random playlist in iTunes
  2. Export the playlist you wish to add as a plain text file by accessing File in iTunes, selecting Library, and then selecting Export playlist.
  3. Open the file in TextEdit and reduce the size of the font.
  4. Copy the first line (name, album, artist). Then, open all exported playlists by Move to Apple Music.
  5. Replace the first line of each playlist with the line you previously copied.
  6. Save the files.
  7. Try to import the tracks in iTunes again.

If you lose your Internet connection while the program is capturing your iTunes session, you may need to cancel and restart. You could, however, wait until the session capture is complete if you don't need the Internet while it is processing.

For now, these third-party apps simply act as a workaround for allowing you to move your playlists from streaming music services like Spotify and Rdio to Apple Music. However, unless Apple adds a native feature, there are not many other options available and these two programs seem to work the best so far.

Top Rated Comments

Noble Actual Avatar
124 months ago
iTunes was already bloated and crap, Apple Music just made it infinitely worse.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PJL500 Avatar
124 months ago
Thanks, but no thanks.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
124 months ago
Apple Music is better than Spotify.



Attachment Image
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thmsup Avatar
124 months ago
Finalmente. But I guess I have to go back from Apple Music to Spotify after my 3 months trial has ended.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ART5000 Avatar
124 months ago
iTunes was already bloated and crap, Apple Music just made it infinitely worse.
Totally agree. Love Apple but you can't be king with everything.

Apple Music is bloated. Spotify is super simple! Apple music streams have lag times Spotify doesn't. Spotify has easy to make folders and subfolders and easy to go from song to ALL of that artist's music and apple music doesn't.

I don't need a super celeb radio station. I just need what I want to hear. Radio is so, you know. Why would I want to hear constant one-liners from these cele Djs? Don't get it. Quick the babble, play the music.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thmsup Avatar
124 months ago
> had a Spotify subscription for almost 2 years
> canceled it for Apple Music
> did not go back to Spotify since
> went back today cuz I had to open it in order to transfer playlists
> instantly saw 2 new recommended playlists I've never seen before with 30+ tracks each
> loved about 70%
> never had that feeling with the 12-16 track playlists at Apple Music
> now really don't like Apple Music at all anymore
> canceled subscription


Thanks for the article though.

"Personally curated" or algorithm ... Whatever Spotify is doing works way better.

And don't say it is because I used it for 2 years. I hearted songs, liked artists and all I ever got was "intro to artist xyz" with 12 of his songs of which 8 were very popular whereas the remaining 4 weren't...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Will Include These New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday February 5, 2025 7:15 am PST by
iOS 18.3 was released last month, so the first iOS 18.4 beta should be coming soon. iOS 18.4 is expected to be a more substantial update for the iPhone, with several new features and changes related to Apple Intelligence and beyond. Apple's website suggests that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, following beta testing. Below, we outline what to expect from the update so far. Apple...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive an All-New Perk

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:21 am PST by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. iCloud+ is the official name for Apple's paid iCloud storage plans, which range from 50GB for $0.99 per month to 12TB for $59.99 per month in the United States. iCloud+ plans already come with multiple perks for free, such as Hide My Email and HomeKit Secure Video, and now there is another one...
iPhone SE 4 Single Camera Thumb

iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the iPhone SE 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an iPhone 14-style design, with Apple eliminating the thick bezels and Touch ID Home button of...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Thursday February 6, 2025 7:31 am PST by
Apple is internally testing iOS 18.3.1 for iPhones, according to our website's analytics logs, which have been a consistently reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released within the next few weeks. iOS 18.3.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Apple Intelligence notification summaries for news and...
maxresdefault

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:17 am PST by
Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, but we have some hints on what's coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Updated A-Series Chip The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip that was in the iPhone 13 lineup, and it's time for...
iCloud General Feature Redux

Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor

Friday February 7, 2025 2:37 am PST by
The British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud, reports The Washington Post. The undisclosed order is said to have been issued last month, and requires that Apple creates a back door that allows UK security officials unencumbered access to encrypted user data worldwide – an unprecedented demand not before...
Apple Leak Feature

Apple Leaker Issues Apology: 'Profound and Expensive Mistake'

Friday February 7, 2025 9:21 am PST by
Last year, we reported that Apple sued its former software engineer Andrew Aude for providing journalists with confidential information about the company's future plans, including details about the Journal app, Vision Pro headset, and more. As reported by 9to5Mac, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit after Apple and Aude reached an agreement to resolve...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses to Expand to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday February 5, 2025 6:27 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states and territories offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in...