MelissaLynD

Q: Move playlists from iPhone to iTunes

I accidentally deleted my iTunes playlists but they are still on my iPhone.  How can I copy them to iTunes on my iMac?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 1, 2012 2:12 PM

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Q: Move playlists from iPhone to iTunes

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Nov 10, 2013 2:49 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Nov 10, 2013 2:49 PM in response to turingtest2

    turingtest2 wrote:

     

    .m3u playlists are essentially a text file containing an ordered list of file paths. Given that paths to the internal storage of an iPhone are not exposed to Windows Explorer I would imagine that nothing was added to the playlist because none of the imported entries appeared valid.

     

    I could explore the script idea a little further...

     

    Each object, such as a track or playlist, inside iTunes can be accessed via its LibraryPersistentID. Playlists are lists of such IDs. As long as you're syncing/managing the device with one library each ID on the device ought to match up with one in the library so replicating information from the device to the library, such as play counts and ratings is relatively simple. If you have a "new" library, even built from the same original source files, then the IDs in the device created with an earlier library won't match. I wrote a script called SyncStats a while back to import ratings and play counts in such circumstances which I should be able to adapt for this purpose.

     

    tt2

     

    I'd forgotten about this thread: I eventually got around to writing the proposed script as ImportDevicePlaylists.

     

    tt2

  • by p'tit henry's,

    p'tit henry's p'tit henry's Dec 23, 2013 11:54 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2013 11:54 AM in response to Chris CA

    Hi,

     

    I was trying to do what you advised. But on the newest version of iTunes, you cannot see the playlist which are on the iphone/ipad.

    Anyone nows how to see these playlist on itunes 7.4 ?

     

    thanks

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 23, 2013 1:24 PM in response to p'tit henry's
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Dec 23, 2013 1:24 PM in response to p'tit henry's

    Do you really mean iTunes 7.4? The current version is 11.1.3.8.

     

    Enable the side bar with CMD+S then expand the contents of the device in the sidebar so that you can see the playlists within it.

     

    tt2

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Dec 23, 2013 1:35 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 9 (79,538 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 23, 2013 1:35 PM in response to turingtest2

    turingtest2 wrote:

     

    Do you really mean iTunes 7.4?

    Most likely means iOS 7.0.4 on the iPhone.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 23, 2013 1:40 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Dec 23, 2013 1:40 PM in response to Chris CA

    Probably.

     

    tt2

  • by p'tit henry's,

    p'tit henry's p'tit henry's Dec 23, 2013 8:14 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2013 8:14 PM in response to turingtest2

    yes, sorry , i mean IOS 7.0.4 on my iphone

  • by p'tit henry's,

    p'tit henry's p'tit henry's Dec 23, 2013 8:18 PM in response to p'tit henry's
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2013 8:18 PM in response to p'tit henry's

    thank you. I have pressed "command+s" but it does not open any window on itunes ?

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 23, 2013 8:27 PM in response to p'tit henry's
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Dec 23, 2013 8:27 PM in response to p'tit henry's

    It should open the side bar on the left-hand of the iTunes window. Ah, my mistake. Option+Command+S.

     

    tt2

  • by p'tit henry's,

    p'tit henry's p'tit henry's Dec 24, 2013 10:24 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 24, 2013 10:24 PM in response to turingtest2

    Thank you Turingtest2.

    Yes Option+Command+S opens a sort of browser on the left hand side of iTunes, where I can see my iPad , and things on it.

     

    However, there is a playlift on my iPad which is not  on my MacBook. I wanted to copy that playlist from the iPad to my MacBook. (Actually that playlist was on all my devices, it was deleted from my iPhone, than during the update of the iPhone it was deleted from the MacBook...)

     

    Do you know a way to find that playlist and copy it on my MacBook so I can synce it again on all devides ?

     

    thanks in advance

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 25, 2013 2:25 AM in response to p'tit henry's
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Dec 25, 2013 2:25 AM in response to p'tit henry's

    iTunes > Preferences > Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically.

    Connect iPad

    Select in the sidebar

    Expand playlists

    Right/option-click the playlist of interest

    Export to XML

    File > Library > Import Playlist...

     

    tt2

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 25, 2013 2:48 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Dec 25, 2013 2:48 AM in response to turingtest2

    And if that won't work (it does, I just tested it) because you've managed to lose the copy on the iPad for example, then use the method below to connect to a recent backup of the library in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder, export the playlist as an XML file, reconnect to the current library and import.

     

    HT1589 - iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one

     

    tt2

  • by Digitaldawg,

    Digitaldawg Digitaldawg Dec 27, 2013 7:40 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2013 7:40 AM in response to turingtest2

    TT2,

     

    I'm using iTunes 11.1.3.     Phone connected via USB cable.

    The device does not show up on the sidebar anymore.  The device appears on a button near top right corner, next to the iTunes Store/Library button. 

    When I select it, the left sidebar now shows me Music, etc and my playlists.  But my new playlist I created on my phone does not show up in the sidebar list.

    Ideas?

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 27, 2013 8:43 AM in response to Digitaldawg
    Level 10 (85,917 points)
    iPod
    Dec 27, 2013 8:43 AM in response to Digitaldawg

    Press Ctrl+S (Win) or Option+Command+S (Mac) to enable the sidebar. Click the disclosure triangle next to the device in the sidebar to reveal the contents.

     

    tt2

  • by p'tit henry's,

    p'tit henry's p'tit henry's Dec 27, 2013 8:52 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2013 8:52 AM in response to turingtest2

    Hi Guys,

     

    Yes, I have the same issue as Digitaldawg, some playlists only appear on the phone / iPad itself but not in the image of te iPhone/iPad in iTunes. Even when pressing Option+Command+S...

     

    I think it is in the newest version of iTunes. In previous versions i copied several times playlist from a device back to a computer.

     

    thanks

  • by Digitaldawg,

    Digitaldawg Digitaldawg Dec 27, 2013 9:13 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2013 9:13 AM in response to turingtest2

    tt2  thanks for sidebar tip.

    It still doesn't show the new playlist I have created on my phone.

    Does it think I need to 'sync' before it can see it?  That would kind of defeat the purpose.

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