JimWine
Level 1 (8 points)
iPod

Q: Copying Playlists Onto Computer from iPod

I have an old 160Gb iPod Classic.  We bought a new computer and I downloaded my iTunes music files from the old computer to the new one using an external hard drive, and Apple's suggested method of transferring the music files.  It worked fine except that none of my Playlists transferred across to the new computer.  I would like to try to transfer my Playlists from my iPod to the new computer.  Is this possible and how do I do it?

iPod classic, Windows 7

Posted on Apr 11, 2016 3:12 PM

by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer
Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe
Level 8 (38,823 points)
Mac OS X
A:

It would be better to transfer your complete iTunes library (not just your music files) from your old computer to your new computer.  Then you'll have everything (including playlists, song ratings, play count, date added, etc.), because it's the SAME iTunes library on the new computer (not a new iTunes library with your old music files).  I don't know what "suggested method" was used, but this is the actual method that achieves the desired result

 

Manage and back up your iTunes media library - Apple Support

 

To summarize, you first gather ("consolidate") all of your iTunes data into your iTunes folder, which is located in your user account Music folder.  Then, copy that iTunes folder to an external drive, to create your backup.  On the new computer (with iTunes not running), copy that backed up iTunes folder to replace the existing (blank) iTunes folder.  iTunes then uses your iTunes data from the old computer, and everything is there.

 

iPods are not designed to be your iTunes data backup.

Posted on Apr 13, 2016 1:01 PM

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JimWine

Q: Copying Playlists Onto Computer from iPod

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 13, 2016 1:01 PM in response to JimWine
    Level 8 (38,823 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 13, 2016 1:01 PM in response to JimWine

    It would be better to transfer your complete iTunes library (not just your music files) from your old computer to your new computer.  Then you'll have everything (including playlists, song ratings, play count, date added, etc.), because it's the SAME iTunes library on the new computer (not a new iTunes library with your old music files).  I don't know what "suggested method" was used, but this is the actual method that achieves the desired result

     

    Manage and back up your iTunes media library - Apple Support

     

    To summarize, you first gather ("consolidate") all of your iTunes data into your iTunes folder, which is located in your user account Music folder.  Then, copy that iTunes folder to an external drive, to create your backup.  On the new computer (with iTunes not running), copy that backed up iTunes folder to replace the existing (blank) iTunes folder.  iTunes then uses your iTunes data from the old computer, and everything is there.

     

    iPods are not designed to be your iTunes data backup.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 11, 2016 4:56 PM in response to JimWine
    Level 10 (85,885 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 11, 2016 4:56 PM in response to JimWine

    Do you still have the previous computer? See Re: Transferring old itunes to new computer worries for a suggested migration strategy if you do. Essentially the same things as as above but sometimes it helps to have it presented differently.

     

    Otherwise in the playlists are on a device you can use a script called ImportDevicePlaylists to import the current state of the playlists into iTunes. See also SyncStats and take a read of Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device just to be on the safe side.

     

    tt2

  • by JimWine,

    JimWine JimWine Apr 13, 2016 1:02 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 13, 2016 1:02 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thanks.  This worked after some tweaking of my iPod music files, which were in different file folders and needed to be combined into one to transfer over to the new computer.  Thanks very much for your help.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 13, 2016 9:25 PM in response to JimWine
    Level 8 (38,823 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 13, 2016 9:25 PM in response to JimWine

    Good job.    FYI - The "tweaking" you describe is the Consolidate your iTunes library step in the linked procedure document.