Exporting iTunes Library and Playlists to Plex

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Level 1

29 points

Exporting iTunes Library and Playlists to Plex

I searched but couldn't find anything regarding this but I feel like it's not very likely that no one else has this question.

After losing all the music on my PC 3 years ago and rebuilding my library and playlists, I just got everything back to 100% functional and accurate this morning....but not without the gnashing of teeth.

Now, I'm interested in figuring out how to export mt library and playlists to PLEX. I actually have already set up PLEX to grab all my music but iTunes doesn't have ALL my music and it's a cleaner experience. More importantly, I don't want to have to rebuild playlists, specifically for PLEX. I'd also prefer not to have to add new songs to iTunes playlists and then have to add them again to PLEX playlists.

Is this possible?

I've been using iTunes since I bought my 1st gen iPod, so many years ago. Today, I love having my entire library on my phone. However, while at home, I appreciate the functionality of PLEX, which allows me access to ALL my media as well as live TV, which I can also take with me, no matter where I go (as long as I have decent cell service). I even share access with my 90 year old mother in law, who has no local TV reception. I put the app on her TV and she gets all the channels she would get if she could only receive the signals....she's gotten pretty good at streaming too. She's a Rock Star.

Edit:

Sorry, I forgot to add

Windows 10 21H2, OS Build 19044.1766, Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4180.0. iTunes 12.12.4.1 and iOS 15.5 on iPhone 11 Pro Max 512GB

Posted on Jun 30, 2022 6:08 AM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

278,155 points

Jun 30, 2022 12:53 PM in response to NFLMVP

NFLMVP wrote:

Do I have to do this every time I change my playlists?

I believe so. It has been a while since I looked at the process. It may depend on whether you have iTunes routinely generate an XML file whenever the library changes, and whether the Plex iTunes plugin monitors this file. See https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-sync-itunes-playlists-to-plex-on-a-mac/511231 for background (ignore the Mac bit, process should be the same).

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,155 points

Jun 30, 2022 12:39 PM in response to NFLMVP

File > Library > Export Library... and generate an XML file. It should be possible to import this into Plex. iTunes DRM protected media such as purchased movies and TV shows won't work in Plex.

tt2

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Answer 3

NFLMVP Author

Level 1

29 points

Jun 30, 2022 12:45 PM in response to turingtest2

Do I have to do this every time I change my playlists?

I'm not worried about DRM as I rip all my own content and other than that U2 album that Apple forced on us years back, I have no media purchased from Apple.

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Answer 4

NFLMVP Author

Level 1

29 points

Jun 30, 2022 2:25 PM in response to turingtest2

OK (deep breath), I'll look into it. Thanks.

If I have to continually update the file and export it to Plex every time I add to the playlist, it may not be worth the effort and simply building it on Plex and adding new tunes to both playlists may be less cumbersome.

Thanks for the input.

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