transfer itunes playlist from pc to mac

I've done this successfully PC-to-PC, so I'll give you instructions for that. Fingers crossed, they'll be enough of a guide for a PC-to-Mac move too.

First on the PC, find your "iTunes Music Library.xml" file. See the following document for instructions on where to find it (note that it's the .xml file you're looking for):

iTunes: What are the iTunes library files?

Transfer a copy of that file across to the Mac. (Via email or thumb drive, etc.)

Launch iTunes on the Mac and import the iTunes Music Library.xml file from the PC. To do that on iTunes for Windows, you go "File > Library > Import Playlist" as per the following screenshot:

Browse to the location of the iTunes Music Library.xml file from the other PC, select it and then open it. (Fingers crossed, the import procedure should be pretty similar on the Mac.)

I concerned that if something goes wrong, I will have lost the library that exists on the mac now....which is the exact same library on the pc...minus the playlists. Any thoughts?

🙂 I can only report on what I did, and the consequences of what I did. When I did it, things went right. I don't know what happens if it is done and things go wrong.

i recently transferred from pc to mac and followed your steps... they worked!!! thanks for your help. and as an additional note, i had to click on "show" next to my playlist area to actually show the lists i didnt think i was transfering. i actually had to delete a few duplicates because i attempted the transfer a few times. thanks again 🙂

dustinfrompa wrote:

I recently purchased a macbook pro and need to transfer my playlists from my pc to my mac. I have already transfered my library but my playlists were extensively long.

You mean you transferred the iTunes media.

The iTunes library consists of the iTunes folder and all media (usually inside the iTunes folder).

If you copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to /Music/ on the Mac then open iTunes, everything will be exactly the same.

All playlists, date added, ratings, artwork, etc. will be the same because it is the same library.

You created a new library and added the media.

I had already transferred all my music from my old pc to my new macbook using the time capsule we have, but playlists didnt go. Obviously, I wanted all my playlists on my new macbook as thats what i will be syncing my iphones up to. First, I had to go onto the pc, and click export playlist, save this file in the time capsule, then import playlist on the macbook.

If you copy the entire iTunes folder (instead of jus tteh media), the playlist and everything else (ratings, date added, etc.) will be on the new computer.

The iPhones will sync just fine.

If you just added the media, it's a new iTunes library and you will have to erase the content on the iPhone then sync it back.

I'm switching from PC to Macbook Air... I did it just as you said and I got all my playlists in my mac's iTunes...

Thank you!

Very clear instructions! Thanks!!!