iTunes 12.4 How to "Start Genius" from currently playing song?

Upgraded to iTunes 12.4 yesterday. I like the look of a lot of the changes and, as with every change, am getting used to the new location of some of the existing features/functions. One item that I used quite frequently that I can't seem to track down in the new UI/Contextual Menus is the ability to "Start Genius" from the currently playing song. I know how to create a Genius Playlist and it looks like "Genius Shuffle" is in the Controls Menu but it seems I've completely lost the ability to simply start Genius based on the currently playing song.

Has anyone figured this out yet?

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 18, 2016 8:21 AM

23 replies

Jul 29, 2016 3:13 AM in response to Jamvan

I use Genius from time to time. And today was that day. And now the frustration. AGAIN. Why the **** are they removing basic features? Next update without play button? Genius is still there, but unusable for the reason they created it. I don't want to save a playlist. I need the function on the fly. I really hope they fix this soon.

Jamvan Author

Level 2

424 points

Jul 29, 2016 9:37 AM in response to MFC0321

It's not about creating a Genius Playlist per se as, you're right, that functionality still exists, albeit somewhat buried. It's about the missing ability to start Genius from the currently playing song without creating a playlist that I find inexorably frustrating. I don't want or need another playlist, just the ability to randomly play songs based on the current playing song.

Haddonjw

Level 1

4 points

Dec 1, 2016 12:10 AM in response to Jamvan

Jamvan,

I despise the fact that they have done this, but... Go to file, new, genius playlist. It'll make a genius playlist based on the current song. No shortcut available, but still working on 12.5.

Idiots. Best feature ever ruined. I ditched Facebook last week, I feel iTunes is going to be shortlived.

jayzr

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2016 7:29 AM in response to Jamvan

This *****!

I've been using iTunes since its first edition and have always accommodated its changes, but this was a feature that I used all the time. Unbelievable that they've removed it. I like Apple hardware but am so increasingly frustrated by their applications, beyond the Mac OS itself. Does anyone know a good replacement for iTunes, with a "Genius-like" shuffle based on current song feature? Ideally something that syncs with Android? I am ready to move on.

jayzr

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2016 7:34 AM in response to Haddonjw

Weird. Totally doesn't work for me. Selected the song. File, new... And I get a playlist with only the current song in it. Missing something?

Dec 10, 2016 8:14 PM in response to Jamvan

Genius still exists.

Here is a link to the solution on itunes 12.5, it might work on 12.4. http://www.macworld.com/article/3058173/streaming-services/how-to-rediscover-mus ic-using-itunes-genius-playlists.html

Genius is there, just click on the three dots to the right of your seed song within the library view(not the top bar). Choose "Genius Suggestions" at the bottom you'll see "Save as playlist." There is your list, and you can expand it to 100 songs, or delete if you get bored with it.

Dec 22, 2016 9:27 AM in response to Jamvan

Stop the tune you are playing, find it in your viewer, right click or Control click, scroll down to Genius, select start. The same function, a little different start, enjoy !

ascanio

Level 1

25 points

Nov 28, 2017 3:23 PM in response to Jamvan

Select one song, move to the playlist column and right click to get "New playlist from selection" it will still generate 100 songs with the "genius" criteria.

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iTunes 12.4 How to "Start Genius" from currently playing song?