How to Export iTunes Playlist

This guide shows you how to export an iTunes playlist so you can back it up, move it to another computer, or use it in a different music app. You’ll learn the exact steps for both Windows and Mac, and what to do when things don’t go as expected.

What You’ll Need

• A computer with iTunes (or the Apple Music app on macOS Catalina or later) installed.
• The playlist you want to export already created and populated with songs.
• Access to the folder where you want to save the exported file (e.g., Desktop, Documents).

Step-by-Step

1. Open iTunes or the Apple Music app. On Windows, launch iTunes. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open the Music app (which replaced iTunes).
2. Go to your Library. Click on “Library” in the sidebar to see all your music and playlists.
3. Select the playlist you want to export. In the sidebar, under “Playlists,” click the name of the playlist you want to export. The songs in that playlist will appear in the main window.
4. Choose all songs in the playlist. Click the first song, then press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to select every song. Alternatively, go to the Edit menu and choose Select All.
5. Copy the selected songs. Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac), or right-click the highlighted songs and choose Copy.
6. Paste into a text editor or spreadsheet. Open a new document in Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (Mac), or a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Then paste the copied songs using Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. You’ll see a list of song titles, artists, albums, and other metadata.
7. Save the file. In your text editor or spreadsheet, go to File > Save As. Choose a location, give the file a name (e.g., “MyPlaylist.txt” or “MyPlaylist.csv”), and select the file type. For a plain text list, choose .txt. For a spreadsheet-friendly format, choose .csv (comma-separated values).
8. Export as an XML file (optional but more complete). If you want a file that can be re-imported into iTunes or another music app later, use the File menu. In iTunes on Windows, go to File > Library > Export Playlist. On a Mac with Music, go to File > Library > Export Playlist. Choose the location and save as an .xml file.

Common Mistakes

• Only copying one song: Forgetting to select all songs before copying results in a playlist with just one track.
• Pasting into a rich text editor: TextEdit on Mac defaults to rich text (.rtf). Use Format > Make Plain Text first, or the file may include formatting codes.
• Not saving the file: After pasting, you must save the document. Closing without saving loses your work.
• Using the wrong export option: In iTunes, “Export Playlist” is under the File menu, not the right-click context menu on the playlist. Right-clicking only offers “Copy” or “Print”.
• Exporting an empty playlist: If the playlist has no songs, the export will be blank. Double-check the playlist contents first.

Tips

• Use CSV for spreadsheets: If you plan to sort or filter the playlist data, export as a .csv file. It opens directly in Excel or Google Sheets with columns for each field.
• Keep the XML for re-import: The .xml file preserves the playlist structure and can be imported back into iTunes or Music via File > Import. This is the best option for full backup.
• Check the exported file: After saving, open the file to verify it contains all the songs you expected.
• Export multiple playlists at once: There’s no built-in bulk export, but you can repeat the steps for each playlist and save them in the same folder.
• Use the share option on mobile: On an iPhone or iPad, you can’t export a playlist directly, but you can use the “Share Playlist” feature to send a link via Messages or email, then copy the list from the link.

Troubleshooting

• “Export Playlist” is greyed out: This happens when no playlist is selected. Click on the playlist name in the sidebar first, then try again.
• Pasted songs appear as one long line: If you paste into a text editor and everything is on one line, it’s because the copied data uses tabs between fields. This is normal. When you save as .csv, it will be structured correctly.
• The .xml file won’t import into another app: Some apps expect a specific XML schema. iTunes’ XML format is standard, but third-party apps may not recognize it. Try exporting as .txt or .csv instead for those apps.
• Copying doesn’t work: If Ctrl+C does nothing, try using the right-click menu and select Copy. If that fails, restart iTunes or the Music app.
• Playlist is empty after export: The original playlist might be empty, or you might have selected a smart playlist that updates automatically. Check the playlist contents in iTunes; if it’s empty, add songs first.
• Can’t find the saved file: Remember where you saved it. If you used Save As, check the default folder (usually Documents or Desktop). Use the search function in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to locate it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export a playlist as a single audio file?

No, exporting a playlist only saves the list of songs, not the audio files themselves. To get the audio files, you’d need to burn the playlist to a CD or use a third-party tool to copy the files, but that’s beyond the scope of this guide.

What’s the difference between .txt, .csv, and .xml exports?

A .txt file is a plain text list, easy to read but not structured. A .csv file is comma-separated and opens in spreadsheet apps with columns. An .xml file is a structured data file that can be re-imported into iTunes or Music to recreate the playlist exactly.

Will the exported playlist include the actual music files?

No. The export only contains metadata (song title, artist, album, etc.). The music files themselves remain in your iTunes library. To move the actual audio, you’d need to copy the music files separately.

Can I export a playlist from the iTunes Store?

Yes, as long as the playlist is in your library, you can export it. The same steps apply, regardless of whether the songs are purchased from iTunes or imported from CDs.

How do I import an exported playlist back into iTunes?

For an .xml file, go to File > Import and select the .xml file. For a .csv or .txt file, you’d need to manually recreate the playlist, as they don’t contain the necessary structure for automatic import.

Does this work on a Mac with the Music app?

Yes, the steps are nearly identical. The Music app has the same menu options as iTunes, just with slightly different names (e.g., “Music” instead of “iTunes”).

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