- Option 1: YouTube Music's built-in transfer
- Option 2: a third-party transfer tool
- What transfers and what doesn't
- Check for missing songs
- Your Spotify account doesn't change
- Going the other way: YouTube Music to Spotify
- Built-in transfer or a third-party tool?
- Tips before you switch
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To move a Spotify playlist to YouTube Music, open YouTube Music, tap your profile icon, then Settings, Privacy & data, Transfer playlists from other apps. If Spotify isn't offered there, YouTube Music points you to third-party tools such as TuneMyMusic or Soundiiz. Your Spotify playlists stay put, and later changes won't sync.
Switching music apps used to mean rebuilding years of playlists by hand. YouTube Music now has a transfer option in its settings, and its help page names two outside tools for services the built-in route doesn't cover. The transfer is a one-off copy, not a live link, which is the detail most people miss. It also skips anything YouTube Music doesn't carry, so a quick check afterwards is part of the job, not an optional extra. Here's how to do it and what to check afterwards.
Option 1: YouTube Music's built-in transfer
- Open the YouTube Music app.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Go to Settings, then Privacy & data.
- Tap Transfer playlists from other apps.
- Tap Let's start and sign in to your other music service to give it access.
- Choose the playlists you want, then tap Transfer to YouTube Music.
- Sign in to your Google Account when asked, to authorise the transfer.
When it's finished, the playlists appear in your YouTube Music Library. Big libraries take longer, but YouTube says the transfer runs in the background, so you don't need to keep the app open. Put the kettle on and come back to it.
Option 2: a third-party transfer tool
YouTube Music's own help page says that, depending on your previous service, you can use the built-in option or third-party tools, and it names TuneMyMusic and Soundiiz. If Spotify doesn't appear in the built-in list on your account, this is the route. The general pattern is the same with both: sign in to Spotify, sign in to YouTube Music, pick the playlists and confirm. Read what permissions you're granting, because you're giving an outside service access to both accounts.
What transfers and what doesn't
| Item | Transfers? |
|---|---|
| Your playlists | Yes |
| Albums, artists and tracks | Yes, YouTube Music says these can be imported |
| Songs YouTube Music doesn't carry | No, they're skipped |
| Podcasts | No, podcasts can't be imported or exported |
| Future changes on Spotify | No, the copy doesn't stay in sync |
Check for missing songs
YouTube says some songs may not be available on YouTube Music. Soundiiz flags tracks it couldn't match, which makes the clean-up easier. For the built-in route, open your biggest playlists after the transfer and scan for gaps. Live versions, regional releases and remasters are the usual mismatches, where the transfer picks a slightly different recording from the one you had.
Your Spotify account doesn't change
The transfer copies, it doesn't move. YouTube says your music stays on your original service. So you can try YouTube Music without losing anything, and if you decide to stay on Spotify, nothing's been deleted. The flip side: if you add songs to a Spotify playlist next week, they won't appear in YouTube Music. Run the transfer again or add them by hand.
Going the other way: YouTube Music to Spotify
Google has a separate route for copying YouTube Music playlists out. Through Google Takeout, playlists can go directly to supported services, which Google currently lists as Apple Music. For Spotify, Google points to third-party services such as Soundiiz and TuneMyMusic. Two limits apply: you can only transfer playlists you created, not other people's playlists you saved, and it's a one-time copy.
Built-in transfer or a third-party tool?
| Built-in transfer | TuneMyMusic or Soundiiz | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Inside YouTube Music settings | On the tool's own website |
| Accounts you connect | Your old service and your Google Account | Your old service and YouTube Music |
| Missing-track report | Check playlists yourself | Soundiiz flags tracks it couldn't match |
| When to use it | When your old service is listed | When it isn't, or you want a report |
Neither option keeps the two apps in step. Both make a copy at the moment you run them. If you'll be adding music to Spotify for a few more weeks while you decide, wait until you've stopped before doing the final transfer, so you don't have to repeat it.
Tips before you switch
- Transfer your most-played playlists first, and check them before moving everything.
- Rename transferred playlists if you'll run both apps for a while, so you know which copy is which.
- Keep your Spotify account until you're happy nothing important is missing.
- Look at playlist order after the move. If a playlist's running order matters to you, such as a workout mix, check it plays in the sequence you expect.
- Remember Liked Songs are a list too. If your best music lives there rather than in named playlists, include it when you choose what to move.
Once your music is in, my guide to uploading your own music to YouTube Music shows how to fill gaps with files you own. And if you're leaving Spotify for good, deleting your Spotify account walks through closing it once your playlists are safe.
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My verdict
Try YouTube Music's built-in transfer first, and if Spotify isn't listed, use one of the two tools YouTube itself names. Treat the result as a copy: check for missing tracks, expect no syncing, and keep Spotify until you're sure. It's a ten-minute job that saves hours of rebuilding.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer my Spotify playlists to YouTube Music?
Yes. Use Settings, Privacy & data, Transfer playlists from other apps in YouTube Music, or a third-party tool such as TuneMyMusic or Soundiiz.
Do my playlists stay on Spotify after transferring?
Yes. YouTube says your music stays on your original service.
Will changes to my Spotify playlists sync to YouTube Music?
No. Future changes on other services don't sync automatically.
Why are some songs missing after the transfer?
Some songs aren't available on YouTube Music, so they can't be matched and are skipped.
Can I transfer podcasts to YouTube Music?
No. YouTube says podcasts can't be imported or exported with YouTube Music.
