How do I transfer my iTunes library to Apple Music on Android?

iTunes originally launched in 2001 as a simple music player for Mac computers. Over time it evolved into a sophisticated media platform for managing and playing music, videos, audiobooks and podcasts across Apple devices (History of iTunes). In 2015, Apple launched their streaming music platform called Apple Music, which allows users to access over 90 million songs on demand.

This guide will provide step-by-step instructions for Apple Music subscribers using Android devices to transfer their existing iTunes music library to Apple Music. We will cover exporting your iTunes library, uploading the library file to Apple Music, monitoring upload status, and accessing your uploaded music.

Prerequisites

To transfer your iTunes library to Apple Music on Android, there are a few prerequisites you will need:

First, you need an Android device running Android 5.0 Lollipop or later (source). Apple Music is compatible with most modern Android smartphones and tablets from manufacturers like Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, and more.

Second, you need an Apple ID with an active Apple Music subscription (source). An individual Apple Music subscription costs $9.99 per month after a free trial period.

Finally, you need the latest version of the Apple Music app installed on your Android device from the Google Play Store. Make sure you have the most up-to-date version for the best experience.

Export Your iTunes Library

To export your iTunes library from your computer, first open iTunes. Then go to File > Library > Export Library in the menu bar. This will allow you to export your entire iTunes library into an XML file. Be sure to save the exported XML file somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop or Documents folder.

According to the Apple Support article “How to move your iTunes library to a new computer,” exporting your iTunes library creates an XML file that contains all your playlist and music file information. This XML file allows you to import your iTunes library into Apple Music or other applications and devices.

To summarize the steps:

  1. Open iTunes on your computer
  2. Go to File > Library > Export Library
  3. Save the exported XML file somewhere easy to find

Exporting your library prepares it for upload to Apple Music on your Android device. Just be sure to remember the location of the exported XML file, as you’ll need it in the next step.

Upload the XML File

Once you’ve exported your iTunes library XML file to your computer, the next step is to upload it to Apple Music on your Android device. Here’s how:

On your Android device, open the Apple Music app. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner, then select ‘Import your music library.’ This will open up the music library import screen.

On the import screen, tap ‘Select file’ and navigate to the XML file you exported from iTunes on your computer. Select the file, then tap ‘Open.’ This will start uploading your iTunes library XML file to Apple Music.

The upload may take some time depending on the size of your iTunes library. You can monitor the upload progress in the Apple Music app. Once it reaches 100%, your iTunes music library has been successfully uploaded to Apple Music.

Now you’ll be able to access your entire iTunes music library directly within the Apple Music app on your Android device. You can search, play, download, and manage your uploaded music alongside Apple Music’s streaming catalog.

Check Upload Status

After you initiate the upload of your iTunes library XML file, the Apple Music app will show the upload progress. This allows you to monitor how much of your library has been uploaded so far.

The amount of time it takes to fully upload your library will depend on its size and your internet connection speed. Smaller libraries with just a few hundred songs may finish uploading in under an hour. However, if you have a large iTunes library with thousands of tracks, the upload could take many hours or even days to complete.

Apple notes that libraries over 100,000 songs could take over a week to finish uploading. Be patient and keep the Apple Music app open during this time to ensure the upload doesn’t stall or encounter errors. The app may show “Updating iCloud Music Library” or “Waiting to Upload” messages periodically as it processes your songs.

You can still use Apple Music and listen to matched songs during the upload process. Just don’t force close the app orSign out of your Apple ID, as this will pause the upload.

Access Your Uploaded Music

Once your iTunes library has finished uploading, you will be able to access all of your imported music directly within the Apple Music app on your Android device. This allows you to listen to your personal music collection alongside the Apple Music catalog without needing to switch between apps.

The key is that during the upload process, your iTunes library gets added to your Apple Music account. So on your Android phone or tablet, you can simply open the Apple Music app and access both your imported iTunes music and the Apple Music streaming catalog in one place.

You don’t need to do anything special to get to your iTunes uploads. They will automatically appear mixed in with the rest of your Apple Music library with no differentiation. You can browse by playlists, artists, albums, songs, and more and your imported music will be there.

This makes for a seamless listening experience. You can listen to an album from your personal collection then continue on to Apple’s catalog without missing a beat. Everything is accessible in the Apple Music app as if it’s natively in the service.

Download for Offline Playback

Once you have uploaded your iTunes library and subscribed to Apple Music, you can download songs, albums, and playlists for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection. To download content for offline playback:

Tap the download icon next to any song, album, or playlist you want to save for offline listening. The download icon looks like a downward pointing arrow. Once you tap it, the icon will change to a green checkmark to indicate the download is in progress.

Downloaded content works just like any other Apple Music content. You can play it through the Apple Music app without needing an internet connection. Downloads are saved to your device storage and managed through the Apple Music app.

The amount of music you can download for offline playback may be limited based on your subscription plan. Make sure to check how much downloaded content is allowed before filling up your device storage.

Limits and Restrictions

Apple Music does have some limits and restrictions when it comes to importing your iTunes library. The key things to be aware of are:

Up to 100,000 songs can be imported from iTunes – According to Apple’s documentation, you can have up to 100,000 songs in your Apple Music library. Any songs purchased from the iTunes Store do not count against this limit (Source).

Music with DRM may not import correctly – If you have music in your iTunes library that is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM), it may not import to Apple Music properly. DRM can prevent songs from being played if certain criteria are not met (Source).

iTunes purchases do not transfer – Music purchased from the iTunes Store does not transfer to Apple Music. You will still be able to access those purchases in iTunes, but not directly within Apple Music (Source).

Troubleshooting Issues

If you encounter any problems uploading your iTunes library to Apple Music, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

Uploads Getting Stuck: If your iTunes library seems to get stuck during the upload process, try logging out of Apple Music completely and then logging back in. This may help reset the upload and get things moving again.

Other Issues: For any other issues uploading your library or accessing it through Apple Music on your Android device, you may need to contact Apple Support directly. Apple has 24/7 technical support available by phone or chat to troubleshoot problems with Apple Music and iCloud.

You can contact Apple Support at https://support.apple.com/contact or by calling 1-800-APL-CARE in the United States.

Be prepared to provide details about when the problem started, what troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried, and specifics about the type of Android device you’re using.

Summary

Transferring your iTunes library to Apple Music on Android can be done in just a few steps:

  1. Export your iTunes library to an XML file on your computer.
  2. Upload the XML file to your iCloud Drive.
  3. On your Android device, open the Apple Music app and enable iCloud Music Library.
  4. Wait for Apple Music to finish matching and uploading your songs. Check back periodically on the Uploaded status.
  5. Once uploaded, you can access your entire iTunes music collection in the Apple Music app and download songs for offline playback.

With iCloud Music Library, you can seamlessly keep your iTunes music collection with you on any device. Just remember that there are limits on how many songs you can upload to Apple Music, so you may need to selectively choose what to upload if your library is very large. Overall, it’s a handy feature that lets you merge a local iTunes library with the Apple Music streaming catalog.

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