How To Transfer Music From Iphone To Android Without Losing Playlists

Moving from iPhone to Android is a major shift—not just in interface or ecosystem, but in how personal data like music and playlists are managed. One of the most common concerns during this transition is preserving carefully curated playlists. Whether you’ve spent years building workout mixes, mood-based compilations, or travel soundtracks, losing them isn’t an option. Fortunately, with the right tools and approach, transferring music—including metadata, album art, and playlist structures—from iPhone to Android can be seamless. This guide walks through proven methods, highlights pitfalls to avoid, and offers practical steps to ensure your digital music life moves intact.

Why Playlist Preservation Matters

Playlists aren't just collections of songs—they reflect habits, memories, and personal taste. Unlike raw audio files, playlists carry order, naming conventions, and emotional context. When switching platforms, many users assume their music will sync automatically via cloud services. However, Apple Music and Google Play Music (now replaced by YouTube Music) don’t directly share playlist data across ecosystems. Even if songs are available on both platforms, the sequence, titles, and customizations often vanish unless properly migrated.

The challenge lies not in moving the music itself—most tracks can be re-downloaded if licensed—but in retaining user-created playlists, especially those built manually over time. This becomes critical when dealing with local files imported from CDs or purchased outside streaming services. Without proper handling, hours of curation could disappear overnight.

Tip: Always back up your iPhone’s music library before initiating any transfer process. Use iCloud or iTunes to create a full backup.

Step-by-Step Guide: Transferring Music and Playlists Intact

The following method ensures that both music files and playlist organization are preserved during the move from iOS to Android. It combines desktop software, third-party tools, and careful synchronization for maximum fidelity.

1. Export Your iPhone Music Library
   Connect your iPhone to a computer (Mac or PC) using a USB cable. Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later). Select your device, navigate to the \"Summary\" tab, and enable “Sync Music.” Choose “Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres,” then pick the playlists you want to transfer. Sync your device. This copies all selected music to your computer’s local library.
2. Convert Playlists to Universal Formats
   iTunes uses proprietary playlist formats (.m3u only for exports). To make them compatible with Android, export each playlist as an M3U file:
   • In iTunes, go to File > Library > Export Playlist.
   • Select “M3U” format and save the file to your desktop.
   • Repeat for every playlist you wish to preserve.
   These M3U files contain track paths and order, which Android apps can interpret.
3. Transfer Files to Android Device
   Once music files and M3U playlists are on your computer:
   • Connect your Android phone via USB.
   • Set the connection mode to “File Transfer (MTP).”
   • Create a folder named “Music” in internal storage (if it doesn’t exist).
   • Copy all exported music files into this folder.
   • Place the .m3u playlist files in the same directory.
   Ensure filenames match exactly between the playlist references and actual audio files.
4. Use a Compatible Android Music Player
   Not all Android players support M3U playlists. Install a robust app like Poweramp, BlackPlayer, or OtoMusic. These recognize imported playlists and display them correctly. Open the app, rescan the library, and verify that playlists appear with correct track orders.
5. Verify Metadata and Album Art
   During transfer, some ID3 tags (artist, album, genre) may become inconsistent. Use a desktop tag editor like MP3Tag (Windows) or ID3 Editor (Mac) to standardize metadata before transfer. This ensures consistent sorting and searchability on Android.

Alternative Method: Cloud-Based Transfer Using Third-Party Tools

If manual file management feels cumbersome, several cross-platform tools automate the migration process while preserving playlist integrity.

Tool	Key Features	Limitations
Move to Android (by Google)	Official app for transferring contacts, messages, photos, and music. Supports direct Wi-Fi transfer from iPhone to Android.	No longer actively updated; limited music support; does not preserve complex playlist structures.
CopyTrans Shelbee	Full backup and restore of iTunes library including playlists, ratings, play counts. Exports to standalone folders.	Paid software (~$35); Windows only; requires full iTunes access.
FoneDog Phone Transfer	Direct phone-to-phone transfer across platforms. Preserves music, playlists, videos, and more.	Paid tool; occasional sync errors with large libraries.
Soundiiz	Web-based service linking streaming accounts (Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music). Transfers playlists by matching song titles.	Only works with streaming services; fails if songs aren’t available on target platform.

For users relying heavily on Apple Music subscriptions, Soundiiz offers the cleanest path. Link both Apple Music and YouTube Music accounts, select playlists, and initiate transfer. While exact matches are prioritized, unmatched tracks are logged separately for manual replacement.

“Cross-platform music migration has improved dramatically, but no tool achieves 100% accuracy. Always validate results manually.” — Adrian Lin, Digital Audio Migration Specialist

Mini Case Study: Sarah’s Seamless Switch

Sarah, a freelance photographer, used her iPhone for eight years, amassing over 1,200 locally stored tracks and 47 handcrafted playlists. She recently upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy S24 and was determined not to lose her meticulously organized music.

She began by backing up her entire iTunes library to an external drive. Using CopyTrans Shelbee, she exported her full library—including playlists and metadata—to a neutral folder structure. She then connected her new Android device and copied the files via USB. After installing Poweramp, she scanned the music folder and found all playlists intact, complete with cover art and playback order.

One issue arose: a few AAC files weren’t playing due to codec limitations. She converted them to MP3 using Freemake Audio Converter, re-updated the M3U files with new extensions, and reloaded the library. Within two hours, her entire collection was functional on Android—without a single playlist lost.

Checklist: Pre-Migration Preparation

• ✅ Back up iPhone music library to computer or iCloud
• ✅ Identify whether music is streamed, downloaded, or locally imported
• ✅ List all user-created playlists needing preservation
• ✅ Install trusted file transfer or conversion tool (e.g., CopyTrans, Soundiiz)
• ✅ Prepare Android device with sufficient storage and a compatible music player
• ✅ Standardize file formats (prefer MP3 or FLAC for broad compatibility)
• ✅ Test transfer with one small playlist before full migration

Tip: Rename music files consistently (e.g., Artist - Title.mp3) to prevent mismatches during playlist import.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with careful planning, certain issues frequently derail transfers:

• Playlist Order Loss: Caused by incorrect export formats. Always use M3U instead of proprietary formats.
• Missing Tracks: Occurs when file names differ between iTunes and Android. Use batch renaming tools to align them.
• Unsupported Audio Formats: iPhone supports ALAC, AAC, and M4A natively. Some Android players struggle with these. Convert to MP3 or FLAC using tools like Audacity or dBpoweramp.
• Duplicate Entries: Happens when automatic media scanners detect files multiple times. Disable auto-scan temporarily and use static library loading in advanced players.
• Metadata Corruption: Tags may reset during transfer. Embed metadata directly into files before moving, rather than relying on database storage.

FAQ

Can I transfer Apple Music playlists to Android?

Yes, but only if you're transferring subscription-based playlists to another streaming service like YouTube Music. Use tools like Soundiiz or Tune My Music to map and migrate playlists. Note: downloaded offline Apple Music tracks (DRM-protected) cannot be transferred directly. Only your playlist structure and song references can be moved.

Will my playlist names and descriptions transfer accurately?

When using M3U exports or dedicated tools like CopyTrans, playlist names are preserved. Descriptions and notes are rarely retained unless embedded in the M3U header. For best results, document important playlist details beforehand.

Do I need a computer for this transfer?

For full control and reliability, yes. While some apps claim wireless transfer, they often fail with large libraries or complex metadata. A computer acts as a neutral hub, ensuring consistency and providing recovery options if something goes wrong.

Conclusion

Switching from iPhone to Android doesn’t mean starting your music journey from scratch. With deliberate preparation and the right tools, your playlists—and the memories they represent—can survive the transition intact. The key lies in treating music files and playlist data as separate but interdependent assets. By exporting playlists in universal formats, standardizing file naming, and using compatible Android players, you maintain continuity across ecosystems.

Technology should serve your lifestyle, not dictate it. Take ownership of your digital music library. Whether you’re upgrading devices or simply exploring a new platform, your curated soundtracks deserve to come with you—track by track, playlist by playlist.

💬 Successfully transferred your music? Share your method or tool of choice in the comments below—your experience could help others make the switch confidently.