Apple’s iOS 26 finally makes moving music libraries effortless, and that change is what pushes Apple Music ahead for me—even as a former Spotify Premium user. Here’s a friendly, practical breakdown of what changed, why it matters, and how to use it.
Bold starting point: transferring your entire music collection to Apple Music is now officially streamlined, and it could redefine how you choose your streaming service. But here’s where it gets controversial: not every track you love will perfectly migrate, and some formats or special editions may sit outside Apple’s catalog. The debate—is a perfect import worth staying with one ecosystem or does library completeness trump platform loyalty?—is worth weighing in the comments.
ZDNET’s core takeaways stay simple:
- A built-in Apple Music feature now eases switching between music libraries.
- The same transfer capability exists for Android users with Apple Music.
- An active Apple Music subscription is required to use the transfer feature.
My journey started almost two years ago after I left Spotify Premium for Apple Music. What drew me in wasn’t only Apple’s lossless audio and Dolby Atmos catalog, but also the smooth, cohesive Apple interface that makes navigation feel intuitive. Back when I made the switch, moving eight years of Spotify library data to Apple Music sounded like a monumental, time-consuming task.
I initially found a workaround through SongShift, an app designed to migrate playlists and libraries between services. In its free tier, SongShift limited users to playlists under 200 songs, and a full library transfer required a paid plan.
With iOS 26, Apple baked SongShift’s technology directly into the Apple Music app via an official partnership that had been tested in the background for over a year. This integration means you can import your entire catalog from Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, or YouTube Music directly from your device’s Settings.
After the feature landed on my iPhone, about 80% of my previous Spotify library reappeared in Apple Music. Best of all, this additional service is free if you already subscribe to Apple Music. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to make it work.
What you’ll need
- An iPhone or iPad with the latest system update, or an Android device with the latest Apple Music app, or a computer that can access Apple Music via the web.
- Credentials for your prior streaming service.
1) Import on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings, go to Music, and ensure Sync Library is enabled.
- Choose Transfer Music from Other Services.
- Decide whether to move your entire library or just specific playlists.
- Note: Playlists saved in your library that were created by the old service (for example, Spotify Wrapped playlists) may not transfer to Apple Music.
- Apple Music will then attempt to match or provide alternatives for any songs that aren’t available in Apple’s catalog.
2) Import on Android or via the web
- Android: In Apple Music, tap the three-dot More menu to access Settings, then Transfer Music from Other Music Services and follow the same steps.
- Web: Sign in to Apple Music in your browser, click your profile in the top-right, choose which songs to transfer, and complete the same steps.
Practical caveats
- Some items, like Spotify Live Sessions, aren’t available on Apple Music. Movie soundtracks with original score may appear under different albums, and certain EPs or alternate versions may be missing. This is a common reality when switching streaming services.
- A small fraction of beloved tracks might be permanently unavailable on Apple Music, with no exact substitute in Apple’s catalog.
The takeaway
If you’re not satisfied with your current streaming setup and are tempted by Apple Music, this built-in transfer feature significantly lowers the barrier to trying the switch. It won’t guarantee a perfect one-to-one migration for every item, but it dramatically reduces the manual effort involved and gives you broad access to your past music from a single app.
Would you consider switching to Apple Music just for the ease of library transfer, or do you value catalog differences and a platform’s exclusive content too much to change? Share your thoughts in the comments to join the discussion.
