How to Transfer an iTunes Playlist From a PC to a Mac

Organize your library before transferring a playlist.

Transferring a playlist from the Windows version of iTunes to a Mac can be made much easier by first "organizing" your iTunes music library. In "organizing" the library, iTunes moves music files from wherever they happen to be on your computer and reorganizes them by artist and album in your "iTunes Music" folder, which makes them much easier to find. After preparing the songs and playlist, you will need to transfer them directly to the Mac through a network connection or writable media of some kind, like a CD-R or external hard drive.

Things You'll Need

• Removable media or network connection

Instructions

1. Choose "Preferences" from the "Edit" menu, and select the "Advanced" tab. Check the box next to "Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized" and click "OK."

2. Select "Organize" from the "Library" submenu of the "File" menu.

3. Check the box next to "Consolidate files" and click "OK." Depending on the amount of content in your iTunes library, this can take a significant amount of time.

4. Right-click the playlist you would like to transfer to a Mac and click "Export." Choose a name and destination and click "Save."

5. Copy individual songs from their folders in the "iTunes Media" folder -- located in your user's "Music" folder -- to a removable media device; e.g., CD-R or external hard drive.

6. Copy the playlist XML file to the removable media device. When importing on the Mac, drag all of the songs into iTunes and then select "Import Playlist.." from the "File" menu, selecting the XML playlist file.

References

• Apple; What are the iTunes library files
• Apple; iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder