Apple Music expands transfer tool worldwide

Apple is finally making it easier for music lovers to break free from competing streaming services like Spotify and move over to Apple Music without losing their carefully curated playlists. After months of testing in select regions, the company has announced that its music transfer tool is now rolling out to nearly every country where Apple Music operates, offering a seamless way to carry over existing music libraries.

The new feature is designed to take the hassle out of switching platforms. For years, one of the biggest pain points for users considering Apple Music was the fear of leaving behind years of playlists, albums, and favorite tracks that had been built up on Spotify, Amazon Music, or other streaming platforms. While third-party apps such as SongShift and Soundiiz have provided similar functionality for some time, Apple has now built its own streamlined version directly into iOS, making the transition far smoother.

Apple began quietly testing the tool back in May, starting with Australia and New Zealand. In late August, the company extended availability to the United States and six additional countries. Now, according to an updated Apple Support document, the feature has gone live almost everywhere Apple Music is offered — with only a handful of exceptions, namely China Mainland, Myanmar, and Russia. The move underscores Apple’s strategy to position its streaming service as a serious alternative to Spotify, which still holds the crown as the global market leader.

For those eager to try it, the process is simple. iPhone and iPad users can head to Settings, navigate to Apps, tap on Music, and select the option labeled “Transfer Music from Other Music Services.” From there, users choose their current streaming service, sign into their account, and select which songs, albums, and playlists they’d like to bring over. Importantly, the source library on the original service is left untouched, so playlists remain accessible even after the transfer.

Apple notes that the completeness of the transfer depends on both the service being migrated from and what’s available in the Apple Music catalog. The tool supports not only Spotify but also Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, and YouTube. To power the backend of the migration system, Apple has partnered with SongShift, a company already well-known to streaming enthusiasts for helping manage cross-platform playlist transfers.

Of course, the process isn’t always perfect. When Apple Music cannot find an exact match for a track, the system marks it as “Needs Review” and presents alternative versions for the user to select manually. This might happen with rare remixes, regional releases, or tracks that aren’t licensed on Apple Music. Apple also points out that while user-created playlists can be transferred, editorial playlists curated by Spotify or other platforms cannot be imported, due to licensing restrictions.

Despite these limitations, the tool is still a major step forward in reducing friction for potential switchers. For many listeners, the decision to leave Spotify wasn’t necessarily about music availability — Apple Music’s library of over 100 million songs rivals that of its competitors — but about the emotional investment in years of playlists. With the new feature, Apple is essentially removing one of the last big obstacles standing in the way of growth.

Apple Music currently trails Spotify in global subscriber numbers but has been steadily expanding its ecosystem with exclusive features such as Lossless and Spatial Audio, deep integration with Apple devices, and curated editorial content. By making migration simpler, Apple hopes to chip away at Spotify’s dominance and lure in users who were previously hesitant.

This update also highlights Apple’s broader push to unify its services and make them more user-friendly. By embedding the transfer tool directly into iOS settings, Apple eliminates the need for external apps and makes switching feel like a native part of the operating system. It also signals Apple’s ongoing effort to strengthen Apple Music’s competitive position by addressing one of the most common pain points raised by consumers.

The timing may not be accidental either. As Apple prepares to roll out new iPhone models and updates across its ecosystem with iOS 26, the addition of user-focused features like the music transfer tool demonstrates the company’s emphasis on enhancing convenience and locking users more tightly into its ecosystem.

While Spotify still enjoys the loyalty of millions, Apple’s move could prove decisive for those on the fence. With the ability to bring their playlists along with them, users can make the switch without feeling like they are starting from scratch. That small but significant change may be enough to sway listeners who value Apple Music’s integration with their devices, superior sound features, and unique user experience.