What exporting a Spotify playlist actually means
Exporting a Spotify playlist means downloading a file that contains the list of songs in that playlist — usually as a text file or a format another music service can read. Spotify itself doesn't offer a built-in export button. Instead, you use a third-party tool or service that connects to your Spotify account, reads your playlist, and creates a file you can read or use to recreate the playlist elsewhere.
The most common reason to export is to move your music to another streaming service like Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Amazon Music. You might also export to keep a backup of your playlist, or to share the song list with someone else in a format they can actually use.
Key Takeaways
- Spotify does not have a native export feature, so you need a third-party tool like TuneMyMusic, Soundiiz, or Playlisty to read your playlist data.
- Most export tools create either a text file listing the songs or a format that another music service can import directly.
- You will need to connect the tool to your Spotify account using your login credentials, which grants the tool permission to read your playlists.
- Exporting takes a few minutes and works best with playlists under a few hundred songs; very large playlists sometimes time out or require multiple attempts.
- The exported file or playlist may not match perfectly on the destination service if songs are missing from that service's catalog.
The most straightforward export tools and how they work
TuneMyMusic is one of the simplest options. You visit tunemymusic.com, select Spotify as your source, log in with your Spotify credentials, choose the playlist you want to export, and select your destination service (Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and others). TuneMyMusic then creates the playlist on the destination service directly — you don't read a separate file. The process usually takes two to five minutes.
Soundiiz works similarly but offers more control over what gets transferred. You connect your Spotify account, select your playlist, choose where you want it to go, and Soundiiz handles the transfer. It also lets you export to a text file if you just want a record of what songs are in the playlist.
Playlisty focuses on creating downloadable files. It exports your Spotify playlist as a CSV file (a spreadsheet format) or as a text file with song titles and artist names. This is useful if you want to keep a backup on your computer or share the list with someone who doesn't use streaming services.
What happens when you connect a tool to your Spotify account
When you click "Connect to Spotify" or "Log in with Spotify" on any of these tools, you are redirected to Spotify's login page. You enter your Spotify username and password there — not on the third-party tool's website. This is the safer way to do it, because your password never touches the tool itself.
After you log in, Spotify shows you a permission screen listing what the tool is asking to do — usually "read your playlists" and sometimes "read your saved tracks." You click "Agree" or "Allow," and Spotify grants the tool temporary access. The tool can then see your playlists and read the songs in them, but it cannot change your password, delete your account, or access your payment information.
You can revoke this access at any time by going to your Spotify account settings, finding the "Apps" or "Connected Apps" section, and clicking "Remove" next to the tool's name. This when ready cuts off the tool's access to your account.
Exporting to a text or spreadsheet file instead of another service
If you do not want to transfer your playlist to another streaming service, you can export it as a file you keep on your computer. Playlisty and some other tools offer this option. The file typically contains the song title, artist name, album name, and sometimes a Spotify link for each song.
A CSV file (comma-separated values) opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet program. A text file opens in Notepad or any text editor. These formats are useful for keeping a backup, sharing the playlist with someone who wants to see what songs are in it, or importing into a music player app that reads CSV files.
The exported file is just data — it does not contain the actual audio. You are only getting a list of songs, not the music itself.
Why some songs might not transfer or appear on the destination service
When you export a playlist from Spotify to Apple Music or YouTube Music, not every song always appears on the other side. This happens because the song might not be available in that service's catalog, or it might be listed under a slightly different artist name or spelling.
For example, a song might be on Spotify but removed from Apple Music due to licensing disputes. Or a remix might be on Spotify under "Artist Name (Remix)" but on YouTube Music under "Artist Name Remix" — the tool might not recognize it as the same song. Most export tools handle this reasonably well and transfer 90 to 95 percent of songs correctly, but you should check the destination playlist after the transfer to see if anything is missing.
How to handle very large playlists or repeated export attempts
Playlists with more than 500 songs sometimes time out or fail partway through. If this happens, try exporting again — most tools will pick up where they left off. If the same playlist keeps failing, try breaking it into smaller chunks: export the first 300 songs, then export songs 301 to 600, and so on. You can then combine them on the destination service.
Some tools have a limit on how many playlists you can export in a single day or how many songs you can transfer at once. Check the tool's documentation or FAQ if you are moving multiple large playlists. Most free tools have reasonable limits, but paid versions often remove these restrictions.
Privacy and security considerations when using export tools
When you connect an export tool to Spotify, you are trusting that tool with read access to your playlists. Choose tools that are well-established and have been around for several years — TuneMyMusic, Soundiiz, and Playlisty all have active user bases and transparent privacy policies. Read the tool's privacy policy before connecting, especially the section on what data it stores and how long it keeps it.
The tool can see your playlist names and song titles, but it cannot see your password, payment method, or email address (unless you explicitly give it permission to do so, which most tools do not ask for). After the export is complete, you can revoke the tool's access when ready by removing it from your Spotify connected apps list. This is a good habit to follow — connect the tool, do the export, then disconnect it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export a playlist that someone else created and shared with me?
Yes, if the playlist is public or shared with you. Most export tools can read any playlist you can see in your Spotify account, whether you created it or someone else did. However, you cannot export a private playlist that belongs to someone else unless they have shared it with you directly.
Will exporting a playlist remove it from my Spotify account?
No. Exporting only creates a copy of the playlist data. Your original Spotify playlist stays exactly where it is. You can export the same playlist as many times as you want without affecting it.
What if the export tool asks for my Spotify password directly?
Do not enter your password. Legitimate tools use Spotify's login system, which redirects you to Spotify's own login page. If a tool has a text box asking you to type your password directly into its website, that is a security risk. Use a different tool instead.
Can I export a playlist and then import it into Spotify again?
Not directly — Spotify does not have an import feature for playlists. However, you can use a tool like Soundiiz to transfer songs from one Spotify account to another, or you can manually recreate a playlist by searching for each song and adding it. If you exported to a CSV file, you would need to add each song manually.
How long does it take to export a playlist?
Most playlists under 300 songs export in two to five minutes. Larger playlists can take 10 to 20 minutes depending on the tool and how many songs need to be matched on the destination service. If the export seems stuck after 30 minutes, try refreshing the page or starting over.