Home Features Guides Post-transfer troubleshooting: what to do when your playlists don’t match perfectly

Post-transfer troubleshooting: what to do when your playlists don’t match perfectly

Fix mismatched songs, unavailable tracks, and incomplete playlists after transferring your music library.

17/12/2024

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A Polished Illustration Depicting Troubleshooting Mismatched Playlists After A Music Transfer The Image Includes Fragmented Music Notes, Disjoint — A polished illustration depicting troubleshooting mismatched playlists after a music transfer The image includes fragmented music notes, disjoint

Transferring playlists between streaming platforms is rarely perfect. Missing songs, incorrect versions, or incomplete playlists can leave your music library feeling incomplete. Fortunately, with a bit of troubleshooting, you can fix these issues and get your playlists back on track.

Step 1: Identify Mismatched Tracks

Mismatched tracks are a common issue, particularly with remixes, live versions, or alternate recordings. To identify and fix them:

Compare the Original and Transferred Playlists: Use tools like Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic to generate detailed reports of transferred tracks.
Manually Search for Correct Versions: Look for studio versions, remasters, or correct album releases. Most streaming platforms offer advanced search filters to narrow results.

Step 2: Handle Unavailable Tracks

Tracks that don’t exist on your new platform can leave gaps in your playlists. To address missing songs:

Find Alternatives: Look for similar tracks, alternate versions, or live recordings to fill the gap.
Use Recommended Tracks: Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music provide suggestions for similar songs based on your playlists.
Rebuild Using Local Files: Platforms like Spotify allow you to upload local files for unavailable tracks.

Step 3: Fix Playlist Order and Metadata

Sometimes the order or details of songs (like album art or artist names) can be altered during a transfer.

Manually Reorder Tracks: Drag and drop tracks into their original order on your new platform.
Edit Metadata: If track names or artist details are incorrect, use built-in tools to adjust these details manually.

Step 4: Remove Duplicates

Duplicate tracks can occur when errors happen during the transfer process.

Built-In Tools: Spotify and other platforms offer duplicate detection and removal tools.
Third-Party Cleanup: Tools like FreeYourMusic and Soundiiz can help identify duplicates across large playlists.

Step 5: Rebuild Playlists with Gaps

For playlists that couldn’t be fully transferred:

Create Backup Lists: Keep your original playlists exported as CSV files so you can manually rebuild them.
Split Playlists: Break large playlists into smaller, manageable groups to isolate problem areas.
Re-Curate Using New Features: Explore algorithmic tools like Spotify’s “Enhance” feature or Apple Music’s “For You” suggestions to add fresh tracks.

Pro Tips for Troubleshooting Success

Run Multiple Transfers: If issues persist, try re-running the transfer using a different tool.
Log Problematic Tracks: Make a note of songs that don’t transfer so you can search for replacements later.
Test Tools Before Committing: Tools like Soundiiz allow you to preview playlist transfers, helping to catch errors early.

The Power of Manual Refinement

While tools automate much of the playlist transfer process, a final manual review ensures your music library looks and sounds just right. Troubleshooting takes time, but the reward is a seamless listening experience that matches your original playlists.