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How to Add Someone’s Playlist on Apple Music: The Definitive Guide

So, you’ve stumbled upon a killer playlist curated by a friend, family member, or maybe even a public figure on Apple Music and you’re itching to get it into your library? Excellent choice! Adding someone else’s playlist is a seamless way to expand your musical horizons and discover new favorites. Here’s the breakdown:

The process boils down to two primary scenarios: shared playlists and public playlists. We’ll cover both to ensure you’re grooving in no time.

How to Add a Shared Playlist:

If your friend has explicitly shared a playlist with you, meaning they’ve sent you a link or invited you to collaborate, the process is straightforward:

Locate the Shared Link or Invitation: This will typically arrive via iMessage, email, or another messaging platform.
Tap the Link: On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, simply tap the shared link.
Open in Apple Music: Your device will prompt you to open the link in the Apple Music app. Click or tap “Open”.
Add to Library (if not collaborative): If it’s a shared playlist that you’re only viewing (not collaborating on), look for the “+” button (typically near the top of the playlist screen). Tap this button. This will add the entire playlist to your Apple Music library under a new playlist with the original name.
Collaborative Playlists (automatic addition): If it’s a collaborative playlist, the playlist will automatically appear in your Library under the “Playlists” section. You and the playlist owner, and anyone else they have given permission to, can now edit the playlist, add, and remove songs.

How to Add a Public Playlist (From a Profile):

If the playlist is available publicly on someone’s Apple Music profile (meaning they’ve made their playlists visible), here’s how to get it:

Find the Profile: Search for the user’s name within Apple Music using the search bar.
Navigate to Their Profile: Once you find the correct user, tap on their profile.
Scroll Down to Playlists: Look for the section displaying their public playlists. Note that users can choose to keep their playlists private, so you might not see anything here.
Select the Desired Playlist: Tap on the specific playlist you want to add.
Add to Library: Similar to shared playlists, look for the “+” button (usually at the top of the playlist screen). Tap it to add the entire playlist to your library as a new playlist.

That’s it! You’ve successfully added the playlist to your Apple Music library. Now you can listen offline, add songs to your own playlists, and enjoy the curated tunes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions and solutions when trying to add playlists on Apple Music:

1. Why can’t I see the “+” button to add the playlist?

This usually indicates one of two things: either the playlist is already in your library, or the playlist owner has made the playlist private and it isn’t discoverable to others. Double-check your playlists section to see if it’s already there. If not, confirm with the playlist creator that the playlist is set to public.

2. How do I know if a playlist is collaborative?

Collaborative playlists typically show a group icon or multiple profile pictures next to the playlist name. Also, if you open a collaborative playlist, you’ll see options for adding songs directly within the playlist interface, rather than just a “+” button to add the entire playlist to your library.

3. Can I copy individual songs from a playlist instead of the whole thing?

Absolutely. Open the playlist, and tap on the three dots (…) next to the song you want to add. Then, select “Add to Playlist…” and choose an existing playlist or create a new one. You can also add the song directly to your library (“Add to Library”).

4. What happens if the playlist owner changes the playlist after I’ve added it?

If it’s a collaborative playlist, the changes will automatically sync to your library. For standard public playlists that you’ve added, the copy in your library will not automatically update. You’ll need to re-add the playlist to get the updated version. However, be warned that doing so will result in a duplicate playlist in your library, so consider deleting the old version first.

5. How can I share my playlists with friends on Apple Music?

Open the playlist you want to share. Tap the three dots (…) at the top. Then, select “Share Playlist”. You can send the link via iMessage, email, or other apps. For collaborative playlists, instead of “Share Playlist” you want to click on “Share Collaborative Playlist”.

6. Is there a limit to the number of playlists I can add to my Apple Music library?

Apple Music used to have a limit, but thankfully, they’ve removed it. You can now add as many playlists as your heart desires, without worrying about hitting a ceiling.

7. How do I make my own playlists public on Apple Music?

Open the playlist you want to make public. Tap the three dots (…) at the top. Select “Edit” (or the pencil icon). In the Edit Playlist screen, toggle the “Show on My Profile and in Search” option to on.

8. I accidentally deleted a playlist I added. Can I get it back?

Unfortunately, if you’ve deleted the playlist from your library, and it wasn’t a collaborative playlist, there is no “undo” button within Apple Music to restore it. You’ll need to find the original source (the shared link or the user’s profile) and add it again.

9. Can I add playlists from other music services (like Spotify) to Apple Music?

Directly transferring entire playlists from one streaming service to another isn’t possible within Apple Music itself. However, you can use third-party apps and services specifically designed for playlist transfer. These services often require you to log in to both your source (e.g., Spotify) and destination (Apple Music) accounts. Popular options include SongShift, TuneMyMusic, and FreeYourMusic.

10. Why do some songs from a playlist appear grayed out and unavailable in my library?

This usually happens due to regional licensing restrictions. A song might be available in the playlist creator’s country, but not in yours. Apple Music’s catalog varies by region. There’s not much you can do about this, unfortunately, other than try to find a local version of the song or contact Apple Music support.

11. How can I collaborate on a playlist with someone who doesn’t have Apple Music?

Unfortunately, collaboration is restricted to Apple Music subscribers. The other person must have an Apple Music subscription to participate in a collaborative playlist. They can, however, listen to public playlists if they have an active subscription to Apple Music.

12. I’m having trouble with a collaborative playlist. Songs are disappearing, or changes aren’t syncing. What can I do?

First, ensure that everyone involved in the playlist has a stable internet connection. Syncing issues are often caused by connectivity problems. Second, try restarting the Apple Music app or your device. If the issue persists, it could be a bug within Apple Music. Report the problem to Apple Support. Also, check that everyone has enabled the feature “Sync Library” inside Apple Music settings.

By following these steps and keeping these FAQs in mind, you’ll be a playlist-adding pro in no time! Happy listening!