I’ve been trying to import iTunes playlists for the past couple of days. Reading posts here and other sites I was able to get Plex to import the XML without errors in the log file but no playlist appeared.
So, I moved on to attempting to import m3u files. I was able to get that to happen see here on how to do that.
While working on the m3u import I noticed the test tracks I was using had star ratings. I realized the stars came from the iTunes XML import.
This afternoon I decided to import my full iTunes Library XML to get the ratings. Suprise, Suprise all the playlists imported. I’m not sure if the m3u import had something to do with it or not. But, it does seem coincidental.
Here’s what I did to import my iTunes Library.xml into Plex
Copy iTunes Library.xml file in the Music folder specified in Plex. Set when you created the Music Library.
Prepend file://localhost to the music file path names.
All spaces in the filename should already be replaced with %20
Example: file://localhost/{YourPath}/Music/Some%20Artist%20Name/Some%20Album%20Name/01%20Song%20Name.mp3
Make sure Music Folder line near end of the file changed to have Linux Path
Example: <key>Music Folder</key><string>file://localhost/{YourPath}/Music/</string>
In Plex highlight your Music library and you should get three dots on the right. Click them and Choose Import from iTunes.
The first time you will need to enter the pathname to the XML file.
Click Import iTunes.
Hey guys! I’m trying to import my iTunes to Plex (play count und ratings are most important) for days now and I think I have done nearly everything possible to get it working. While music everytime is imported fine and with all the artwork and stuff it doesn’t seem to use my iTunes Library for Playlists etc. So I did the following:
Edited all paths to be correct.
Set up all rights in Synology.
Located the Library.xml in the Plex Plugin Settings.
Read and followed the Synology FAQs by trumpy81 carefully.
But for f**** sake it doesn’t work. So I’m asking here because cadman64 seemed to get it done: What’s the last step you mentioned? I have three dots but no option to “import from iTunes” . Might that be a hint?
I’m thankful for any help. At this point I’m near to leaving Plex behind and use Audio Station instead.
I had relocated my iTunes library to another disk drive. After I changed its location in Plex, it did not seem to behaving properly when adding new music. So I decided to delete the library and start over. That’s when my problems really began. I had missed the notice about premium libraries being “temporarily” out of service (for a month now). And with the new UNO web interface, I couldn’t get iTunes playlists to import. Like you, I was not seeing the import option under the three dots.
I tried several things. I unchecked the option for trying out the new web interface (under Settings > Web Client > General. Then I signed out and signed back in and launched the web client. Finally the three dots had the “import from iTunes” option.
Thanks for the quick reply! (: I don’t even have any option to revert back to an old interface or something similar. Even not with the Advanced Settings. I have a version information at the top saying “4.0.1” for the web client I guess.
Sorry that didn’t work for you. I suspect I was somehow stuck in the preview of the UNO version of the web app. 4.01 is the current release and the UNO interface has become standard. So, the check box to preview the “new experience” is no longer present.
Yes, given the comment from Moderator ChuckPA, I suspect you are.
While I was looking into the problems I was having, I did stumble across a service that purports to be able to move playlists to Plex. You may want to check them out, there is a free option. No endorsement implied or given. Here’s the link
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Bob,
Thank you for updating me on that. I was unaware Macs had been resolved. That makes it 2 out of 3 which have it.
I will see if I can figure out how that was accomplished. If so, I might be able to reverse engineer a procedure to apply to Linux/NAS boxes.
Please don’t take my little comment to mean iTunes playlist import is working “properly”. There are lots of issues, most previously documented. While the work is going on to deal with a new version of premium music would be a great time to address them. Most important items include import of smart playlists (so I don’t have to duplicate copy contents to manual playlists for Plex), proper handling of and tools to manage playlist folders (especially to delete them)
Also, consistent display of playlists contained in folders across clients should be addressed (probably in the clients). Right now, Roku seems to be displaying playlists that exist in iTunes folders while the web and iOS clients do not (root folder iTunes playlists only). Previous versions of both the web and iOS clients have displayed the playlists contained in iTunes folders, but not the folder hierarchy. The current UNO Roku client displays all playlists, but not the hierarchy. The pre-UNO (Retro) Roku client used to also display the folder hierarchy.
It makes it hard to organize playlists in iTunes for proper import into Plex when the Plex clients are inconsistent and ever-changing.
Thanks,
Bob Ketcham
P.S. of course, I have no clue what the new Apple replacement for iTunes will do that might wreck everything.
Bob,
I know that Apple “Smart Playlists” aren’t supported. Fixed / Static playlists are.
I am a server/OS guy so will need review all the players (those which I have) as this all settles and as I actually find time to use what I have. I am usually so busy working with it all day, I don’t sit down and enjoy it.
Thanks for the reply, Chuck. In the past when I’ve brought up the issues, it seems like the Plex rep worked very hard to deny the problems even existed. Thanks for listening and not trying to do that.
The no support for smart playlists thing has always mystified me. The iTunes plugins for Plex always displayed the playlist contents correctly, so I know Plex can get access to the contents. I know that Plex does not have the fields necessary to duplicate the iTunes logic, but I would so love it if Plex would import the songs currently contained in the playlist as a fixed / static list. It would keep me from having to drag and drop the songs into a duplicate set of fixed lists.
Trumpy and I spent a good 2-3 days trying to make it work.
With my Linux skills and his Windows skills, we did manage to force it.
It did import the simple / static playlists but it was by no means possible to have it updated by the average user.
I literally had to create /C:/Users/chuck as a directory tree on my Synology. definitely not the way do do things
Just to clarify… there is a bit of inaccuracy in my statement. The web client now displays the playlists differently in different places. Under the Playlist menu item (where video and photo playlists are also displayed), only the playlists in the iTunes root folder are displayed. Under the Music Library’s Playlist heading, all music playlists are displayed.
