10 YouTube Music Features That Improve Your Listening

Key Takeaways

• You can upload up to 100,000 personal audio files to YouTube Music for free
• Playlist transfers from Spotify require third-party apps like TuneMyMusic or Soundiiz
• Pausing watch history affects both YouTube and YouTube Music recommendations

Why YouTube Music Is Worth a Second Look

YouTube Music sits in an odd spot. It's not as polished as Spotify. It lacks Apple Music's deep integration with iOS. But it does things neither competitor can match: access to rare live performances, fan-uploaded remixes, and the entire YouTube video catalog.

The platform now has 125 million subscribers globally when combined with YouTube Premium. YouTube paid $8 billion to the music industry in the last 12 months. These numbers reflect a service that's grown beyond its Google Play Music origins into something with real staying power.

If you're already paying for YouTube Premium to skip ads, you have YouTube Music included. If you're considering a switch from another platform, these features make the transition easier.

Transfer Playlists Without Starting Over

The biggest barrier to switching music services is losing years of curated playlists. YouTube Music addresses this with a direct Apple Music integration. Sign in to Apple Music, choose "Request to transfer a copy of your data," select "Apple Music playlists," then pick your Google account and confirm the export.

For Spotify users, the process requires third-party tools. TuneMyMusic and Soundiiz both handle playlist transfers for a fee. If you only need a one-time migration, subscribe for a single month, transfer everything, then cancel.

Upload Your Personal Music Library

YouTube Music lets you upload up to 100,000 songs from your computer. This is the service's killer feature for anyone with a collection of rare tracks, bootlegs, or music that's not on streaming platforms.

To upload, drag files directly to music.youtube.com on desktop, or click your profile photo and select "Upload music." Supported formats include FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, and WMA.

There are limits. Uploaded tracks won't play for other users in shared playlists. The algorithm also ignores them when building your recommendations. Think of uploads as a personal archive that lives alongside the streaming catalog.

Control What Influences Your Recommendations

Spotify lets you exclude specific tracks from your taste profile. YouTube Music takes a broader approach: you can pause your entire watch history. When paused, videos and songs won't appear in your history or shape future recommendations.

One important detail: this setting applies to both YouTube and YouTube Music if you're signed into the same account. Pausing watch history on YouTube Music also pauses it on the main YouTube app.

To pause, go to Settings, then Privacy & Location (or Privacy & Data), and toggle "Pause watch history." You can also exclude videos you've liked on YouTube from your Music recommendations via Settings > Recommendations, then toggle off "Show your liked music from YouTube."

Improve Audio Quality Settings

YouTube Music defaults to lower audio quality to save data. For home listening on Wi-Fi, you'll want to change this.

On Android, go to Settings > Data saving > Audio quality on Wi-Fi and select "High" or "Always High." On iOS, the path is Settings > Playback & restrictions > Audio quality on Wi-Fi. You can set separate quality levels for mobile data streaming and downloads.

“YouTube Music has quietly become the most versatile streamer because it bridges the gap between official discographies and the 'wild west' of user-generated content.”

— Dan Seifert, Tech Editor

The Platform's Unique Advantage

YouTube Music's real differentiator is access to content that doesn't exist on other platforms. Concert recordings. Acoustic sessions uploaded by artists. Fan remixes. Covers by smaller creators. The line between "official" and "user-generated" blurs in ways Spotify and Apple Music can't match.

Reddit users in r/YoutubeMusic have noted that the platform's algorithm has improved at "vibe detection." Some claim it now outperforms Spotify's Daylist for discovering music that matches a mood rather than a specific genre.

Quick Reference: Key Settings

• Playlist transfer from Apple Music: Request to transfer > Apple Music playlists > Confirm Export
• Upload limit: 100,000 songs (FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, WMA)
• Pause recommendations: Settings > Privacy & Location > Pause watch history
• Exclude YouTube likes: Settings > Recommendations > Toggle off "Show your liked music from YouTube"
• Audio quality: Settings > Data saving (Android) or Playback & restrictions (iOS)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my Spotify playlists to YouTube Music for free?

Not directly. YouTube Music has a built-in transfer for Apple Music, but Spotify requires third-party tools like TuneMyMusic or Soundiiz, which charge a subscription fee.

What audio formats can I upload to YouTube Music?

YouTube Music accepts FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, and WMA files. You can upload up to 100,000 tracks.

Does pausing YouTube watch history affect YouTube Music?

Yes. If you're signed into the same account, pausing watch history applies to both YouTube and YouTube Music.

Can other people play my uploaded songs in shared playlists?

No. Uploaded tracks are private to your account. Other users won't be able to play them, and they won't influence your recommendations.

Source: Lifehacker