# iTunes plugin to create playlists based on folder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079 "2008-09-11T08:44:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Azile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Azile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azile)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/1 "2008-09-11T08:44:44Z")
I’m really excited to be getting a new iPod tomorrow - but I have about five gajillion\* albums in my iTunes library that don’t have specific playlists, and I’m really not excited to have to set those up by hand. Is there any sort of iTunes plugin for Windows XP that will go through and set up playlists for me? A Google search pulled up a bunch of sites, but I’m a little wary to be downloading software from any old place on the interwebs without some sort of vouchsafe. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks! \*This might be a slight exaggeration. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/2 "2008-09-11T10:16:38Z")
The newest version of itunes (ver 8.0) creates [‘genius playlists’](http://www.apple.com/itunes/whatsnew/) as you play your music. Haven’t tried it yet myself but that may do what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for something to sort and organize you’re music you can try [MusicBrainz](http://musicbrainz.org/). ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/3 "2008-09-11T11:36:11Z")
> [@Azile](#): > > I have about five gajillion\* albums in my iTunes library that don’t have specific playlists, and I’m really not excited to have to set those up by hand. You can view and play songs by album without setting up a playlist of the album. Is that what you’re trying to accomplish? ---
**Author:** ![Azile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Azile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azile)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/4 "2008-09-11T16:30:03Z")
**HongKongFooey** , I’m checking out the Genius playlists now, but from the sounds of it I’m not sure if it will do what I want. **Turek** , I’m afraid that’s not quite going to do the job - I also have a large number of individual mp3s, and I want a way to separate out the complete CDs so I can find and listen to those easily. The best way I can think of to find those is by how they’re organized on my harddrive. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/5 "2008-09-11T20:08:00Z")
Not a iTunes plugin, but I really like Anapod Explorer for my ancient 40GB iPod: [http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/](http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/) It basically looks like a Windows Explorer window, with your iPod listed among the drives. You can then actually **drag and drop** songs to your iPod, and it will offer to create playlists out of any directories you dragged. It’s $30 but well worth IMO, I couldn’t stand iTunes. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/6 "2008-09-11T22:13:26Z")
If you have your mp3s organized by folders on your hard drive, then you can turn these folders into playlists just by dropping the folder into the itunes sidebar where it says “Playlists.” Is that what you’re looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Azile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Azile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azile)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-plugin-to-create-playlists-based-on-folder/463079/7 "2008-09-12T02:36:27Z")
**zbuzz** , that is EXACTLY the sort of “why didn’t I try that months ago” easy-fix solution I was hoping to find! Thank you so much, this is going to be wonderful.