Your Vault holds the lyrics, timing, notes, and settings you’ve put time into. I wanted backing it up—or bringing in songs from another backup—to feel clear and safe, not like a one-way button that might replace everything.
So I rebuilt the JSON backup flow. You choose what leaves your browser, and you get to review what comes in.
1. Export only what you want
Open Backup in the top navigation and choose Export backup. The export window shows your songs in a searchable grid, with each song checked by default. Turn off the tracks you don’t want, or use Include all and Exclude all to change the visible selection together.
You can also choose whether the backup should contain:
- App settings: Include all settings together; individual settings are not selected separately.
- Deezer ARL: An optional, sensitive login token. It stays out of the backup unless you explicitly include it.
- Custom blog posts: Your locally saved custom articles, when you have any.
KEEP YOUR ARL PRIVATE: A Deezer ARL can grant access to your account. Only include it in a backup you can store and share securely.
2. Preview before importing
Choose Import backup and select a JSON file. PlanetMusic opens a preview first, so you can search the incoming songs and check or uncheck them before anything is added.
The songs are grouped into two lists:
- Already in Vault — will update: Tracks that match songs in your current library. If selected, the incoming song data updates that matching entry.
- New arrivals: Tracks that aren’t in your Vault yet. Selected tracks are added alongside your existing songs.
You can also choose to import the backup’s app settings, Deezer ARL, and custom blog posts. These options are separate, and an item that’s not in the file is shown as unavailable. Settings are an all-or-nothing choice; the ARL remains separately opt-in.
3. Your existing Vault stays
Importing is inclusive: it merges the selected songs into the current library. It does not clear the Vault and start over. Matching track IDs update their existing song; unrelated songs remain in place. Custom blog posts are merged too, with duplicate link conflicts checked before import.
GOOD TO KNOW: A JSON backup contains song and settings data, not the actual MP3 files uploaded from your device. Keep separate copies of local audio files you want to use again.
Take your library with you
Use Export backup before clearing browser data or moving to another browser profile. When you import, take a moment to review the preview and leave anything unchecked that you don’t want to add. The choices are yours, and the rest of your Vault stays where it is.