How to migrate from OnSong to Fretlist
Tired of OnSong's iOS-only lock-in and dated interface? You don't have to re-enter hundreds of songs to switch. Fretlist imports your entire OnSong library — songs, setlists, attachments — in one go.
What gets imported
- Songs — lyrics, chords, ChordPro formatting, section headers
- Metadata — title, artist, key, capo, tempo, time signature, duration
- Setlists — recreated with the same songs in the same order
- Attachments — PDF and Word files embedded in the backup are extracted and processed
Step 1: Export from OnSong
- Open the Utilities menu → Backup
- Pick a destination, name the file, and save — AirDrop the resulting
.backupto your Mac, send it to iCloud/Google Drive, or email it to yourself
Step 2: Import into Fretlist
- Log in to the app — the dashboard has a big dropzone right there
- Drop your
.backupfile onto it. Fretlist auto-detects the format, no need to pick anything - Fretlist shows the totals — songs and setlists detected. Optionally skip setlists, then hit Import
The backup imports as-is. Songs save in batches and setlists are linked to the newly imported songs automatically. PDF and Word attachments are extracted and processed server-side.
Clean up duplicates
After a big import, libraries can get messy. Settings → Matching titles finds songs that share a title and shows them side-by-side so you can keep the version you want and drop the rest.
After the import
- Works everywhere — phone, tablet, laptop, any browser
- Instant transpose — change key with one click
- Play Mode — distraction-free full-screen view for the stage
- Auto-scroll — hands-free scrolling at adjustable speed
- Offline access — your library is cached for gigs without Wi-Fi
Open a setlist, hit Play, and you're performing.
Try Fretlist for free — your songs and setlists, on any device, ready for the stage.
Related docs
- Import from SongbookPro — migrate your SongbookPro library into Fretlist
- Import from Ultimate Guitar — bring songs across one at a time with a simple copy/paste