[Bug]: Importing playlists from exported from FreeTube loads only a few

[Kurpaph]

Guidelines

• I have encountered this bug in the latest release of FreeTube.
• I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the bug report I want to file, without success.
• I have searched the documentation for information that matches the description of the bug I want to file, without success.
• This issue contains only one bug.

Describe the bug

I have FreeTube on my PC (Windows 11 24H2) and on my Android phone (Samsung S23, Android 14, FreeTube version 0.23.2.13).
I exported the playlists from the desktop app to import to the Android app, but the android app seems to only get a few videos from the playlists. When trying to import repeatedly, the videos are added in small portions.
When I thought I had finished importing them all, I found out I imported too many times and then I had duplicates of some of the videos. Turning off and on the phone didn't help.

Expected Behavior

I would expect it to import all the playlists at one press of import and not create duplicates of some of the videos.

I would like some help if you can!

Issue Labels

usability issue

FreeTube Version

v0.23.2.13

Operating System Version

Android 14

Installation Method

.apk

Primary API used

Local API

Last Known Working FreeTube Version (If Any)

No response

Additional Information

No response

Nightly Build

• I have encountered this bug in the latest nightly build.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Hmm cant seem to reproduce this. Would you be ok with sharing the file you tried to import to your phone?

[Kurpaph]

Apparently Github doesn't allow attaching a .db file. Should I copy the content here or is there another way to share the file?

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

You can put it into a zip file. I think changing the extension type to .txt also works

[Kurpaph]

freetube-playlists-2025-02-27.txt

Attached are the txt file of the .db file I tried to import and a screenshot of the result of trying to import.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

How many playlists does this file contain? I cant inspect the file properly on mobile😅

[Kurpaph]

It's OK. I tried to import two identical playlists of about 1800 videos or so. One had imported with 160 video and the other hadn't been imported at all.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Hmm changing the extension to .db seems to go wrong on my phone as it says it imported the file correctly but doesn't show anything

[Kurpaph]

So do you have an idea what can be done?

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

I have imported the file again and see both the playlists

[Kurpaph]

I also imported an updated (I keep adding more to the playlists) file twice. The results are unlike yours.

The updated file:
freetube-playlists-2025-03-05.txt

[Kurpaph]

Update:
When I repitedly tried to import the playlists, it hardly does anything, but when I enter the playlist, I see it loading. Whenever the screen turns off, it stops and I have to import the file again.
Here's how it looks:

Screen_Recording_20250305_203108_FreeTube.mp4

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

So when i get the message Imported successfully, I do not navigate immediately to the playlist page. Maybe that is related. Give it a minute after you receive that message and then navigate towards the playlist page.

Before you try this i recommend that you delete all the playlists through -> Settings -> Privacy -> Remove All Playlists

[Flashwalker]

I found that you have to delete the initial “Favorites” playlist before importing. And possibly “Watch later” as well. In this way, the import is successful.