How do I share iPhoto libraries between two Macs?

Hi! I would ideally like to have one iPhoto library to share between two different Mac laptops. Is there some way I can set it up so that the same library can be shared, edited, and updated? Or if not, is there a way I can see the other Mac's iPhoto library? Both computers share the same Wifi and both using Mountain Lion OS (but I can upgrade if that would help).
Thanks!

The only way to do what you want is to put the Library on an external disk formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Then connect - a wired usb/firewire/thunderbird  connection - the drive to each machine as required.
What you're describing is a media server. They start at the $200 mark.

Similar Messages

  • How do i share iPhoto library between two user accounts

    I need to share my iphoto pictures between two accounts on the same computer

    For iPhoto 09 (version 8.0.2) and later:
    What you mean by 'share'.
    If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.
    Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.
    Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.
    If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc.
    Quit iPhoto in both accounts. Move the Library to the Users / Shared Folder
    (You can also use an external HD set to ignore permissions, a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.)
    In each account in turn: Double click on the Library to open it. (You may be asked to repair the Library Permissions.) From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
    However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.

  • What is the best strategy for sharing iPhoto libraries between two macs?

    I have an iMac and a new Airbook.  I want to keep my iMac as the"main" iPhoto location, but want to also keep copies of the photos on my Airbook. 
    I could copy the library from one to the other to get the photos into the Airbook initially, but then how would I get subsequent ones in there?  Is there a way to sync these two computers so that the photos flow from one to the other?  One-way syncing would be ok...
    Thanks.
    Oh - and I use MobileMe if that helps.

    There is an application that can sync two iPhoto libraries.  It's SyncPhotos
    Here's how it works: 
    1 - it compares the databases and/or album.xml files of Libraries A and B. 
    2 - the files in A that are not in B are imported into B by copying the original files from A into B's Import folder.  
    3 - it then does the same for B. 
    4 - metadata is not copied nor are Faces or Places. 
    It can be used to just copy from A to B and not sync both ways if desired. It will work with 2 libraries that are different versions, i.e. between an iPhoto 08 and iPhoto 09 library.
    If you want to copy selected Events or Album from one to the other and keep the metadata, faces and places intact, you can use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager.  You would have to manually select the event/album to copy from A to B and do the same for B to A.
    OT

  • Syncing two iPhoto Libraries between two Macs

    I'm looking for the best way of keeping my two iPhoto libraries on my two Macs synced at all times. Right now I'm doing this manually over my wireless network which is kind of time consuming...and I'm guessing there has to be an easier way of doing this on a Mac?
    Any good ideas? Thanks...
    iMac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

    Jr Oakley
    Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
    Exactly what do you mean by sync? Do you mean one way copying? As in I organise and import pics on one machine only, and would like the changes visible on the other?
    Or do you mean I want to import and organise on both machines, and have the changes reflected on either? You cannot do this. If you try and sync the database files they will be corrupted.
    So a little more info might help us help you.
    Regards
    TD

  • How do I share iphoto library between two computers

    I have a MacBook Pro 15 and an iMac. Most of my pictures and movies are loaded onto my MacBook, but some are on the iMac. I want to combine these onto an external drive (which should free up space on both HD's) and use the external drive for all my pictures and movies. How do I go about doing this and getting both iPhoto's on each computer to look at the external drive when opened?
    Thanks!

    1. Use the paid version ($20) of iPhoto Library Manager to merge the libraries. It's the only way to do this.
    2. Make sure the external is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Set it to ignore permissions and then pow the merge Library on it.
    3. From each machine in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point iPhoto at the Library.
    Some caveats:
    1. Iphoto is not a server or multi-user application. One one machine can access the Library at a time.
    2. Connecting via wireless is fine if all you're doing is viewing. If you're trying to edit the Library (that is, make albums, move photos around, keyword, make books or slideshows etc.) or edit individual photos in it via Wireless be very careful. Dropouts are a common fact of wireless networking, and should one occur while the app is writing to the database then your Library will be damaged. Simply, I would not do this with my Libraries. 
    Regards
    TD

  • Sharing iPhoto libraries between two Macs

    Hi,
    I've got a Mac mini set up in the living room on which I store videos, music and photos.
    The photos are organized in iPhoto and arranged in 'Events' with the file name format being "YYYY MM eventname"
    My wife would like to access those photos from her MacbookAir.
    When sharing the iPhoto library, the photos come up in her iPhoto under 'shared' but all 25000 photos are in one big folder and no longer sorted the way they are on the Macmini.
    Is there any way accessing the structure of the Mac Mini's Library via a sharing device?

    Make Albums of those Events - which you can do just by dragging the Events to the Album heading in the left pane. Albums don't use any extra disk space.
    Regards
    TD

  • Merging iPhoto Libraries from two Macs

    Does anyone have a way of physically combining (not just sharing) iPhoto libraries from two macs? I'm hoping there's an easier, smarter way of doing it than just exporting all of the photos from one and importing them into the other and then just doing the reverse. Is there software that does this smarter? Can get rid of duplicates, etc.?

    Merge?
    Do you mean 'sync' libraries
    The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
    This is bi-directional copying and you cannot do this with automatically with iPhoto. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
    The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus assoicated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
    The Export/Import route will not get your versions.
    Regards
    TD

  • Can I sync iphoto library between two Mac's?

    I have two Macs (an iMac and a Macbook Pro) and want to sync the iPhoto (6.0.6) library between the two so whenever I change one the other is updated. I thought about using iDisk but my library is apx 5gb. I am new to Macs- is there a utility built into OSX 10.4.9 or hopefully some freeware or very-cheap ware... preferably automated. Thank you very much.

    brettjbyers
    No you cannot sync an iPhoto library between two macs. If you do you will corrupt the iPhoto Library file. iPhoto is a consumer level app, and this feature is not supported.
    What you can do is share the photos but not the library. Each machine will need to have it's own library file.
    The easiest way to do it this is to enable sharing (in the iPhoto Preferences) on both machines (one sharing the library, the other looking for the share). When you do this the shared library will appear in the Source (or left-hand) pane and pics can be dragged from that to the library in the other machine.
    Regards
    TD

  • Trying to share iTunes libraries between two users on one iMac

    Ok, so I have two users on my iMac, but I want to share iTunes libraries between the two (so that both have the same music, movies, apps...), but for some reason I can't! So first I tried turning on iTunes while holding option key so that I can open my Library from my user that i'm trying to grab the music and everything else from. But for some reason it said that I didn't have the permissions to (which both ARE admin). So then I went to the Preferences on iTunes and tried to change the directories from where to grab the media from, but it wouldn't let me access my other users music folder, it siad again that I didn't have permissions for this. I'm really fed up, please help me.

    Chris, thanks for the reply.  Are you telling me that I should move the iTunes folder itself, and not merely the iTunes Media folder, as instructed by the KB article?  At this point, I'd be willing to try just about anything, but the KB article specifically states:
    Important: Do not move the iTunes folder, the iTunes Library file or the iTunes Library.xml file.
    As I stated above, I did exactly what the KB article said to, which is to move the iTunes Media folder (called iTunes Music on my iMac, since the library has been around since pre-iTunes 8 or so) to /Users/Shared, and then go into iTunes Prefs for each user, and under the advanced tab, choose the location of the library for each user.  I know that this method does NOT share iTunes library (.itl or .xml, or the other associated files), and doing what you suggest would, but I'm curious if that would cause any problems.
    And yes, like I said in the OP, I did check/change all file permissions on that folder appropriately.
    Thanks again for the help!  Please let me know if I'm reading your suggestion right!

  • Sync iPhoto '08 between two macs

    I am trying to sync iPhoto '08 between two of my macs, but can't seem to get it, unless I copy the whole library file (all 10gbs of it!).
    Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

    ckg1999:
    Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You can't sync two libraries like you can two folders. That's because the data inside the library's database file needs to be the same and you can sync the contents of data files. The only way to keep two libraries the same is to use iPhoto Library Manager to copy new events on Library A to Library B and copy new Events on Library B to A. You would have to be sure to keep the Events as they were imported so you would know which are new and need copying to the other library. If you were to move photos to an earlier event what I propose wouldn't work.
    Using any other syncing application will only mess up both libraries.
    Do you Twango?
    TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
    I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

  • How do you turn off sharing between two macs?

    How do you turn of sharing between to macs ?

    Don't choose the apps to sync and turn off automatic downloads.
    iTunes Store: How to enable Automatic Downloads - Support - Apple

  • How can I share files/libraries between users?

    I have tried to enable file sharing between me and my hubby. I would like to share iTunes and iPhoto libraries but cannot. I don't want to have the same photos & CDs replicated just so we can have two different logins.
    How can I do this?

    Hi, Loker. Welcome to the Discussions.
    Mac OS X and other UNIX®-based systems, in general, are not set up to easily share data between users. A fundamental idea behind UNIX security is each user's data is theirs and theirs alone, and a user must take steps to share data on their accounts with other users, either on that computer or over a network. This is why, in Mac OS X, the Users > Shared folder exists: all users have Read & Write access to such, providing a "commons" for easily sharing documents between users on the same Mac. The Public folders in each account are extant for a similar reason.
    Simply changing the access privileges on the folders of a given user may provide access to the files within those folders, but does not change the access privileges on the individual files within such: you may be able to see the files, but not use them. This depends on the application. Additionally, applications often expect to find their specific content in a specific location, usually one owned by the user who created the content.
    ITunes and iPhoto have generally been designed as single-user applications. Despite Mac OS X being a multi-user operating system, Apple did not initially consider the idea of a "family" computer where a family would all share and update common music or photo libraries.
    Some of these issues have been addressed, albeit IMO somewhat inadequately, by adding content-sharing functions to recent versions of iTunes and iPhoto. This was primarily for sharing content over a local network, but these methods also work between users on the same Mac. You can find relevant information by searching the Help for iTunes and iPhoto. In iTunes, select Help > iTunes Help. In iPhoto, select Help > iPhoto Help.
    The downside of these approaches are the requirements they place on the account sharing its music or photos. Specifically, that account must be:
    1. Logged in, and...
    2. The specific application -- iTunes, iPhoto -- must be running to share its content.
    These functions also place limitations on what you can do with shared content, delineated in the "About" documents you will find in the Help related to sharing.
    More sophisticated methods for sharing iTunes music, iPhoto photos, iMovie projects, and other application-specific files between users on the same Mac are generallly found in magazine articles or by searching the Web. A good site to search is Mac OS X Hints. You can also search or post on the iTunes Discussion, iPhoto Discussion, etc. for additional ideas.
    Two useful magazine articles in praticular:
    • The June 2006 issue of MacWorld also had some suggestions on iPhoto sharing that could also be applied to iTunes. That article is currently online: see "One iPhoto, many users."
    • The article "Share Files and Apps with Multiple Users" by Fong and Willams in the August 2004 issue of MacAddict discussed techniques that generally involve the use of the Shared folder and UNIX symbolic links. You can order back issues of MacAddict by contacting their customer service office.
    Good luck!
    Dr. Smoke
    Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

  • Share iPhoto Library between two account

    I’m am new in MAC world and I want to share pictures between two account in my iMAC. Rather than have the iphoto library on my account I was wondering if it's possible to share iphoto library with account of my wife.

    Hi There,
    I was told to follow a different course to share my iPhoto Library. I put it in the Shared Folder and changed the permissions to read right for everyone. Now all account holders can access the iPhoto library in the Share folder.
    There's a problem though when User A logs in and accesses the iPhoto library a warning comes up that says 'You don't have permission to access some files. Would you like to repair the permissions' If ou click on 'Repair' User A now has full access.
    When User B tries to access the iPhoto library they get the same message. Once permissions are repaired again, they have full access to the library. When User C tries, same thing again.
    When User A goes back again to use the iPhoto library they must repair the permissions all over again. How can this be avoided. When I attempt to change the permissions on the iPhoto Library to Read and Write for everyone the file becomes locked and inaccessible.

  • TS4001 How can I share Safari bookmarks between two iCloud accounts using IOS 7 and Mavericks?

    Before iOS 7 and Mavericks, we were able to share Safari bookmarks between all of our devices.  My wife had the primary iCloud account which was setup to share bookmarks, contacts, calendars and reminders.  A secondary iCloud account was setup on my phone for only my email.  Each phone had our private email accounts segregated and we shared all the bookmarks, contacts, calendars and reminders.  When I saved a bookmark on my phone, I could see it later on our iMac or iPad.  Now only my wife can sync bookmarks between her phone and the iMac or iPad.  This *****!!  This worked beautifully before we upgraded to the latest versions of OS & iOS.  Is there a work around or a new way to set things up?  I don't want to be stuck reading Safari on my phone when I have a 24" iMac sitting in the living room.  I don't want to see all of my wife's email on my phone either.  Do we need three iCloud accounts now?  One main for sharing and two separate accounts for only email?  Need help!  Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

    David,
    Thanks for the reply.  That's how I set it up originally.  Although the new iOS 7 update lost some functionality.  I found the following on the TUAW website.  The Safari Bookmarks and Find My Phone options have been removed from the secondary iCloud accounts options.  This is the problem.  Everything worked great before we updated.  I guess "new way" consolidates the iCloud accounts better with Maverick?  Now I will have extra documents on my phone that I don't need.  We will both have to share the same iCloud storage and backup space too.  Have to try it out and see how it works. Thanks.
    http://www.tuaw.com/2013/09/19/how-to-use-multiple-apple-ids-in-ios-7/

  • HT1198 I want to share iphoto libraries between users but not make a copy of my entire library

    I want to share an iphoto library between 2 users.  I have my entire 75gb library saved onto the hardrive on one user account.  I have now created a user account for my wife so that she can use photo-sharing with her phone, and I want her to have access to the same photo library.  How can I give her user account access to the photo library without making a copy of this 75 gig library?

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198
    LN

Maybe you are looking for