Itunes library physically on 2 computers

Hello all,
Well I am the new owner of a Macbook Pro and its my first Mac. So far I am happy with it, and still learning.
I have been searching all day for an answer to my question, however I haven't found any questions similar to my situation. It may be out there but I can't find it.
I have a Windows 7 machine (which I am going to continue to use), however I wanted to get my iTunes library on my Mac. I don't want to stream it and home sharing doesnt work because its not actually putting the music on my machine, just streaming it from the main machine. (come to think of it I havent seen a use to stream from one computer to another in the same home... but either way).
I wanted to physically have the music on my laptop so when I am away from home (mainly at work) i can have my music collection without needing an internet connection.
I have seen the option for home sharing to import the media, and that would work for the first time, but as new music is added to the main machine, it would be extreamlly difficult to copy the new items without just copying the entire library again (and most of my music is ripped from CDs not purchased from iTunes).
I have considered signingup for Match, but I am not sure if I want to do that as I have read there are some cons to using Match, but I am willing to pay the $25 a year.
Does anyone have any suggestions that may help me out in this situation?
Thanks for your time, and sorry if this is a repost...

but as new music is added to the main machine, it would be extreamlly difficult to copy the new items without just copying the entire library again (and most of my music is ripped from CDs not purchased from iTunes).
"Incremental" transfers can be done relatively straightforwardly.
When displaying the library you're transferring music from, for your later transfers go down to the bottom of the screen and in "Show:" select "Items not in my library":
That way it won't show you the songs/content that you already transferred earlier, which should stop you ending up with duplicates.

Similar Messages

One iTunes library between multiple home computers

I have looked for a complete answer to this question, but haven't been able to find a complete answer.
I'd like to have a single iTunes library to be shared by 3 home computers.
First let me note that the library I have is composed of about 12,000 songs, all of which were taken from CDs that I have purchased.
I have 2 Mac Powerbooks (connected via ethernet) and a Mac mini (wireless connection), all running Mac OSX 10.4. Additionally I have a LaCie 2d Network 2 drive connected to my home network via ethernet.
On one of the laptops I have my entire music collection, complete with album artwork (much of which I have scanned in myself). On the other laptop I have a partial collection, no artwork.
I'd like to have all the computers access a single music library. I'd also like that library located on the LaCie Network drive. I would also like each computer to be able to add music to the library and to create their own playlists if possible.
I seem to remember that there might be a application that would allow this. I am OK with purchasing a product that could manage this, but I don't remember the product name or who created it.
I am also more than willing to set up each computer individually if I have to but I can't seem to fins specific instructions as to how to go about doing this.
Does anyone know of any tutorials or purchased applications that can help me with this?
Thank you,
TPK

Thank you Gerald. That is very helpful.
I have enabled the sharing, and it seems to work fine, but on the connecting mac I am unable to pull up the artwork or sync an iPod. I'll look at my settings and see if I missed something.
My goal is to have a single library where family members can sync their iPods from their own machines.
Thankx,
TPK

Keeping iTunes Library current on 2 computers w/media on Ext. Drive

I recently moved my iTunes media files - just the media, not the entire iTunes folder that is inside the Music folder on my desktop Mac - to an external hard drive for two reasons: I was running out of space and I wanted to have the same library/files available on my laptop.
I did NOT move the other folders (Album Artwork, Mobile Applications, Playlists, Previous iTunes Libraries) or files (iTunes Library, iTunes Library Extras, iTunes Library Genius, iTunes Music Library) that are located inside the Music/iTunes folders.
Everything was working fine on both computers - Consolidated the library on the external drive and did the Change the location of the iTunes Media folder in Preferences on both computers, no problem.
However I added two movies and a few songs to my desktop Mac yesterday - all showed up and played fine after adding them - but when I plug the external drive into my laptop, the new additions don't appear in the library.
Am I right in guessing that it is because the iTunes Library file on the laptop isn't the same as the one on the desktop computer?
Is there a way to add them to the library listing on the laptop? If yes, is that something I need to do every time I connect the external drive to the laptop if I've added things from the desktop computer (I never add stuff on the laptop).
OR
Should I have put the entire iTunes folder - files, folder and media - onto the external drive?
If so, does that mean there shouldn't be an iTunes folder in the Music folder at all on either computer and everything be located on the external drive?
Thanks for your help - I'm a bit flummoxed with all this!
Beth

Beth Trachtenberg wrote:
I did NOT move the other folders (Album Artwork, Mobile Applications, Playlists, Previous iTunes Libraries) or files (iTunes Library, iTunes Library Extras, iTunes Library Genius, iTunes Music Library) that are located inside the Music/iTunes folders.
should be no problem. i'm doing this also.
Everything was working fine on both computers - Consolidated the library on the external drive and did the Change the location of the iTunes Media folder in Preferences on both computers, no problem.
However I added two movies and a few songs to my desktop Mac yesterday - all showed up and played fine after adding them - but when I plug the external drive into my laptop, the new additions don't appear in the library.
if you're purchasing content from the iTMS, you could use _*Home Sharing*_ to automatically add new content to all machines on your local network.
Am I right in guessing that it is because the iTunes Library file on the laptop isn't the same as the one on the desktop computer?
yes.
Is there a way to add them to the library listing on the laptop? If yes, is that something I need to do every time I connect the external drive to the laptop if I've added things from the desktop computer (I never add stuff on the laptop).
basically, yes. however, there's _*Home Sharing*_ and ... see below.
Should I have put the entire iTunes folder - files, folder and media - onto the external drive?
that's one possibility, however, only one Mac @ a time could access that library. there are other options:
*the easy way*
check out TuneRanger.
*the more involved way*
click here for tips/information.
JGG

ITunes library - two (or more) computers, one external library

Hi, apologies if I've posted in the wrong place. I hope someone will be able to point me in the right direction with this.
Basically, I have two computers, iMac and Powerbook, and want to create a big iTunes library on an external hard drive that I can access on both computers. Home sharing is out, given that they are on different networks.
I've worked out how to do this, but any ratings etc. that I do on one computer aren't recognised on the other.
I am going to keep one copy of the library etc files on my iMac so that iTunes will continue to function without asking me to choose a library every time. But is there any way of keeping a copy of this file on the hard drive too, that will update automatically when any changes have been made to ratings etc?
I know I could just copy it across and overwrite it every time I change anything, but is there any way of doing this more easily?
Many thanks

Normally, I would have said this couldn't be done. But I recently started using a product that might just be able to do it.
The product is Dropbox (http://www.getdropbox.com). Dropbox defines a folder on your hard drive as a syncing item. Anything in that folder will be automatically copied up to Dropbox's servers and then downloaded to every computer registered to the same Dropbox account. Dropbox uses one specific folder to do this, but you can use Symbolic Links to files outside of your Dropbox folder to make those files sync. Dropbox is free up to 2GB.
Theoretically, this should work: load Dropbox on each computer. On your main computer create a symbolic links that point to your iTunes database and preference files. Drop the symbolic links in the Dropbox folder. Go to the other computer and replace the iTunes database and preference files with symbolic links that point to the cooresponding files in your Dropbox. That's it.
As long as only one copy of iTunes is open at any time, this ought to work. I wouldn't try to sync your actual music files through Dropbox, as those will fill up your free space fast. But you said the actual library was going on an external drive that was net accessible from both boxes.
Doc

Status of Itunes library after deauthorizing all computers

When I deauthorize all my computers, does my itunes library remain intact, even music received from cd's and 3rd party. Will I be able to authorize my computer to play the same library as before.
Please advise

Yes. Deauthorizing all computers simply clears the link between all computers and a particular iTunes sign-on ID. Once you re-authorize any computer you want associated with that iTunes ID again, then that ID will be able to download and play songs purchased by that ID in the iTunes library on the computer that has been authorized to it.
The only thing you need to remember is that a "Deauthorize All" function can only be done for a particular Apple/iTunes ID once a year.
Cheers,
GB

Sharing an iTunes Library w/Multiple iPods/Computers

I'm sure there is a tutorial somewhere that tells you how to do this...but I cant seem to find one. I'm trying to find out how to share one iTunes library that is on my mac with another computer on my network (a laptop PC). I have 2 ipods as well, and would like both ipods to be synched to the same itunes library. Is this possible? Please help!
thanks

Not really. Each computer will have a separate library within iTunes. They can be set to use the same file storage location but I have no idea how to do that with a Mac.

I want to use my iTunes library with multiple Windows computers

I want to put my entire iTunes library on a server and then allow any of the 4 - windows laptops, 1 - windows desktop, various iPods, an iPad 1, and a Samsung Tablet to gain access to use it. 3 of the laptops are Windows 8, the desktop and one laptop is Windows 7. I don't mind having multiple iTunes accounts set up. I just want to make sure that when a song is purchased or uploaded from a CD or whatever that it all goes into this central location so that everyone has access to it. How do I make that happen?

1. Yes you can do that.
2. But you shouldn't.
3. There's no need to anyway.
This thread
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
Will tell you more on how, and why not, and why what you want to do is making more for for exactly zero extra capability.
Or, put another way, maybe iPhoto is not the app for you.

Itunes library on NAS upgrading computers don't want to lose music added to library via CDs help

Hello all,
I'm upgrading from an old Win XP machine to a Windows 8 machine. Complete iTunes library has already been transferred to a network drive (NAS) and is accessible to both machines via Home Sharing. I want to remove the XP machine from the mix but I'm afraid I will no longer be able to access any music that was added to my library from CDs and not the iTunes Store. What can I do to ensure I can acces the entire library and begin to sync my iPods, iPhones, etc. via the Windows 8 machine (after removing the old XP machine) - exactly like I did before. Somebody help a brother out here... thanks!

Have a look at this help article about "How to move your music to a new computer": http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527

Can I have my iTunes Library on two different computers? One pc and one mac

I have my iTunes library on my office pc. I just bought a MacBook Air and want to have my library on there as well. I have an iphone that I have synced to both, but it will only let me keep my songs on my work pc. Is there a way I can have it on both?
Thank you.

If it is only the media files that are on the external drive, with the library files in the default location of User's Music\iTunes then see Make a split library portable.
tt2

My husband and I each have our own iTunes library on our separate computers. Is there a way for us to share each other's music/playlists?

My husband and I recently got married and we both have our own laptops and iPods with our own individual iTunes library. We would like to share the music we have downloaded over the years. I have read several discussions on the forums and think maybe Home Sharing is the way to go- but if I sign in my iTunes on my husband's computer, will it delete his iTunes library? I'm not very computer savvy.
I tried attaching some songs as e-mails and sending them to him, but it would only allow him to add the songs I retrieved off of actual music CDs to his iTunes library- he could not add songs I had paid for through the store.
If anyone could help us figure out if there is a way to share our music across both libraries/iPods, we would be greatly appreciative!!
-K
Also, we use Windows, not Macs, if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance!!!

if I sign in my iTunes on my husband's computer, will it delete his iTunes library?
LOL! If Home Sharing deleted the other person's library, then Home Sharing wouldn't have too many users, would it?
Seriously, Home Sharing sounds like a fine solution to the need you express.
However, your question suggests that your library is not backed up, right? You and your husband should each make a backup of your libraries.

Can you transfer one ITunes library to a different computers ITunes?

The Computer I have, has all my music from itunes on it but it keeps crashing. But i own a mac book which is perfectly fine. Can i transfer my whole itunes library off of my broken cpu and transfer it to my mac? It would be much helpful if you could help me ... thanks xxx <3 :*

I just did that the other day and it worked for me. If you want your playlists transferred as well, then copy the whole iTunes folder (that includes the .xml and .itl files

Administrating iTunes Library by from multiple computers pc/osx

Hello.
I need to find a way to administrate same Library from multiple computers. What I need is a opportunity not only to listen my media (that's why original iTunes sharing suit me), but to Add, organize, create playlists e.t.c.
I want my Playlists be available and editable ( ! ) for all my computers.
I want to add music from any of my computers and to have all the rest app to date.
All the data will be stored on a Server computer. So what the OS is needed for the solution?
In addition I have both PC and OSX computers at home and It'll be bettor if the solution will suit this.
Thanks.

iTunes doesn't support this much syncing. Yes you can have all machines saving media files to same location (server) but each machine/account will have different iTunes libraries. Changes made on on will not be reflected on others. This is intentional so that different people would not interfere with libraries of other users.
This is especially needed for podcasts. Each account downloads/deletes podcast episodes independent of other accounts. This allows one to delete an episode without making making another account lose the file.
Message was edited by: camoracer

Itunes library and NAS - multiple computers and merging music

I've just bought a Western Digital myBookWorld edition 2TB network drive, and I've gone through (the incredibly painful) process of moving my music from my desktop to the network drive. But now my desktop looks to the network drive for it's music and it seems to be working ok.
My girlfriend has a laptop, which is always connected to the network (don't travel with it at all) which has a different library of music. At the moment on that laptop she uses the iTunes server element of the NAS drive and so plays my music by using the shared bit of itunes.
What I'd quite like though is both computers to use the network permanently - so when I buy songs on my gf's laptop, I'd like that music to be available on my desktop, so the most sensible way to do it would seem to be having both computers using the network drive as it's primary source of music, rather than using the sharing bit on the laptop.
I can't just copy the music off the laptop to the network drive because there will inevitably be singers with the same names etc, and I presume it will overwrite what's on the drive if I try to do a windows copy and paste. So is there a way that I can merge the music libraries, by adding the songs that are on the laptop to the songs already on the NAS, and then have both computers use the NAS as their location for storage?
A further complication is that my gf has her own playlists etc (and her ipod syncs with her laptop whereas my iphone connects with my desktop) that I'd like to maintain if possible.
Grateful for any thoughts.

I've just bought a Western Digital myBookWorld edition 2TB network drive, and I've gone through (the incredibly painful) process of moving my music from my desktop to the network drive. But now my desktop looks to the network drive for it's music and it seems to be working ok.
My girlfriend has a laptop, which is always connected to the network (don't travel with it at all) which has a different library of music. At the moment on that laptop she uses the iTunes server element of the NAS drive and so plays my music by using the shared bit of itunes.
What I'd quite like though is both computers to use the network permanently - so when I buy songs on my gf's laptop, I'd like that music to be available on my desktop, so the most sensible way to do it would seem to be having both computers using the network drive as it's primary source of music, rather than using the sharing bit on the laptop.
I can't just copy the music off the laptop to the network drive because there will inevitably be singers with the same names etc, and I presume it will overwrite what's on the drive if I try to do a windows copy and paste. So is there a way that I can merge the music libraries, by adding the songs that are on the laptop to the songs already on the NAS, and then have both computers use the NAS as their location for storage?
A further complication is that my gf has her own playlists etc (and her ipod syncs with her laptop whereas my iphone connects with my desktop) that I'd like to maintain if possible.
Grateful for any thoughts.

Using single iTunes library for multiple computers

With the new Airport Disk utility, can I attach an external hard drive with my iTunes library and have multiple computers point to that library as the library for each?

BKRonline wrote:
neptune2000 wrote:
A BIG WARNING (...) If you are a good guy and use ONLY one computer to read/write (i.e., to copy music to it) and all the others are read only (which cannot be enforced in software), then you're OK. Consider yourself warned.
just to clarify...
Use ONE computer and ONE COMPUTER ONLY for purchasing / adding new content to the 'master' iTunes library area. Use ANY OTHER COMPUTER that's looking at that 'master' iTunes library for reading (playing back).
Yes. If you can enforce it by "persuasion", not software
Would there be a conflict if someone rates songs from other computers etc?
Yes. If they both rate at the same time.

HT4914 Can I use iTunes match to share my iTunes library across different users on the same computer?

I'm a teacher and I use my MBP in school and, while I've not had any issues with students looking through my computer, I'd like to use a seperate 'school' user just in case. I need to have access to my iTunes library and I tried moving it to a shared folder but, possibly because of the size of my library, itdoesn't seem to work. Is there a way I can use iTunes match to enable my 'school' user to access my library in the same way I can with my iPhone?

Hey darkmavis86,
Great question, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.
I believe you would benefit from the following article:
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
However, if you do decide to use iTunes Match the answer to your question is "Yes". iTunes Match can be used to "sync" your iTunes library across multiple devices / computers / users.
Thanks,
Matt M.

Itunes library physically on 2 computers

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for