One iMac - Multiple user accounts - Can iTunes music be moved b/t accts?

My family (wife, son, daughter, and me) share an imac but we all have our own user accounts. Our entire itunes music library is in one user account and is getting to the point of being unmanageable.
Can I move some of my itunes library (e.g., my son's music) to another user account on the same iMac?
It's my understanding that an ipod can only be synced with one itunes library at a time, but I thought Apple also restricted the usage of music bought from itunes to a finite number of computers. If this is true, I think I would be able to transfer a group of songs from one user account to another so long as the user accounts were on the same computer.
I think if I place the songs i want to transfer to my son's user account on an ipod, log into my son's account, plug the ipod in, start up itunes, then I should be able to transfer the purchases from one user account to the other.
Will this work?

Thanks, this will work.
One somewhat related follow-up question. After I have dragged the .M4P files into the shared directory, and logged into the other user account, they appear as "protected". After clicking the "more info" button, i can change the access to "read and write" for each m4p file, and then I can drag it into itunes.
How can I make this change (read and write) global so I will not have to unlock and enable each m4p file?

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Sharing Apps - Two Iphones, one imac, two user accounts, one itunes account

I've had an iphone for a long time and now my wife recently bought one. We have one imac in the house and we each have our own user accounts (ie we switch back and forth to our own sides). My itunes library and iphoto library are stored on an external hard drive. I have authorized my itunes account on my wife's side and have enabled home sharing. I want to be able to sync my iphone on my side and have my wife sync her's on her side. I also want my wife to be able to sync some of the apps that I have purchased over the years. When I sync my wife's phone on her side she has access to all the photos but can't see any of the apps. What do I need to do in order to give her access to the apps?
Thank you in advance

Hi, I am glad I found exactly the same question that I wanted to ask.
I am going through the same thing right now:
two iphones4,
single mac mini,
two accounts.
Many many apps on my account only.
She wants to sync my applications to her iphone on her user account side, but they are not in her itunes library.
I thought I needed the family pack for that, but it seems that I've just wasted my money, as the apps sharing is not included in the family pack. Could anybody please answer do I understand this correctly or not?

What is the best way to manage multiple devices with one iMac - different users with seperate itunes accounts or one mac user with different itune logons and libraries?

Hello
I have just purchased an imac which I am very happy with. In our household we also have two iphones (one mine and one husbands) and one ipod (my sons). We all have individual itunes accounts set up on our previous computer (not a mac). We have sepereate apps and music, although there may be the odd occasion where we would like to share a song (if this is possible) across devices.
I am just wondering the best way to manage these devices using the new imac. Should I create individual accounts to logon to the imac, then from within these launch our own itunes accounts and sync our devices with these. Or should I be using one version of itunes, logging on to this with our different itunes usernames and storing things in libraries.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I am presuming that we cannot share downloaded apps and music between accounts because of the copyright issue,
Though I'm no copyright lawyer, as long as it's within a household, you can share content among users. Such sharing is, absent specific language preventing it not present in the iTunes Store terms of use, generally considered to be "personal use". So you can share apps and music amongst your users on your computer and with their devices. You just can't give any of that content to friends or relatives who don't live with you.
What I am not clear on, it making sure that this appears in each itunes account - is it easy to find the file storage folders that match the itunes accounts and what would these be?
The iTunes library and files are by default in a user's Home/Music folder. But you don't have to find the folder; in fact putting a file into the folder yourself won't add the file to iTunes. Just drag the file into the iTunes window. iTunes will copy it to the correct location.
Regards.

Using Time Capsule to host iTunes library for use by multiple user accounts

I have recently purchased my first Time Capsule (2TB, delivered December 2010). I have also recently begun to share a single iTunes library with my partner (ie. we have separate user accounts, but following the instructions found at http://steve-on-sakai.blogspot.com/2009/07/really-sharing-your-itunes-library.ht ml, both of our iTunes apps open to the same library).
I think i've done everything correctly, as everything will work as expected ... once we are able to force our way into iTunes.
My knowledge gap seems to be with my understanding of how Time Capsule and its "Data" folder work.
I've moved our entire iTunes folder into the Data folder on the Time Capsule, and i understand that only one of our user accounts can have iTunes running (that one must quit iTunes before the other user will be able to launch iTunes).
What happens sometimes, seemingly dependant on who has signed into their account first, or who has launched and quit iTunes first, is that iTunes will not launch; we are required to choose an iTunes library. This is easily enough done, except when the Data folder is unavailable to that particular user at that time (indicated by the "do not enter" symbol). I've noticed that disconnecting and re-connecting to the Time Capsule will get around this.
I stumble through these steps whenever possible, but my partner is nervous about having to do all of this when i'm not available.
Naturally, what i would like is for either of us, at any time, to be able to simply launch iTunes without issue.
iTunes preferences on each accounts show that our iTunes Media folder location is "/Volumes/Data/iTunes/iTunes Music", and both checkboxes are checked for keeping the iTunes Media folder organized and copying files to the iTunes Media folder.
I suspect that my problem might stem from the fact that i initially followed the instructions given at the above steve-on-sakai blog post, using our Shared folder. Since then, i have moved everything to the Time Capsule, and i wonder if the Terminal command in Step 7 should be repeated for the Data folder ... but i'm not "literate" enough to know what i'm doing there (but wise enough to know i shouldn't mess around with Terminal if i don't know what i'm doing).
I have spent hours browsing the discussions here and elsewhere, and i can't seem to find anything that specifically addresses my issues. I have learned a lot from my searches, but i felt that posting a new question was my best option. I hope that i haven't duplicated anything.
I hope that someone will be able to fine tune my efforts so that everything will "just work".
Thank you so much, in advance...
Bill.

Jaap74 wrote:
Two things that are not clear
- I think it is not possible to have iTunes running at the same time on two Macs in the discribed setting.
- I think over a wireless connection, it will reduce speed.
Anyone with experience?
I think what you mean is that it's not possible for two Macs to access the same iTunes library (ie. the same collection of media files) at the same time. From my research, this seems to be the case, and that's not my issue.
In my particular situation -- one that i'm sure is shared by many others -- my partner and i have separate user accounts on the same Mac, +entirely sharing a single iTunes Library+ (ie. same media files, same playlists, etc., as if we were a single user) and as long as we remember to quit iTunes whenever we walk away from the Mac (allowing the other to log in and launch iTunes and access our common library), this is not a problem.
And that is when my particular problem arises: when we launch iTunes, we are often asked to choose a Library (a series of navigations that my partner isn't entirely comfortable with), and occasionally the Data folder on the TimeCapsule is unavailable.
As for the wireless connection to our library, this has not so far proven to be an issue. Depending on what other activities are going on at the time (ie. TimeMachine backups or background Internet activity, i presume), i have only rarely experienced brief interruptions in music streaming from the TimeCapsule (<1 second). In fact, last night, we watched a movie on the laptop, with the file streaming from the TimeCapsule, and it only hesitated a few times, and again for less than a second.
Message was edited by: William Mclaughlin

Automatic downloads only works with one Mac user account, can I get help?

I have three user accounts on my iMac, and I set up iTunes Automatic downloading on my iTunes account on my iMac user account. Then I went to set up my brothers iTunes automatic download on his iMac user account but it said the computer was already in use, and gave me options like transfer or cancel. Just to clarify this was an attempt with one iMac two user accounts and two separate iTunes accounts.

It appears we are all having the same issue, and for themost part talking about the same thing, but to reiterate:
1) One (1) computer, to help distinguish the devices letscall it an iMac
2) Two (2) or more distinct User ID’s on said iMac with fullAdmin permissions
3) Each distinct User ID on the iMac has a distinct Apple IDwith an associated iTunes and iCloud account
4) For every User ID / Apple ID there is a separate personwith their own iDevice
5) None of the iTunes accounts, iDevices or Apple ID’s arecross sync’d
5) (a) Forexample, Person 1 does not share apps, etc. with Person 2’s iTunes account. Weare assuming everyone distinct Apple ID / iDevice buys its own App’s, musicetc.
6) Only one (1) of the iMac User ID’s and that User ID’sassociated iTunes and iCloud account can have auto-download and iCloud servicesactivated at any one time.
6) (a) Just to be redundantly clear,that means that every other User ID / iTunes – iCloud ID/ iDevice CANNOTauto-download or sync to iCloud
Somewhat reformed PC guy here (wife is a life long Macuser), but all I can say is are you (*&^%$%^&* kidding me?
If I wanted these problems, and didn’t care about aestheticsor battery life, I would have stuck with Win-crap / Android for 50% or less ofthe cost.
Besides my preference for the Win-Devil UI (I know, I know…)I cannot believe after spending more than $4,500 on iFleecing this summer I amstill having issues like this (Mac Air, iMac, iPhone 4- two and the buy-out oftwo cell contracts).
Granted, when I plug something in, it works… the way Stevethinks I should want it to function.
In the hopes of avoiding some iFlogging by my fellow usershere, I concede the superiority, in every conceivable way, of all of thehardware and even like the MS Office suite in Mac better (at least not less). Ihave no intention of going back to the Win-Devil (don’t even run an emulator oneither computer), but this is a Windows-like screw-up.

Syncing multiple user accounts

I have 2 user accounts on my computer. We both use the same email accounts, .mac and a POP account. Will mail keep both user accounts up to date (incoming mail) or do I have to set up syncing?
Thanks
Joe

Not sure what you mean, but I guess the answer to your question is yes, although maybe not the way you want or expect. More precisely, it may work the way you want or expect for one account but not for the other, as the way POP and IMAP accounts work is completely different -- .Mac is IMAP by default, but can be set up as POP as well.
First of all, .Mac Sync services are for synchronizing Mail settings only. The synchronization of mail is achieved by storing it on the server, regardless of whether you have a .Mac account or not.
For IMAP accounts, mail stored on the server is fully synchronized between all computers and/or users that access the account, meaning that if mail is read/moved/deleted from one computer or user account, the same happens on the rest as well.
POP accounts, on the other hand, allow the same messages to be downloaded from multiple computers and/or user accounts independently of one another if configured to leave mail on the server for some time (Preferences > Accounts > Advanced), but don’t really provide any kind of synchronization, i.e. mail downloaded on one computer or user account can be read/moved/deleted without that having any effect on the mail downloaded on the rest.
IMAP is ideal for a single user that wants to be able to access his/her mail from multiple computers. If what you really want is multiple users to be able to access the same mail account, however, IMAP may be inappropriate, because if one user reads, moves or deletes a message, that message will also appear to the rest of users as having been read, moved or deleted.

Sharing Itunes Music Library among Multiple User Accounts on One Mac

I have 3 user accounts set up on the computer and one itunes account authorized on all 3 user accounts. I have the music library files placed in the shared folders and permissions set up to allow all users to read & write the music. However, only my user account (the main account with admin privileges) is able to access the music unless I log into my user account, run iTunes with sharing enabled, then exit to the login window. Then the other users can access the shared iTunes library. I have preferences setup to use the same library folders.
An earlier version of iTunes used to allow me to do this, and iPhoto still does allow a similar setup with my photo library.
Is there a way to fix this?
Thanks!

I have an iMac at home with 4 users. I've recently struggled with this and thought I had a working solution ...
I created a new iTunes folder off of root. I then logged in as each user and set the path on their Advanced Tab to /iTunes/iTunes Music/ and dragged and dropped their local iTunes Music folders (~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/) into iTunes. This copies files that aren't there but skips anything that might be in two peoples library.
Then iTunes 8.1 came out and now things are broken. I've rebuilt the index by doing an Add to Library but my Podcasts don't download any more. 8-(

I have one imac. my wife and i each have our own user accounts and itunes library. How do we share selected music between user accounts?

i have one imac. my wife and i each have our own user accounts and itunes library. How do we share selected music between user accounts?

To give other users read-only access to your library, use the Sharing features of iTunes. Sharing works over the local network as well as on the same computer. See the built-in help for details.
If you want to give full read/write access to more than one user, see the support article linked below.
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

Can you set up multiple user accounts on one laptop?

can you set up multiple user accounts on one laptop?

Of course.
And instructions can depend on which OS X is installed.
For v10.7 Lion > OS X Lion: Create a new user account
For v10.8 Mountain Lion > OS X Mountain Lion: Create a new user account
When you post for help, please state which OS X is installed.
If you aren't sure, click About this Mac from your Apple menu 

Since I have multiple users of my itunes account, is it possible to redeem a giftcard where only myiphone can access the redeemed money?

Since I have multiple users of my itunes account, is it possible to redeem a giftcard where only my iphone can access the redeemed money?

Yes, you can use another server for .ibooks format. You can also directly email it if your system can take the size.

One iMac, two OSX-accounts and one iTunes Match, how do I get it to work?

I have one iMac to work with and two different User-Accounts for my daily business. I use iTunes-Match and I would like to use it on every User-Account. On the forst Account I already acitvated iTunes-Match succesfully. But on my second User-Account it refuses to work. If I start-up Match in iTunes it compares the files (at least iTunes tells me so) and after that I am back at the beginning, where I shall click "start".
Something doesn´t really work here. Is it because it is impossible to use multiple User-Accounts on a Mac with the same iTunes-ID and iTunes Match? I am not talking about different iTunes-Accounts! I am talking about the same iTunes-Match-Account on two different User-Accounts of Mac OSX

There we go...
On the first user-account iTunes Match is working fine. No problems on that.
What I did on the second User Account:
1. I logg on to the second user account
2. starting iTunes
3. selcting iTunes Match and then "activate"
4. after I enter the corresponding Apple-ID, iTunes Match starts to compare the lokaly saved music with iTunes Match which takes about 10-15mins (Step 1 through Step 3)
5. after that, it shows me the button "finished"
so far so good
If I press the button "Finished" it jumps back to the initial Screen, where it starts over with Step 1
That loop never stops.
So there is something not quite working at all.
Is that better to understand? I don´t think, that screenshots will help at all, as there is now difference to the coorect messages. There are no error messages

Sharing multiple user accounts to AppleTV on one Mac

I can't remember if I did this before with software 1.0/1.1, but I'm sure the possibility of having two concurrently active iTunes libraries on a single machine has been discussed as one way of separating out content.
To do some more testing on software 2.00 + libraries I have just created a new user account with a new iTunes library, and registered it as a shared AppleTV library on AppleTV 2 running 2.01 (I've not updated to 2.02 yet for a reason).
So imagine this setup:
Single iMac.
User Account A - called iMac - the main sync/share library.
User Account B - called Test - the sharing library.
Both Users iTunes apps open (switching between users obviously without logging out).
AppleTV listed under devices in both iTunes instances.
Both iMac and Test libraries solid white in 'Computers' setting on AppleTV.
Can play iMac content logged into User account A having switched from B.
I select My Shared Music - long wait - says it's not connected to shared Test library, and checking Computers 'Test' is now greyed out.
Switching to user B the AppleTv is still listed under Devices. I still cannot connect to My Shared Music and 'Test' Library remains greyed out. I can still while logged into B play the sync/share content of User A - I had expected I would be able to do the converse.
Both iTunes libraries show the other library under shared libraries in iTunes.
This is baffling me.
Rebooted etc etc etc.
iTunes can see the shared library of the other user account but AppleTV can't.
AC

Winston Churchill wrote:
Just to be clear, are you saying you can't connect to the test library regardless of which user account you have active.
That's right.
The main sync/stream library content is available on AppleTV regardless of which account I'm logged into on the iMac. I have nothing at all synced so know that I'm seeing the "main" iMac library streaming.
Both libraries show up as shared libraries in the other's iTunes shares, and I can load the 'test' library under the other account iTunes instance and play music back which proves to me that the other account isn't dormant.
I've just updated iTunes as I hadn't done the last update but no difference.
Am now updating AppleTv to 2.02, I just hope that that doesn't disable simultaneous audio via optical and HDMI.
AC

Sharing an iTunes Library across multiple user account and a network.

Sharing an iTunes Music Library across multiple user accounts.
Hello Everybody!
Firstly, this was designed to be run in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. It will not work with earlier versions of Mac OS X! Sorry.
Here's a handy tip for keeping your hard drive neat and tidy, it also saves space, what in effect will be done is an iTunes music library will be shared amongst multiple users on the same machine. There are advantages and disadvantages to using this method.
• Firstly I think it might be worthwhile to state the advantages and disadvantages to using this approach.
The advantages include:
- Space will be saved, as no duplicate files will occur.
- The administrator will be able to have complete control over the content of the iTunes library, this may be useful for restricting the content of the Library; particularly for example if computer is being used at and education institution, business or any other sort of institution where things such as explicit content would be less favorable.
- The machine will not be slowed by the fact that every user has lots of files.
The disadvantages to this system include.
- The fact that the account storing the music will have to be logged in, and iTunes will have to be active in that account.
- If the account housing the music is not active then nobody can use the iTunes library.
- There is a certain degree of risk present when an administrator account must be continually active.
- Fast User Switching must be enabled.
Overview:
A central account controls all music on the machine/network, this is achieved by storing iTunes files in a public location as opposed to in the user's directory. In effect the system will give all users across the machine/network access to the same music/files without the possibility of files 'doubling up' because two different users like the same types of music. This approach saves valuable disk space in this regard and may therefore prove to be useful in some situations.
This is a hearty process to undertake, so only follow this tutorial if you're willing to go all the way to the end of it.
Process:
Step 1:
Firstly, we need to organize the host library, I tidied mine up, removing excess playlists, random files, things like that. this will make thing a bit easier in the later stages of this process.
Once the library is tidied up, move the entire "iTunes" folder from your Home directory to the "//localhost" directory (The Macintosh HD) and ensure that files are on the same level as the "Applications", "Users", "Library" and "System" directories; this will ensure that the files in the library are available to all users on the machine (this also works for networks)
Optionally you can set the ownership of the folder to the 'administrator' account (the user who will be hosting the library.), you may also like to set the permissions of 'you can' to "Read & Write" (assuming that you are doing this through the user who will host the library); secondly you should set the "Owner" to the administrator who will be hosting the library and set their "access" to "Read & Write" (this will ensure that the administrator has full access to the folder). The final part of this step involves setting access for the "Others" tab to "Read Only" this will ensure that the other users can view but not modify the contents on the folder.
Overview:
So far we have done the following steps:
1. Organized the host library.
2. Placed the iTunes directory into a 'public' directory so that other users may use it. (this step is essential if you plan on sharing the library across multiple accounts on the same machine. NOTE: this step is only necessary if you are wanting to share you library across multiple accounts on the same machine, if you simply want to share the music across a network, use the iTunes sharing facility.
3. set ownership and permissions for the iTunes music folder.
Step 2:
Currently the administrator is the only user who can use this library, however we will address this soon. In this step we will enable iTunes music sharing in the administrator's account, this will enable other users to access the files in the library.
If you are not logged in as the administrator, do so; secondly, open iTunes and select "Preferences" from the "iTunes" menu, now click the "Sharing" tab, if "share my library on my local network" is not checked, the radio buttons below this will now become active, you may choose to share the entire libraries contents, or share only selected content.
Sharing only selected content may be useful if their is explicit content in the library and minors use the network or machine that the library is connected to.
If you have selected "share entire library" go to Step 3, if you have selected share "share selected playlists" read on.
After clicking "share selected playlists" you must then select the playlists that you intend to share across your accounts and network. Once you have finished selecting the playlists, click "OK" to save the settings.
Overview:
In this step we:
1. Enabled iTunes sharing in the administrator's account, now, users on the local network may access the iTunes library, however, users on the same machine may not.
Step 3:
Now we will enable users on the same machine to access the library on the machine. This is achieved by logging in as each user, opening iTunes, opening iTunes preferences, and clicking "look for shared music". now all users on the machine may also access the library that the administrator controls.
This in effect will mean that the user will not need to use their user library, it will be provided to them via a pseudo network connection.
As a secondary measure, I have chosen to write a generic login script that will move any content from the user's "Music/iTunes/iTunes Music" directory to the trash and then empties the user's trash.
This is done through the use of an Automator Application: this application does the following actions.
1. Uses the "Finder" action "Get Specified Finder Items"
1a. The user's "~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music" folder
2. Uses the "Finder" action "Get Folder Contents"
3. Uses the "Finder" action "Move to Trash"
4. Uses the "Automator" action "Run AppleScript"
4a. with the following:
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "Finder"
empty trash
end tell
return input
end run
IMPORTANT: Once the script is adapted to the user account it must be set as a login item. in order to keep the script out of the way i have placed it in the user's "Library" directory, in "Application Support" under "iTunes".
Overview:
Here we:
1. Enabled iTunes sharing in the user accounts on the host machine, in effect allowing all users of the machine to view a single iTunes library.
2. (Optional) I have created a login application that will remove any content that has been added to user iTunes libraries, this in effect stops other users of the machine from adding music and files to iTunes.
Step 4:
If it is not already enabled, open system preferences and enable Fast User Switching in Accounts Options.
Summary:
We have shared a single iTunes library across multiple user account, while still allowing for network sharing. This method is designed to save space on machines, particularly those with smaller hard drives.
I hope that this hint proves to be helpful and I hope everybody will give me feedback on my process.
regards,
Pete.
iBook G4; 60GB Hard Drive, 512MB RAM, Airport Extreme Mac OS X (10.4.6) iWork & iLife '06, Adobe CS2, Final Cut Pro. Anything and Everything!!!

how to share music between different accounts on a single computer

Problem with iTunes and multiple user accounts in Windows

I am running iTunes on a PC (Windows XP) and have multiple user accounts. When I switch between user accounts and try to open iTunes, I get a message that tells me I can't open the program because another user is using it. Is it really true that I can only have iTunes open in one user account at a time on a PC with multiple user accounts ?!? If not, what am I doing wrong?

You are right, can only have one open. You have to log out of a user before logging in to another user to use iTunes. Do not use the fast user switching ability of Windows.

Multiple users on a itunes account how do I avoid eveyone getting my information on icloud

I have multiple users on our itunes account. If I switch to mountain lion and utilize icloud how do I avoid the other phones my kids and husband from getting all my stuff on their phones. I am the primary account holder when we first upgraded the phones all my contacts went to their phones and wiped out all of theirs it was a night mare so we just shut it off. It sounds like a cool idea but I dont want to mess up their contacts and information.

You can keep everyone on your iTunes account all you have to do is have everyone create there own iCloud account. Me, my wife, and my son all have our own iCloud for our own use. I have my 3 devices linked to mine, my son has 2 linked to his and my wife has 2 also. For some reason by default the iDevice will ask you to use your iTunes account but you don't have to. You can create it right from the device itself if you want a @me account which is the way to go IMO. you can also go to iCloud.com and create it there too. We have a total of 8 devices linked to one iTunes account for purchases and everything works like a champ. Hope this helps.

One iMac - Multiple user accounts - Can iTunes music be moved b/t accts?

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