2 PCs - 1 Itunes library possible?

I have two pc's at home both running itunes. I also have an iphone. I want to set up so both PC's are running the same itunes library and if I change one it changes the other. It is only me that uses it and I only have 1 iphone. I only use Itunes on one pc at a time ie wouldn't have itunes open on both pcs at the same time. What is the best option?
Would setting the itunes library to be stored on a NAS work? But I have read a couple of posts that using a nas can be slow?
Any other better suggestions?

There is PC software that can sync across a local area network and keep the iTunes Music Folder updated.
You obviously need iTunes Advanced Preferences "Copy to my iTunes folder when importing" and "Keep my iTunes Folder organized" enabled on both.
All your music (or a copy) has to be in your iTunes Music folder imported via iTunes. If it's not, like you got your music all over the place, your going to have to complete this first.
When you make playlist and other iTunes changes, it changes the .xml file in the iTunes Folder.
So by syncing the whole iTunes Folder, including the .xml file using PC software that looks at the date of each file and updates in either direction so both remain current, every time you open up iTunes it will use the latest files.
Scheduling the sync will have to occur at a set time when both machines are on, but iTunes not in memory. Should only take seconds, unless you have a large amount occurring on one machine and not the other.
It's even possible to create a batch script that will perform the sync when the two computers are first turned on (after a wait of course), or before iTunes is started it runs the sync first.
I can't recommend any software, but at least now you know what you can do and what to look for.

Similar Messages

ITunes Library possibly trapped/corrupted on Time Capsule

I am taking my MacBook Pro, my Time Capsule wireless router/hard drive/backup unit and my other MyBook hard drive to the Apple store tomorrow. Because the MacBook Pro doesn't have enough memory to hold my massive iTunes Library and iPhoto library, at the recommendation of one of the Apple store geniuses (tech support people) I purchased a 1 TB Time Capsule that also holds my iTunes Library and my photos are all on a MyBook hard drive. The Time Capsule disconnects regularly, but Saturday night it disconnected and wouldn't reconnect. So I have no internet, no email access, and I cannot access my iTunes Library. I am afraid the library has been damaged, although it still exists on my 160GB iPod Classic. If the Time Capsule is corrupted then there is NO WAY to get data off the unit according to the discussion forums I have seen on the Apple website and elsewhere, although I haven’t really read anything official from Apple people. They also don’t really make it easy or possible to move things from the iPod device BACK to a new, uncorrupted iTunes library on the computer or a hard drive. I am going to ask Apple to fix the Time Capsule and move the iTunes Library to the MyBook HD (or I'll purchase a larger HD if there isn't room). I don’t know if they will or if they can. I certainly know that they won’t attempt anything like that for free, or while I wait in the store. I am very frustrated and anxious about my iTunes library – I have almost 100 GB of music, videos, and podcasts. Any thoughts? Is there another forum that would be a better place to ask for any advice?

First never use the TC as the main source of your files, always have a backup on a usb or firewire external or if using a Mac Pro on a secondary hard drive. You could pull that TC hard drive and connect it to an external to get your files. Not a difficult thing to do.
If the TC disconnects often then you must have an interference problem which needs counter measured. Try an ethernet connector and by pass the wireless for a moment.

Read-Only iTunes library - possible?

iTunes developers please note.
I would like to share my iTunes library from a NAS to my household, but with a catch. The NAS export is setup as read/write for me because I am the one who controls the music library and my kids attach in read/only mode.
The reason for this is that I have way spent too much time fixing broken links, missing track, wrongly downloaded cover art, etc - the result of 7 and 9 year olds not reading the text before clicking 'yes' or 'continue'
I have seen other posts asking similar questions (using network drives, extreme length of time to import, etc) but not quite this specific.
I guess I can live without a common podcast library on a NAS being a function but any help to solve this fat-finger problem greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Click on the item in the Finder's sidebar named Music, rename the iTunes folder inside, launch iTunes, and drag the iTunes folder into iTunes. This won't preserve playlists or other metadata.
(42650)

New iMac, same iTunes library possible?

I'm in the process of buying a brand new iMac for myself, instead of using the family iMac all the time. I'd like to have the same iTunes library, and preferably a copy on my hard drive. Will iTunes Home Sharing do this, or will I have to do this in some other way? I'm aware of Migration Assistant, but I believe that it only moves files and applications, it doesn't copy them.
Thanks in advance,
-Nik

ukimies wrote:
Will iTunes Home Sharing do this
to an extent, yes. home sharing will not bring playcounts and ratings over. also, unless you have embedded artwork manually in the files, it won't copy.
or will I have to do this in some other way?
the simplest way would be to connect the two Macs with a firewire cable, boot the source Mac in _*Target Disk Mode*_, and copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the source (family Mac) to <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the new Mac (overwriting the iTunes folder in place there).
JGG

New computer / itunes library possible issues

I'm about ready to transfer my itunes library/songs to my new laptop. I've scanned the forums to find out the obvious stuff, so now I have a few additional questions.
First, my current condition. All of my music (8000+ tracks) is sitting in an external hard drive. The latest library files have been burned on a CD, and I haven't plugged in my ipod since. My new laptop has itunes 8 loaded, nothing else. Conventional wisdom tells me that all I need to do is load the library files, then plug in and transfer the song files, and then my music, playlists, play counts, etc should be fine.
Here's my concern: my old desktop (where my itunes library resided) was too wimpy to handle all the GBs of my collection, so the library is programmed to look for song files directly on my external hard drive. Will this be an issue? Further; I have less than 1000 songs originally loaded on the desktop itself, and even though all those songs are on the external hard drive, I believe itunes is still pulling from the desktop drive (I know this because if the hard drive is not connected, itunes can still play these few tracks and no more; I didn't have the nerve to delete these tracks to test further).
Whatever the solution, I would like to keep all my play counts, but if that is not feasible, I can live with it (its the music, not the stats that matter, eh?).
So in summary; can I plug and play, and if not, what's the smoothest way to get my library to recognize all my tracks? Thanks!

OK, I finally made the plunge, with 95% success (more on that later).
First, I ran with the assumption that I had consolidated my files on the external hard drive long ago (back when I started using the external) and that I didn't need to do it again.
I assumed this based on two things. One; when I temporarily changed the internal drive folder name, the files still played via the external and didn't play at all when the external was unplugged. Two; I found a post on another message board that said that if itunes cannot find it's programmed path, it'll go with the default itunes path.
Anyway, the following steps I took were successful:
I had downloaded v8 on the old computer to match with the new.
I copied both itunes library files onto my external drive.
I made sure that the external drive was F: for both computers. (a step I found on another discussion board)
I copied the library files over the blank library files of the new laptop.
Then I set my itunes preferences to organize files.
Then I consolidated my library to the new compter's drive as my means to download from the external (something that I also found explicitely on another message board).
So, everything seemed to work, except that those files that I had originally loaded on the old computer's drive never transferred from the external to the new computer. This only represents a fraction of my music, so I'm mostly relieved that the system works. I realize had I consolidated the first time, as I was instructed, I wouldn't have this problem (so much for being ultra careful, but still making an assumption leading to a shortcut leading to a 'd'oh!' moment).
I'll start a new thread later on ideas on how to move over the remaining music without messing up what's already there. But at least this finishes the thread on moving from an external to a new computer. Thanks!

Sharing the same iTunes library from different Macs/Pcs to Time Capsule

Hello everybody,
I have just bought a new Time Capsule (2TB) internal storage and an external 2TB Western Digital that i have also connected to the time capsule just fine.
The Time capsule is supplying internet to a ps3, apple tv, sony bluray player and a satelite reciever (equivalent to Sky in UK). It is actually setup on the second floor and is acting as a extension for the main network and is working perfectly.
Now I have about 5 Pcs at home with different users and 2 mac laptops (Kids wife etc.. so different users).
My ultimate goal is to setup one itunes library on all the laptops that are present on the TC.
What I did was I copied the Itunes folder (my main precious itunes library) and pasted it on the TC hard drive.
Then i tried opening it from an itunes of one of the laptops (a macbook), I opened itunes while holding options button and choose the library to the wirelessly shared itunes file and it showed up perfectly like the exact itunes with everything in it including play counts etc..
but when i want to open a song it doesnt find it and i have to pinpoint location in order to play the song.
Its just not possible to do that to every single song as my library is about 120 gigs of music. It would take years to do tht for every song.
When i usually find one folder itunes asks to find all of them automatically and when i press yes itunes stops working.
PS. Im trying this on one laptop now as a trial in order to see how this works. The main library is backed up and all safe n sound. Also i would like to say i changed the itunes library folder to the time capsule on preferences of itunes.
Is there anyway anyone could help me? Any different methods to do it? Please we can discuss whatever ideas ud like to include.
Thank you

Check this article for advice about sharing iTunes libraries.

HT203167 I would like to download my music from an iPod to iTunes library is that possible? Our last computer got fried so unable to retreive info from it to new computer. Will I have to re-install all the music from CD's?

I would like to download my music from my iPod touch to iTunes library, is that possible? Our old computer fried and we were unable to salvage any information. All of the music that I downloaded from CD's is not in iTunes on our new computer. Will I have to reload all CD's?

It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer for this very occasion.
Have you failed to do this?
If so, then you will need to rip the dvds again

I have a new ipod that I would like to share my itunes library with. Is this possible?

Can someone help me and give me an idea as to whether or not is possible to have multiple Ipods and a shuffle share the same Itunes library on the same computer. I attempted to drag the music on my itunes to another IPOD and it will not allow it. Please help. Thank you.

Just plug the iPod in and open iTunes. It will the iPod will show in the devices section of the iTunes sidebar. Click on the iPod go to the summary tab and set you syncing options. You can do this for as many iPods/iPhones/iPads as you like.

Using same iTunes library with external hard drive (EHD) on different PCs

I know some of the issues related to this question have been touched on in different discussions but I don't think I have seen a clear yes/no and if yes, here's how, answer to my queries, so here goes.
Like another member, I would like to take my iTunes library with me when I'm away on holiday so that I can (for example) use an Apple TV with Home Sharing to watch movies in my library or pay albums in my music library while on holiday, in the same way as I am able to at home. I have a Samsung NC 10 notebook running Windows XP (which I would take with me with a Samsing Story EHD) and a Dell desktop. My iTunes media folders are now on the EHD and I think I have iTunes library files on the Dell and on the Samsung. Of course, if iTunes Match covered movies as well as music, I would use that and just take my Apple TV with me ... but it doesn't and seems not likely to.
By messing around and not properly understanding some of the discussions about this topic, I think my iTunes library looks as I expect it to be, on my Dell - though I have yet to test this by doing a synch with my iPad or iPod Touch. However, when I plug the EHD into the Samsung and open my library, I am missing at least one movie and I don't have any artwork showing for any of the movies. This is inspite of clicking Get Album Artwork, Consolidate Files and clicking to add, as a file (or folder) to the library, the missing movie which is on the EHD in the Movies folder of the iTunes Media. In iTunes on the Samsung "Preferences>Advanced", the iTunes media location (on my EHD) is correct.
I have obviously messed something up trying to replicate my Dell desktop iTunes library on the Samsung. So:
can/should I start again (if that is the best thing to do) with getting my iTunes library properly on to my Samsung notebook? And, if yes, how do I do that?
is it really possible to have all that you need to run and use iTunes on an EHD (i.e. both media folders and the various iTunes library files (.itl, .itdb, .xml etc.)) so that whenever I plug the EHD into my Dell or Samsung I can access my iTunes library in the same way and via the same files? Or, do you always have to have the library files (at least) located on the PC you are connecting your EHD to (showing my ignorance here! )?
if you can have all the library files as well as media on the EHD (i.e. all of your iTunes library), I assume there is more to moving these from the C drive in my Dell to the EHD, than just cutting and pasting them into the EHD and then deleting similarly named files in C drive in the Samsung?
if all of my iTunes library can be located in the EHD, would I just access that (i.e. open my iTunes library) - whether on my Dell or the Samsung - by pressing the Shift key when clicking on iTunes as a programme on my Dell or Samsung, or - and I appreciate this is more basic computer knowledge than iTunes query - does the fact that I would need to access iTunes via some form of link on the relevant PC indicate why some iTunes library files would always have to reside on the PC rather than the EHD?
if the iTunes library files have to stay on the relevant PC, how can they be kept in synch - i.e. the more portable Samsung offering the same access and picture of my iTunes library as the Dell does - or is iTunes just not set up to do this, in which case I might as well ignore trying to replicate my iTunes library on the Samsung?.
Apologies for this long list of questions. Any pointers to where the answers lie or even better specific answers themselves would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.

I think that's yes, yes, yes, yes, and not necessary...
Make a split library portable
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the layout above right, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links from the library to the media, and being self-contained it is much easier to backup and restore. (You do backup, don't you?).
You can rearrange things to make a split library portable by taking a number of small steps which don't break the library.
Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should be upgraded to iTunes Media Organization (Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder, otherwise the links to these won't survive changes in the path of the library.
The basic non-fatal manipulations are:
You can create or connect to an alternate set of library files by holding down Shift (Win) or Option (Mac) when starting iTunes. (Note iTunes will continue to use this library until you use the same method again.)
You can move the library files to a new location and connect to it there as long as the media stays put.
You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder.
If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
You can rename the media folder to iTunes Media (if it isn't already) if the media folder is inside the library folder.
iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.
IMPORTANT: After each change you need to open, test and close the relevant library before attempting another change. If a change broke the library, undo it or revert to using the previous set of library files.
In essence all you need to do to join up a split library and make it portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.
tt2

Is it possible to synch multiple iPods to one iTunes library?

Hi --
I had an old Windows XP machine sitting around with a pro sound card, so I put a 1 TB SATA drive in it and use it as my iTunes machine in my living room. The plan is to put ALL of my 1400+ CD collection into iTunes as full-fidelity WAV files (yes, I can hear a difference, and no, you can't convince me to do otherwise - there are a lot of advantages of using WAV files if you've got the space). Doing this, of course my entire record collection will not come close to fitting on one 160 GB iPod, but in reality I don't need to carry the whole thing around at one time anyway -- BUT -- I do figure I will probably need two iPods to carry around everything I need (I mostly play music in my car and on my boat; don't really use headphones much), AND I can probably separate things reasonably by genre: Rock on one, Blues & Jazz on the other. So my question is this: Is it possible to synch two iPods to the same iTunes library? Are there any problems with this?
Another question for anyone from Apple: Any plans to offer at least 8X oversampling on an iPod? Even when using WAV files, connected to my control room monitors an iPod still doesn't sound as good as playing CDs on a decent quality DVD player.
Thanks!

If you want differnt selections of tracks on each iPod, simply create a playlist for each user and on the Music tab use the options to sync music to selected playlists. I manage our four iPods this way. Rather than use manual playlists I have used the grouping field to record which iPod each track belongs on, e.g. Alice/Bob/Charlie and create smart playlists to be synced to the ipod, e.g. *Grouping contains Alice*. An advantage of using this approach is that the grouping information is stored in the file's tag rather than the iTunes library which makes it a simple matter to recreate the playlists if you ever have to rebuild your iTunes library from scratch. (Since .wav files don't have tags this won't help the original poster)
tt2

My iMac harddrive crashed and was replaced and I would like to put my iTunes library back in to computer off my iPod. Is it possible and how do I do it?

I just got my Mac back with a new hard drive. I lost part of my iTunes library but it was saved before the loss of the hard drive on my iPod Classic. Is it possible to use the iPod as an external hard drive and regain my library on my computer? If so, how do I do it?

See this excellent user tip from another forum member turingtest2 outlining the different methods and software available to help you copy content from your iPod back to your PC and into iTunes.
Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device
B-rock

ITunes - Possible to share iTunes Library between accounts?

Hello all,
I'm an experienced Mac user but am currently setting up a new iMac for my family. I've never had more than one user account because I'm the only one who uses my macbook but now my family wants 3 different user accounts for the new iMac in their home.
Because I only use my one user account at home, I never thought about the fact that different user accounts would also split up iTunes music libraries. If I import music from a CD, I would like that to be accessible and available when using any 1 of the 3 user accounts. Is this possible?
For example, my mother and father purchase CDs together...so they both own the same albums. They want to share music on the iMac, but if I import discs twice it takes up twice the amount of time and much more importantly twice the amount of space. How can I get around this??? Can one user access another users iTunes library and make that the default folder?
Thanks for your help as always!!

Try this thread.
Bottom post, should work.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6230065#6230065

Is it possible to have your music and videos saved on different external drives and use the same iTunes library?

Is it possible to have your music and videos saved on different external drives and use the same iTunes library?
I am running out of space on my external hard drive and would like to split the movies and music between two external drives while using the same iTunes library is this possible.
My library is stored on the external drive all of my music etc is stored.

Yes.

Is it possible to sync an iPod and ITouch to the same iTunes Library?

I have way too many music files to put on an iTouch so I would like to be able to sync my video to the touch and the music to the iPod and the contacts etc to both, is this possible?

Hello,
My iTunes library fills three different iPod Nanos and one iPod touch. All I do is set up different playlists for each device and only sync the relevant playlists across to the devices. That way each device gets a different fill:
Method 2: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300432
Hope that helps.
mrtotes

Is it possible to synch and stream from the same iTunes library?

We have two Powerbooks in the house, each one contains our own individual iTunes library. Powerbook 1 is synched to ATV. Powerbook 2 just streams to ATV. Because each Powerbook can obviously be moved to different parts of the house, we want to be able to stream each iTunes library to ATV (in the living room) AND play the same library out of the Powerbook in a different room.
When using our iPhone Remote to select the iTunes library on Powerbook 2 (the 'streamer'), an "Airplay" section appears at the bottom of the "Settings" screen which allows the output device to be selected as the Powerbook and/or ATV - meaning that the same music can be played through both devices in different parts of the house - great!
However, the same "Airplay" section does not appear at the bottom of the "Settings" screen when the iTunes library on Powerbook 1 (the 'syncher') is selected - and the music just plays through the Powerbook 1, not ATV - not great!
Is this somehow because it's not possible to stream the Powerbook 1 library to ATV because it has been synched? It feels as though there must be a simple way around it?
Message was edited by: Nic C.

you can sync multiple macs to one ATV, one at a time. use the Finder and set up your first itunes library. make a folder and give it a name. then drag that itunes library file into that folder. launch itunes and make another library synced to the same ATV. Make a folder give it a name. The only issue is remembering to drag out the proper library, don't change the library name because it is not a one to one relationship.
I never tried multiple libraries at the same time to one ATV but I am doing one Mac to two ATVs, each with their own library and synced.
Helps me keep track of my library and then my wife's.

2 PCs - 1 Itunes library possible?

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