How do you sync iTunes library for two user accounts?

Hello
I have a MacBook with two user accounts - myself and my wife.
I have to do this because we both have iPhones and we need to keep our sync-ing separate or we would just keep overwriting each others preferences.
I have an iTunes library and so does my wife.
Problem...
I recently imported some songs using my account that my wife wants on her iTunes. When I logged out of my account and went into hers the songs I imported were not there!!
Question...
How do you marry and update the libraries of both accounts so no matter which iTunes library you access (my account or hers) you have all the available songs in both?
I have tried trawling through some of the zillion posts here, but the prospect of spending hours and hours was just too much to contemplate!!!!
So if i've asked a question that has already been asked and dealt with please forgive me - or better still if you know where the needle would be in this haystack a link would be very much appreciated!
Many Thanks in Anticipation.
Mr Totsy

Hi ffiti
I have done a bit of cleaning up on my Mac (OCD!) and made a bit of an ar*e of things - can you help?
I went into my wife's account and wiped all iTunes files and stored songs.
This was done because some songs were on my iTunes library and some were not on hers - so I just wiped the lot off and started again...I know it gets even better...
I then went into my user account and wiped off everything there too...
I went on the Apple website and downloaded the latest iTunes 11.0.4 I think and reinstalled an empty library from scratch - that way I will be only filling one library full of songs - I also took the media file out of the shared folder and reset it back to its default position
I went to sync my iPhone and now it tells me I can only sync one device with one library - so how do I sync my phone without it deleting everything and replacing it with nothing?!!!!
I doesn't matter how great Apple products are they just can't account for human idiocy !!!
Regards,
Mr Totsy

Similar Messages

Syncing iTunes Library between multiple user accounts

Is it possible for iTunes to automatically sync music libraries between two user accounts on Windows XP?

If I understand your question correctly , you can have identical libraries (contents, playlists and all) if you set each user's account to reference the same .itl file.
Have a look at this article in the Apple Knowledge Base for details on how to do so.
By using the Choose Library option and linking the accounts to the same .itl file, the libraries will be the same and changes made to one will be reflected in the others.
Post back if you need any further details.

Use 1 itunes library for multiple user accounts

Is there a way to use 1 library for multi-user accounts on mac osx? I have 4 iphones and was previously using the main account only. I'm getting tired of having everyones contact lists downloaded into my main phone. I can't seem to figure out how to sync the music to the same library.

Hi There,
I sync 2 iphones with the same library, and to stop the other iphones contacts adding to mine I have two groups in the address book, one has my contacts in and the other my friends. I then just sync the appropriate address book in the info pane when the iphone is plugged in.
Hope this helps.

One iTunes Library for two users

You guessed it. I'm wondering if it's possible for two users to share a single iTunes Library. I tried moving one user's existing Library to HD/Users/Shared which allowed the other user to select the files as a Library, but now I may only add files to the Library by individually Authenticating each one, while the other User can't change the Library at all.
I have Administrative authority on the computer and the other user has none. Is there a better way to share one music library and save space?
Thanks.

Aaron, my roommate and I have shared a Mac for close to 3 years now. We each have our own account names and each have our own iPods. While it is possible to share the same library, we have never found a way to mirror the two iTunes libraries EXACTLY.
To start, you need to create your default music folder location on a shared drive. Make sure that in both user's iTunes Preferences, you identify the same shared music folder!
Once that is done you can then import all of your music into that directory location, but after User#1 is finished importing music, User#2 needs to File/Add to Library and select the iTunes music folder location (once you do this it should not need to be changed again).
Keep in mind one important thing: If either user deletes a song or makes edits, you will need to immediately switch to the other account and remove the song title (if the first user deleted it) or click on the edited song's name to refelect the edit.
Does this sound cumbersome? It sure does, but it's the only way we have been able to "live in harmony."
Email me anymore of your questions.
Chris

How do I use one iTunes library for several user accounts?

This is definitely a question!
I have several user accounts for my osx. One I use at home, one at work etc.
What I never have been able ta manage is a way to use the same iTunes library (the same music files) for the different accounts.
When a new user profile is created, everything in it is set to scratch.
I have tried all kinds of tricks:
- Direct iTunes to look for It's library on the other users folder (wich doesn't really work, cus even if you are Admin you don't have access to other users folders through another user).
- Creat an alias for the other library-folder and refere to it.
etc. etc. You name it...
Anyone?

Hi,
This will help you - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195
Regards

How do I share iTunes music between two user accounts?

We have two (admin) user accounts on our iMac. My husband has downloaded tons of music from CDs to his iTunes library. How can I get some of his music to my iTunes library without having to re-download from CDs? If anyone can give me simple instructions it would be appreciated.
Thanks Jeanette.

Look at this article: iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203

How do I move iTunes library from one user account to another?

I bought apps for a (now obsolete) Apple ID, however, I then created a new Apple ID, which I now use. How do I delete the old Apple ID and is it possible to move my iTunes library and other files and folders from my current user account to a newly created user account? Will this allow me to use only the new Apple ID instead of having to sign in/out bewteen 2 IDs which is frustrating.

How would I transfer iTunes from one external hard drive to another external hard drive with iTunes 8 since I do not see the consolidate option? During previous attempts with version 7 I received the following error: The song __ could not be used because the original file could not be found.

Best way to share iTunes library with two user accounts?

I have a single iTunes library on my Macbook Pro. I would like to share between to user accounts, each with Apple ID's. What's the best way to do so? Right now, I've given the second user rights to read/write to the first users "Music" folder. But when one user adds song files, the other must "Add Folder" in order to see the new purchases. It's kind of putsy. Is there a better way? Thanks!

Hello again,
Have the iTunes Library located in the Shared Folder for instance and then launch iTunes in both users while holding option (or alt) on your keyboard. Choose the iTunes library file wherever it may be located. You can keep it in the same spot if you want (i.e. your Music folder). Many people have their's on a local network hard drive and do this.
The benefit is that when one user updates the iTunes library file, the next user will open an updated version that has all songs that the other user added.
Since you have one computer shared, this should be fine. I am unsure what happens when multiple computers/users access the library file at the same time.

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.

Sharing one library with two user accounts.

I want to share one iTunes library with two user accounts on the same iMac.
I've followed the tutorial where you move the iTunes Music folder to a shared location HD/Shared/iTunes and then pointed both iTunes to that location via the advanced menu, but only the admin account has the music. The other user account iTunes shows nothing.
Also, I've now moved the music folder back to my area on the HD (not shared any more) and now the iTunes music folder shows all the album folders where before I guess they were hidden. Why and how do I get it back to how it was...?
All we're trying to do is share one mac. My wife and I have our own log in user accounts, but want to have the same music and iPhotos accessible on our own set-ups.
Thanks for any help.

Out of interest I got this to work.
I made a folder called 'All Music' and put all the album folders in it.
Moved this folder to User/Shared/ and then clicked on the file, and Get Info.
In Get Info added my wife to Sharing & Permissions as Read & Write.
In iTunes / Advanced found the folder on my user account, and then did the same on my wife's account and hit add to library.
I hope this was the right way to do it..... It seems to have worked.

How do I maintain a single iTunes library for two separate iMac user accounts?

How do I maintain a single iTunes library for two separate iMac user accounts?...without having to manually do something every download?

Pardon me, I am brand new at using an iMac. I understand the concept but I don't know exactly how to "move" the library. I found a shared folder under users on the hard drive. If I move it, won't I have to redirect each iTunes user to the new shared location?
If I point iTunes to anything other than the music folder under that user name, it shows as a "shared library". Preferences still shows it as that users library, regardless of where the advanced gear button says it is pointing to.
Am I asking for too much to have each user control the exact same music files, apps and playlists? I just want the two different itunes sessions to mirror each other without any frequent updating or copying.
We use the same id for itunes music and apps so we could just sync all devices under one iMac user id and not use it under hers.

I would like the share an iTunes library between two different accounts on one Mac. How do I do this?

iTunes no longer works properly (aka at all) while using one of the user accounts set up on my iMac. It does, however, work when logging in under another user account on the same iMac. (if any of you can help me solve this issue that would be perfect). If there is no solution can anyone help with my request to share an iTunes library between two different accounts on one Mac. How do I do this?

jc_hering wrote:
that works for anything he purchases after he creates the new account. What about his current music that currently resides in my itunes library? How can I get his current music out of my library into his new account/library?? Thanks..
Copy it to his computer into his iTunes library and authorize his computer with the iTunes account used to purchase them..
You cannot tranfser items from one iTunes account to another. Purchased items remain part of the iTunes account is was purchased with.
iTunes account - used to purchase items
iTunes library - where purchases (and CD RIPs) go on the computer

Hello there - how can I share my iTunes library between two users on the same computer? I put the library in a shared folder between both and have selected this library on both as well, but when I update iTunes with music etc it only appears on one?

Hello there - how can I share my iTunes library between two users on the same computer? I put the library in a shared folder between both and have selected this library on both as well, but when I update iTunes with music etc it only appears on one?

Thank you Joe - I tried this but it's only showing a teensy amount of music - the stuff on the second users account as opposed to the giagntic library on the 'main' account. I actually went to a Genius Bar and they said that apple doesn't really want you to share music between accounts - parents don't want to hear their kids music etc. Which seemed strange, but it might be the case sadly Thanks anyway!

How do you sync itunes purchased files to mophie spacepack

how do you sync itunes purchased files to mophie spacepack

Download the app, then watch the video that comes with the app.

How do you sync the calendars between two ipads?

How do you sync the calendars between two ipads?

You can enable iCloud syncing on both devices, making sure hte calendar is part of the 'on' part and then what you change on one should change on the other too.

How do you sync iTunes library for two user accounts?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for