How to share one iTunes library with multiple computers AND Apple TV? Help?

It seems like my dilemma may not be easily solved. Hopefully it isn't as complicated as I think it will be. Here's the situation:
My wife hates that, in order to see or do anything with the images she takes, I need to have iPhoto open on my computer (Mac Pro), and she then has to connect to it over sharing.
By the same token, I don't like that she buys iTunes content on her MacBook, which is sometimes a duplicate of content I already have. Now that the App Store is out, that is going to start getting really expensive.
So instead, I want us to be able to:
1) Have ONE iTunes library on the network, and ONE iPhoto library. Both of these would be accessible to any computer on the network. When you launch iTunes, you would get all the media that is in that library.
2) Both be able to access iTunes at the same time to listen to / watch content.
3) Both be able to purchase iTunes content, and when it it purchased, it updates that single library. If I buy a song, the next time my wife fires up iTunes, that song is there for her to listen to.
4) Have our two Apple TV units be able to play content from this library.
So, I know that we need something on the network. I have a Drobo with DroboShare, so that is one option. I also have a spare Mac Pro laying around, along with a copy of OS X Leopard Server.
I just don't know what route we should take with this. All I want is for us to share a library, to be able to both use that library, for us to be able to sync content from that library to our portable devices, and for our Apple TVs to also see that library.
Possible?!

I'm sort of in the same boat. We've got an iMac with separate User Accounts set up and are currently sharing the same iTunes and iPhoto libraries along with streaming them to our Apple TV.
Right now I'm the only one with an iPod, however she'll be getting one in a couple of weeks.
We also just picked up a MacBook yesterday and I'd like to be able to sync certain libraries like iTunes and iPhoto so that no content gets duplicated on either the iMac or MacBook and so that we both have access to the current libraries for each program on our iPods and AppleTV.
I have an external hard drive that I back up the iMac on and I assume I could manually keep things current with that but there's got to be an easier way...that's why these are Macs right?
Bill

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Can I share one iTunes Library with multiple computers on a network?

Can I share one iTunes Library with multiple computers on a network?
note: one library universally shared, not Home Sharing (one library each, shared to each.)
I want to share one library stores on my server and access it through various local computers. When I buy a song from a computer (non-server), I want it to be added to the library (stored on server). I want it to auto copy to my server, for organization. I want to be able to sync my phone from any computer.
Most of this I can do, if i figure out how to use one universal library for all my computers.
Any ideas how I can do this?

eyeinit,
You can authorize your iTunes account on up to 5 computers at a time.
However, purchased music is downloaded to the first machine to download it, but these articles have more information on moving your music between authorized computers:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93063
This one is for moving all your music using an iPod as a storage drive
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173
Hope this helps,
Nathan C.

Share a large iTunes library with multiple computers

I have a very big itunes library that I share with several computers at my home from a mac mini and lion server. This solution works well in that all my home computers can access the itunes library on the server and play music through the "Shared" feature. The downside of this solution is that if I (or my wife, or my daughter, or my son) want to put some music on our iphones, we have to sync the iphone with the mac mini so that the itunes library is local.
I would like to figure out a way, where all of our music would be availble on all of our macbooks so we could create our own playlists, and sync our iphones.
I have considered iCloud, but I'm not sure how well (or how expensive) it might be to share 250 GB of music on iCloud. Does anyone have suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

I'm sort of in the same boat. We've got an iMac with separate User Accounts set up and are currently sharing the same iTunes and iPhoto libraries along with streaming them to our Apple TV.
Right now I'm the only one with an iPod, however she'll be getting one in a couple of weeks.
We also just picked up a MacBook yesterday and I'd like to be able to sync certain libraries like iTunes and iPhoto so that no content gets duplicated on either the iMac or MacBook and so that we both have access to the current libraries for each program on our iPods and AppleTV.
I have an external hard drive that I back up the iMac on and I assume I could manually keep things current with that but there's got to be an easier way...that's why these are Macs right?
Bill

How to share an itunes library on a pc and a mac

I am trying to share an iTunes library that is stored on a PC with a MacBook Air that is on my home network. I cannot seem to get the shared library to display on the MacBook. I have HomeSharing turned on with my Apple ID.

You cannot. Your library is on that computer. If you do not have that computer, then you do not have the library.
Have you failed to maintain a backup copy?
If so, not good, you can redownload some iTunes purchases in some countries. Click Purchases under Quick Links in the iTunes store.

Ideal network to share 2TB iTunes library with mac mini and iMacs by wifi?

Greetings,
Just made the move from pc to apple world. First time poster. Please feel free to suggest if this topic is better suited in another area.
I am looking for an ideal means of sharing my music library (+/- 1.5TB size) from my mac mini with my 2 kids iMacs.
The mac mini has an internal 80GB SSD and 4 GB RAM. It connects via ethernet to my Netgear WNDR 3700 wifi a/b/n router which connects to a Docsis 3 modem. Speed and signal strength is great.
My music library is currently backed up on a Seagate USB desktop HDD. My interim plan is to use USB to connect it to the mini. Long term plan is to migrate to a NAS system.
The kids iMacs (1x 2006 model with core duo and 1 x 20008 with core 2 duo) both run snow leopard 10.6.3 and access wifi signals for internet. Wifi signals ~16-20 Mbps strength.
Is there prefered method to share the music library with the kids by wifi? Only one way? do I need to add airport devices, or? It would be extremely difficult to provide ethernet to their rooms.
Thanks
Kenreau

kenreau wrote:
It would be extremely difficult to provide ethernet to their rooms.
have you consider *powerline adapters* _*such as these*_
here's an interesting read on the subject.
JGG

How do i sync my ipad to multiple computers and apple ids?

Hey,
I had an iPad 1, which was synced to my apple id. I then got the iPad 2, which is synced to my apple id as well. My mom is now using the iPad 1, and would like to continue using some of the apps i'd downloaded, but would also like to sync her own apple id to the iPad 1. can someone help me figure out how to sync multiple apple ids, on multiple computers to a single ipad?
(I know this can be done, as my dad's iPad 1, as well as my brother's sync to two different computers and to two different apple ids, i'm just not sure how)

Using iPad or iPod with multiple computers http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1202
Apps cannot legally be shared between Apple IDs - that is considered piracy.
However, you can legally install apps on multiple devices that use the same iTunes ID and are owned/controlled by the same person.

How to set up One iTunes Library with Multiple Hard Drives

Hello,
I have a question about setting up a daisy chain of external storage hard drives for my itunes library and need some advice. I have run out of room on my 4TB external storage. I have an additional 4TB and a 2TB external storage (all are MyBooks) and trying to figure out how to separate out my itunes folder: I would like to put the TV on one 4TB and the Movies and the other 4TB and the Music/Apps/etc on the 2TB. Here are my questions
1.) How to I point my iTunes to where I have moved them? Just make and alias of the folder and put that back in the original folder?
2.) How do I get the new iTunes downloads to go the correct folder to download so it does not set up a new library for downloading? Can I set more that one location in my preference? If so- how?
I have looked in the forums and all the information is older and does not address this exact issue.
Set up:
Mac mini hooked up to Vizio TV running Lion 10.7.2
      Processor 2.26 GHZ Intel Core Duo 2
     Memory 4GB ( do not really store anything on this one)
MY Books
     1 2TB   Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
     2 4TB   Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
     1 1TB   Mac OS Extended (Journaled)- this is for documents, etc
All these are daisy chain with 800 Firewire to the Macmini and hooked to TV with HDMI.
Any suggestions would be helpful. I can not download anything else from iTunes until I get this resolved and it is a real bummer.
Sara

Here are three different methods >
How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495
This article > iOS: How to transfer or sync content to your computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1296
suggests using contacts groups.
When syncing contacts, you can choose to sync all of your contacts or only selected groups.
You can select a group of contacts to which all new contacts created on your iOS device will be added.
You can set up groups in the Address Book application.
If you are all going to use the same iTunes apps library, turn off "Automatically sync new apps" in the apps tab just below the list of apps. Then you won't get new apps on your device unless you select them.

How to share itunes library with multiple users, and keep organised

Hi,
I'm using iTunes (v12) on Windows 7 and am trying to set myself up so that multiple users on this PC are sharing the same library. I've followed the guidance mentioned on a couple of other threads, and put the library in the Users\Public\Music location, and on each user account have pointed iTunes to this location. This has worked OK, as both users can see all the music.
However, problems arise when User A deletes a couple of files (duplicates for example) - User B logs in, and the song is still listed in the library, but with an alert stating the original file cannot be located. They then have to go through the library and also delete these entries. Equally, if User B adds some music files (as opposed to iTunes downloads), they are not visible to User A until they "Add file to library..."
Are there any further steps that I can take to keep both users views of the library identical, without manual intervention by the second user whenever the first makes a change?
Cheers,
Matt

The way you've set it up each user has a distinct library, but is accessing a common set of media files and folders. To accomplish what you want, you need to have a complete iTunes library (database + media) in a common location - typically this would be C:\Users\Public\Music\iTunes. See turingtest2's notes on Make a split library portable for the steps that may be needed to bring your library into a suitable structure. Based on your description, you'll need to select one user's library (C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl) to act as the shared "master" and move this to the Public folders.
Then, for each user, hold down SHIFT while starting iTunes - when you get this prompt:
click on Choose Library..., navigate to C:\Users\Public\Music\iTunes, select the iTunes Library.itl file you'll find there, and click Open (you'll only need to do this once for each user account).
Note, though, that iTunes is inherently a single-user application - any attempts to run iTunes at the same time will cause errors (and, in the worst case, possible corruption). For this reason, its a good idea to disable fast user switching in Windows so that only one user can be logged in, and running iTunes, at the same time.

How to share your itunes library with another person

how can two people have all the same stuff on their ipods/iphones? we have both bought different things but dont know how to share them

Hey jimyam,
Thanks for the question. If you wish to access your music library from multiple devices, anywhere, It sounds like iTunes Match may be the right service for you:
Apple - iTunes - Match
http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/
With iTunes Match, all your music can be stored in iCloud — even songs you’ve imported from CDs. You can access your music from all your devices and listen to your entire library wherever you are. And you'll also be able to listen to iTunes Radio without ads.
iTunes Store: Subscribing to iTunes Match
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4914
Thanks,
Matt M.

HOW TO SHARE MY ITUNES LIBRARY WITH MY WIFE ON SAME IMAC WITH DIFFERENT USER ACCOUNTS AND APPLE ID'S. PLEASE HELP, SOMEBODY!

I just created an Apple Id for my wife and a user account for her. We are on the same computer (iMac). I cant for the love of God get my itunes library to show on her user account on computer. My library shows up under shared library when i select it it just keeps loading and nothing. When i try the hold down option while opening itunes on her user account and then choose library my library doesnt show up as option. What in the world am i doing wrong, why is Apple making this so difficult. We are not going to buy separte computers just to share itunes content. Please help.

You can sync devices with the same iCloud ID, not seperate ones.
If she has a different login on your Mac, make sure she has her own ID defined in System Prefs > iCloud

How to "share" your itunes Library with a mac, apple TV and Ipads?

I am looking for an easy way to have my Itunes library on an external drive and be able to access it from a Mac (able to sync an iphone), an Apple TV, and Ipads. I don't want to leave me computer on so I think I am looking for an NAS drive.
Would I need a NAS drive with "itunes server"?

Hey jimyam,
Thanks for the question. If you wish to access your music library from multiple devices, anywhere, It sounds like iTunes Match may be the right service for you:
Apple - iTunes - Match
http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/
With iTunes Match, all your music can be stored in iCloud — even songs you’ve imported from CDs. You can access your music from all your devices and listen to your entire library wherever you are. And you'll also be able to listen to iTunes Radio without ads.
iTunes Store: Subscribing to iTunes Match
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4914
Thanks,
Matt M.

How to manage one iTunes folder from multiple computers via a network?

Hi there,
The Setup: I have a macbook air, my partner has a macbook pro, we both have iPhones with our own iCloud accounts. There is an apple TV and an Airport Extreme with an external USB HDD in there too (which could potentially be plugged into the ATV via ethernet if need be).
What I want to be able to do:
     1 - NOT have to store the music on my MBA
     2 - Still be able to add music to/alter playlists and movies in the iTunes library that my MBA uses, from my MBA (ie if I end up with new music or movies on           the MBA I need a way to transfer it easily, -keeping in mind that not all the video will fit on the MBP HDD)
     3 - Use the one iTunes music folder for both the MBA and the MBP (to avoid having to update both)
     4 - Sync my iPhone with my iCloud email and contacts etc...
     5 - Sync my partners iCloud with her own email and contacts etc...
     6 - Sync music from the 'common' iTunes folder to either iPhone
     7 - Use apps from my iTunesstore account on my both iPhones
     8 - Stream video from the 'common' iTunes folder to the ATV in HD
Can someone please tell me how I make ALL of the above possible?
Things i'm not sure of are:
     A- Where do I put my iTunes music folder? -Locally on the MBP, or on the External HDD in the airport Extreme?
     B- Which of the above would iTunes match help with?
     C- Would homesharing be used?
     D- What usernames/accounts do I have to put into the iPhones adn where? (itunes or icloud etc...)
For some reason I just can't get my head around how this setup will work.
Thanks in advance!

I'm sort of in the same boat. We've got an iMac with separate User Accounts set up and are currently sharing the same iTunes and iPhoto libraries along with streaming them to our Apple TV.
Right now I'm the only one with an iPod, however she'll be getting one in a couple of weeks.
We also just picked up a MacBook yesterday and I'd like to be able to sync certain libraries like iTunes and iPhoto so that no content gets duplicated on either the iMac or MacBook and so that we both have access to the current libraries for each program on our iPods and AppleTV.
I have an external hard drive that I back up the iMac on and I assume I could manually keep things current with that but there's got to be an easier way...that's why these are Macs right?
Bill

Using One iTunes Library on multiple computers.

Hey guys,
I've currently got my iTunes library saved on a Time Capsule and use it with my mac mini.
I want to be able to use the same library on my macbook pro. have set up iTunes on both computers so that it looks for the library on the Time Capsule so at the moment both machines can play all the media.
However if i buy track using the mini and add it to iTunes it saves it in the right place and plays fine but how can i update the library on the macbook as so it can see the new songs that have been added?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Kind regards

Another detail with this setup is that if you've got an iPod or iPhone that you want to load music to, you'll need to connect it to the computer that is the 'host' offering the music library for share. If you use the 'client' computer, then it won't let you install your mp3s to your iPod from the 'shared' library on the other computer.
In my setup, which is similar to what you're describing, it looks like iTunes lets me connect my iPhone to either computer and install mp3s.
Seth

How to use a Itunes Library between multiple computers

Hi all,
I have never posted a question to this apple forum, so forgive me if this is the wrong place to ask.
My situation is as follows:
I have a Synology DS214play NAS, also attached to my network is a wired Imac (late 2013 model) running the latest software and wireless connected macbook pro.
What I want to achieve is to manage my music on both my Imac and my Macbook, the itunes library file(s) and music are stored on my NAS.
What Im able to do is to manually select the Library file on one devices and it retrieves all the contents and I can start listing and adding music.
However if I want to also listing to my music on another device at the same time, Where I also select the library file its giving me this message:
What this message is telling:
"The File 'iTunes Library Extras.itdb' is locked, this file is located is located on a secure disk or you don't have the privilege to write to this file.
Sorry for the bad translation.
I have tryed everything so far but it doesn't help,
I hope you guys and girls can help me with this.
Regards Jordy from the Netherlands

I want to also listing to my music on another device at the same time
A library file can only be opened by one running copy of iTunes at a time. You have to quit iTunes on the other computer.
You can have two library files sharing the same media, but then you have to keep two libraries up to date with each other.

How to maintain 1 iTunes library on multiple computers

Hi,
I have a desktop and a laptop, both of which I want to have the same iTunes library on. I dont want them both to be turned on at the same time so using "sharing" is not really an option.
I currently have my entire library on Skydrive so both computers can access the music with ease. Is there a way I can have iTunes have the same playlists, song ratings/play counts on both computers?
Note: I've tried playing around with symbolic links but im not really sure what to link and where to put the shortcuts.

I want to also listing to my music on another device at the same time
A library file can only be opened by one running copy of iTunes at a time. You have to quit iTunes on the other computer.
You can have two library files sharing the same media, but then you have to keep two libraries up to date with each other.

How to share one iTunes library with multiple computers AND Apple TV? Help?

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