HT3819 sharing i tunes library on the same computer with different users

How do I share my library on the same computer switching to a different user?

If you want all users to be able to access the same music, but with different libraries, NikkiG's advice is spot on. However, I thought I'd throw in my 2¢ since I just set this up for a friend.
If you want all your users to have exactly the same library, and not just access to a shared library, do the following:
-move the entire "iTunes" folder (~/Music/iTunes) into the Shared folder or to separate drive.
-in each user's account, remove the iTunes folders (or just move them to a new location until you're positive this method works for you)
-pop open Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app) and here's where it gets a little dicey; type the following into the command line:
ln -s /Users/Shared/iTunes/ ~/Music/iTunes/
What this does is create a symbolic link (think alias, but more technical and powerful) between the iTunes folder in the Shared folder, and each user's iTunes folder. This way, each user is directly accessing the iTunes library, and not just through the shared area in iTunes itself. This allows them to add/remove music and playlists to the same library.
HOWEVER, this method will mess up if you have multiple users logged in and using iTunes at the same time.

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Sharing Playlists and Music on the Same Computer with Different Users

I'm trying to share music and playlists between different users of the same computer.
Ideally I'd like to use the same iTunes music folder for all users, and have the same music and playlists show up no matter which user logs in (without having duplicate copies/files of the same songs clogging up our hard drive).
also would like to be able to sync our shared iPod no matter which user panel we're logged onto.
is any of this possible with the new version of iTunes?
thanks much i advance.
vince

If you want all users to be able to access the same music, but with different libraries, NikkiG's advice is spot on. However, I thought I'd throw in my 2¢ since I just set this up for a friend.
If you want all your users to have exactly the same library, and not just access to a shared library, do the following:
-move the entire "iTunes" folder (~/Music/iTunes) into the Shared folder or to separate drive.
-in each user's account, remove the iTunes folders (or just move them to a new location until you're positive this method works for you)
-pop open Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app) and here's where it gets a little dicey; type the following into the command line:
ln -s /Users/Shared/iTunes/ ~/Music/iTunes/
What this does is create a symbolic link (think alias, but more technical and powerful) between the iTunes folder in the Shared folder, and each user's iTunes folder. This way, each user is directly accessing the iTunes library, and not just through the shared area in iTunes itself. This allows them to add/remove music and playlists to the same library.
HOWEVER, this method will mess up if you have multiple users logged in and using iTunes at the same time.

Sharing iphoto library on the same computer between different users

Can anyone tell me how (without having to write my own code) I can share photos easily (so I can teach my parents, who know nothing about mac, how to do it) between different users on the SAME COMPUTER?
I am so frustrated! You can share with anyone else in the world, but when it is on the same computer I can't figure out how to share!

Hi Mereditty,
Here are all the links I have for sharing a couple of different ways.
SHARING IPHOTO LIBRARIES
Sharing libraries between users on the same local network
You can also share a library on the same machine between users the same way.
Sharing libraries between users on the same machine...
-both users must have sharing enabled in their iPhoto Preferences
-both users must be logged in and have iPhoto running
-Remember that you can only view the other library. You can't edit the photos or play the saved slideshows or view the made books or burn them to CD or DVD. The books and slideshows will show up as an album. You can play that album as an "on the fly" slideshow. You can drag images from the sharing library to your library in the source column to import them to your library. You can then edit, add to albums, books, slideshow, etc.
Sharing links from Apple....
Sharing your photos between computers
About shared photos
Turning off photo sharing
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The documentation page will give instructions on how it is done.
2- Sharing one iPhoto library between several users on one machine
3- Share an iPhoto Library in tiger Using ACL's
4- I have also read about ShareAlike
There is no other info on the site about how it works.
I strongly urge anyone wanting to try any of the methods for sharing one iPhoto Library folder among more than one user to backup all iPhoto Library folders before attemptin anything.
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Load the library which doesn't contain the songs and drag them into the open iTunes application window. If you need to move them between different computer user accounts, put them into /Users/Shared/.
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Pmorgan5672 wrote:
Why can't two different users use Itunes on the same computer with different log ins
They can, but not at the same time.
If one user left iTunes running, and another user tries to use iTunes from a different Windows user ID, that second user will get an error message. If they really want to use iTunes, they either have to beg the first user to log in and close iTunes, or else they have to restart the computer.
If you are asking the technical reason why, it is something about context switching.

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CAn I run Lion and snow leopard on the same computer with different sign-ins?

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Sheila,
I believe you can download and install it as many times as you want on as many computers in your household as you want using a single iTunes/App Store account. When you say "different User ID's," are you referring to the Mac OS X login ID's for the machines, or iTunes account login ID's that you use for the App Store? If the App Store on your Mom's computer is logged in with her iTunes ID, just log out and log back in with your iTunes account ID and you should be able to download Lion on that computer for free. Just go to the "purchased" tab in the App Store and it should be there for you to download. Then you can log back out of the App Store and log your Mom back in. Ditto for the other machine. The Mac OS X login ID's are irrelevant I think. It is the Mac App Store/iTunes account that the download is tied to.
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I try to explain it in different words: is it possible to install adobe softwares (or use the already installed adobe softwares) on the same computer but with a new (and different account) creative cloud education version (once the previous one expired)?
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When you sell the computer to your friend, then you have to just deactivate the CC Activation & Deactivation Help , you do not have to uninstall Adobe CC, your friend needs to sign in with the Adobe ID under which he purchases the CC.
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This is probably really basic - I have created a second user account on my puter and no matter what I do to allow access to Itunes the second user cannot access the files. I have copied the files and placed them in the music folder (twice) for that user and every time I launch Itunes on this second profile Im told its a locked disk and cannot be accessed (despite allowing read and write for the whole galaxy) what am I missing?
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I have the exact same problem! My kid has a "private" sign in on our computer and she opened Itunes and bought 2 songs that we can now only get to through her sign in. Is there a way to consolidate these 2 Itunes to just one? I tried the "consolidate library" but it is obvious not intended for this purpose.
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Hello,
I was wondering if there is a way to share photos with another user (same computer, different log-in names) on the same iMac?
There are two users on my iMac and I want to be able to share photos and other documents, music etc. with them, but can't seem to do it.
Please help.
Thank you.

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. The problem here is that OS X works very hard to keep your data safe and secure from the other users. You're trying to beat what's built in to the system. So, to beat the system
Quit iPhoto in both accounts
Move the iPhoto Library Folder to an external HD set to ignore permissions. You could also use a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.
In each account in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue, select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new library location. 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.
Lastly: This method seems a little clunky at first, but works very well. Most importantly, it uses the System to do the job for you.
Create a new Account on your Mac, call it Media. Create an iPhoto Library there. (BTW: This will work for iTunes too.)
Enable Sharing on the Library:(Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other accounts. In those accounts, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. The Library will appear in the other source pane.
This means that both users will be able to see the pics. If you want to use a pic then simply drag it from the shared Library to your own in the iPhoto Window. This means that each user can have their own edits.
If you want to add photos to the Library: Log into the Media account for that purpose.
To make it all seamless: Set your Mac to log into the Media Account automatically. Set iPhoto to launch on log-in. Then switch to your own account using Fast User Switching.
Net result: a Library that's permanently available to all users but also protected. Each user can have their own versions of the pics if they want.
No partitioning, no permissions issues. Uses no extra disk space. What's not to like?
Regards
TD

Confused about synching multiple phones to the same computer with different content: itunes wants to erase everything??

I have had an i5 for some time, but my partner just bought one to replace her 3GS. We both synch to my itunes, and have been doing so for as long as I can recall. When we got her i5, we backed up her 3GS and reloaded the content into her i5. So far so good. Now, this couple of weeks later, I decided I wanted to put some of the movies, music, etc. that I have on my itunes library on her phone. I had previous installed some of the apps that I have there without trouble. However, when I tell my itunes to put movies (etc) onto her phone, it warns me (upon apply) that this phone has been sync'ed to another itunes, and that I can do what I am asking, but it will erase everything on the phone now! I cancelled this op at this point.
As far as I know neither of us has sync'ed her phone to any other itunes, although she has probably downloaded stuff directly into the phone using the onboard itunes. Is that what it's warning me about? Is there any way to either pull the content off the phone, or merge the content with what she had locally downloaded? If not, I'm willing to sacrifice the few things that she had locally loaded as long as it's not going to, for example, erase all her photos, and contacts, and everything else as well at the same time!
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First make sure you have authorised the iTunes computer you are using for all of the associated apple ID's via the Store Menu>Authorise this computer and enter the apple ID and password used on the phone (repeat for as many apple ID's are in use on the phone).
Then right-click (or Control Click) on the name of the phone and select Transfer Purchases (this can also be found under File>Device>Transfer purchases). This will back up all of the purchases on the device to your computer, then when you sync with the phone it will put them back on even though it has just removed them.
Its a round about way of doing it but she shouldn't loose anything as long as the computer is authorised for all of the apple ID's used on the phone

Can you download itunes 2x on the same computer with different email address

can you have 2 accounts for itunes on the same computer

If you mean iTunes Store accounts, yes, you can authorize your system to up to five different accounts.
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You can if you use different user accounts on the computer so you have your own iTunes libraries. It will take some work. Read this.
http://ask.metafilter.com/179780/Multiple-IOS-devices-two-users-one-computer

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I see many discussion about transferring between two different computers but not one with just one computer. My husband and I use one Macbook, have two iTunes accounts and want to share some recently imported music.

many thanks.
Actually, Home Sharing should work in your situation, because iTunes for Mac supports Fast User Switching. (You're better off in this regard than us over here on the iTunes for Windows side.)
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HT3819 sharing i tunes library on the same computer with different users

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