I-Tunes Library Between User Accounts

Hi - I am brand new to the MAC world and am loving all of it!!! I recently transfered my I-tunes library from my PC to my new MacBook Pro with no problems - BUT - when my girlfriend logs into her user account on the same computer she does not have access to the library. My questions are: is there a way to have community access to the library like we had on our PC? OR will the library be split w/ each persons downloads, etc. inaccessible to the other? Any ideas and help greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Actually, if the files are already in your account, I would recommend you give her copies of the files she wants on a USB flash drive.
But if you do wish to move the existing files, the only way to do it is reset your iTunes Music folder location in preferences, pointing it to a shared folder, and then run the command Library > Consolidate Library. (If you move them manually in Finder iTunes will lose track of them and you'll have a mess.)

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How can I share my iTunes library between user accounts in iTunes 11

Since upgrading my iTunes library to Version 11 I can no longer share the library between user accounts on the same Mac.
The 2nd user is asked to create oir use an iTunes library, but when it is pointed to the Media folder it cannot share it.
Previously in iTunes 10 it all worked fine.
How can this be done please?
The library is in a shared areas that we both have Read/Write permissions to.

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

Sharing files and library between user accounts

I know this question was asked many times before, but I never read a clear answer. Is it possible to share the library (and files) from one user account to another user account on same computer (same apple ID in iTunes) so that when user 1 downloads music, user 2 will see the music (without any additional steps) when they log into iTunes.
The problem I ran into was user 2 had to manually add the new purchased music to their library in order to see the music. If user 2 was unaware of any purchases, user 2 unaware could potentially repurchase the same music.
My issue is my other users (family members) are not diligent when it comes to checking.
Is there an easy way to sync the two music libraries (or 1 real library) across multiple user accounts on the same PC.

Move the library to the /Users/Shared/ folder, go into each user account, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, and choose that library.
(111791)

Sharing iTunes Library between user accounts...possible?

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!!

What you need to do is locate the iTunes Music Folder that contains the actual music in a location that is read/writable by all users. By definition, the security on each user's home folder keeps others out.
A common suggestion is to locate the music in the /Users/Shared/ folder and make sure that everyone has read/write privileges. Bear in mind that means that anyone will be able to delete all the shared music.

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

Move an iTunes library between users on the same mac

How do I move an iTunes library between users on the same mac?
I accidentally created a secondary user on my mac some time ago when using the migration tool and am now going back and transferring all my files from the secondary to the admin user profile.
I wanted to know which itunes files/folders need to be copied over.
Is the process as simple as replacing the itunes folder on admin with the copied itunes folder from my secondary profile or do I need to delete the admin folder first and then copy the old folder over or do I delete the contents of the folder and replace with the copied contents?
I am using shared folders to move between users, but want to make sure that I am picking the right files to transfer.
Thanks in advance.

Assuming you have left iTunes to default settings so everything is still in the iTunes folder the way iTunes likes it to be, copy the whole of the iTunes folder to the new location. If it is in the default directory (Home > Music) for iTunes the application will automatically use it there for the new account. If you put it elsewhere you will have to start iTunes and immediately hold down the option key to direct it to the new location.
It is just possible you will have to change permissions. If you encounter those issues read the part about changing permissions on the iTunes folder in: https://discussions.apple.com/message/11583914
This is all a slight variant on: iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527

Sharing an iTunes library between 2 accounts

I am setting up iTunes on a new iMac with OS 10.5.6 There is no obvious way to share one library between two accounts. I have tried the official apple method listed here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
but it does not seem to work. I have also tried copying the complete iTunes folder to /users/shared, but that did not work. Any suggestions?
You would think this could all be done with the press of a button.

It's a misunderstanding that setting the 'iTunes Music folder location' tells iTunes to look at that location.
The iTunes Music folder location is the location where your next imported CD is stored. The song locations however are stored inside the 'iTunes Library' file which is in ./Users/YourUsername/Music/iTunes.
Moving the music folder to another location without 'telling' iTunes normally will lead to loss of links. You will see exclamation marks before the song name, telling that iTunes can't find the files.
Recent versions of iTunes can track a moved folder, when it's moved on the same disk.
The other users will not see this music. You have to copy the 'iTunes Library' file and put it in the iTunes folder of the other user(s).
--edit
Instead of copying the 'iTunes Library' file, you can add the entire music folder to each users library.
This will enable every user to apply their own rating (which is not stored in the song file, but in the 'iTunes Library' file).
--end of edit
They will then have full access to the library, which means, every user can add and delete music from the shared library.
The methods of sharing music are described here:
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer
Hope this helps.
M
Message was edited by: macmenno

Sharing Library Between Users

new to iPhoto...is there a way to share and/or use the same library between two users of the same computer?
i don't want to have to duplicate our photo collection...and my wife and i both have seperate user accounts on our macbook. is there a way to be "tied" to the same library?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Skimout:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. There are a number of ways to share a conventional library between users on the same Mac. I'm not versed in them but there are some, like Lori, who have compiled a lot of links covering that subject.
However, I am familiar with a way to share a single set of source files on a Mac with multiple user using iPhoto's alias system. This way each user does not have to copy the files into their library, taking up drive space. Each user will have their own edits, albums, slideshows, etc. They will be able to delete photos from their library but not from the source files.
I've creates some Tutorials on how users can convert over to an alias based system and use it for sharing with others. If you don't find what works for you this method might be of some use.
Do you Twango?

Sharing between User Accounts

I'm new to Macs and need some help.
I have 2 user accounts on my mac and want to share picture and music files between the accounts. Both can be read & write. All my music is in the iTunes music folder. Even when I share that folder I can't get to the files on the other account. Each artist has their own folder within the iTunes music folder and they all have the minus symbol beside them when viewing from the 2nd account. How do I share these files between user accounts?
Also, where do I save my pictures so that they can be seen on both accounts?
I started to share all the folders with in iTunes but that was taking forever so I quit the process and now my public folders are not showing as shared in the preferences. How do I get my sharing preferences back to the default settings?

I now have my mac set up just the way i want. thanks for the input you all gave! How I did it:
in the file sharing system prefs i deleted the "ghost" folders that were showing. I call them ghost folders because they were grayed out and not clickable. They were pointing to a folder that I had removed from my system because I deleted my user account so that i could start over from scratch to set things up right from the beginning. This still left these folders in the sharing menu so I just had to delete them one at a time until they were all gone making everything look clean again.
I learned that sharing files between user accounts on the same computer (and even the guest account) can only be done with files that are in the public folder. Adding my iTunes Music folder to the sharing list did not share my mp3 across users on the same computer. I just had to move the iTunes Music folder (not the iTunes folder) to the public folder so the other account could access it. Then I followed the directions in the link provided in this thread about sharing in iTunes. Now I don't have to have my wife's Maria Carry in my library! And she does not have to have my songs in her library!
For photos I placed the files in the public folder and just imported them into the iPhoto library for each account.
On a side note, having our own accounts allows us to set up the computer they way we want, but allows us to have access to the same files. I'll be adding a 500gb hard drive to it soon for time machine and can't wait to have that set up. My only question now is when can i add time capsule? Can I add it as a 2nd wireless network in addition to my linksys wrt54g2 that is connected to the cable modem (i need the linksys connected to the internet for xbox live and ps3's network), i know i would then connect the external HDD to it for more storage, therefore I guess I would move all mp3's and picture files onto it freeing space on the computer and just direct both user accounts to the files on the HDD connected to time capsule.

Itunes sharing between user accounts

Hello-
My wife and I share the desktop. A few years ago, I created 2 user accounts to log in to the desktop. Apparently iTunes does not share the library between the accounts and thus we created 2 different libraries with purchased music from 2 iTunes accounts on the same desktop.
Is there anyway to merge the files or to share the library so that she does not have to login to her side to access her purchased music? I'm sure it's probably a simple move of files to a common directory, but i'm not sure how to proceed.
Thanks

Sorry, I think that this official Apple Post ought to do it.
iTunes: How to share music between different user accounts on a single computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
Chris CA is an expert, so if you don't understand Chris's expert advice and/or you don't understand the official post here, then simply take a break, relax, and come back and try again.
Best Regards,
~mm

Sharing libraries between user accounts question

After many years of having one user account on our iMac, I have decided to segregate user accounts for me and my wife. I'm doing this because I have an iPhone and she is going to get one soon. When we sync our respective iPhones, we want to keep iCal and and Address book information unique to each user account. What I'm trying to figure out is how to share iPhoto and iTunes content between user accounts. I know there is a share preference that will allow the master libraries in these applications to be shared, but the photo albums and playlists created on the original user account are not "shared". Would it be possible to have playlists from iTunes and albums/events from iPhoto to be shared between user accounts? This would enable my wife to sync all her iPhone data from her user account. Thanks in advance.

I have an idea that uses a different approach. I haven't done this for this purpose, so if you decide to try, please do it one step at a time so you can undo it. I'll explain it for iTunes.
Instead of using the Sharing preference in iTunes, put the iTunes Music folder in a location that can be accessed from both accounts. You might use an external drive, or the <hard drive>/Users/Shared folder.
iTunes should NOT be running. Go to /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder. In that folder is the iTunes Music folder. Copy this folder to a location on the external drive or to the Shared user folder. Rename the original iTunes Music folder another name, such as iTunes Music Old. Make an alias of the new iTunes Music folder (in the shared location) and put it in the user's iTunes folder (where iTunes Music Old now resides). Rename it "iTunes Music" if necessary (you are making the alias take the place of the actual iTunes Music folder). * It is very important that the name be exact.
Start iTunes. All of your music and other media should be accessible as if the iTunes Music folder is where it used to be. To prove to yourself that the files are being accessed from the new shared location, do a Get Info on a couple of songs in iTunes. "Where" should show the file to be in the new location. To prove to yourself that you can add new content to the new location, download a free song from the iTunes Store (or a Podcast) or rip a CD. Then do a Get Info on the new item.
Up to here, I'm confident it will work, because I have done it. The rest is "theory"...
Copy the old user's /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder (except the now duplicated iTunes Music Old folder) to the shared location. You are only doing this step so that it will be available when you log in as the new user (your wife's account), which is the next step.
Log out and log in to the new account.
Copy everything in the old user's iTunes folder (that you just put in the shared location) to the new user user's /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder. Replace any duplicated items. You want the new user's iTunes folder to look exactly like the old user's iTunes folder (except for iTunes Music Old). Hopefully, that iTunes Music alias will connect to the actual iTunes Music folder at the shared location. Try it. Run iTunes as the new user. Hopefully, everything looks like the old user's iTunes. Do the tests like before to prove it.
At this point, the two iTunes "looks" will start to diverge. But at least the starting point will be the same.
If something does not work as expected, log in to the old user's account. With iTunes NOT running, go to /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder. Delete the iTunes Music alias. Rename the iTunes Music Old folder back to iTunes Music. Everything should be back to the way it was.
If it works to your satisfaction, you can eventually delete that iTunes Music Old folder.
I don't use iPhoto, but if iTunes works, you can do the equivalent steps for iPhoto.

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When switching between user accounts, the background desktop picture disappears and goes to just a blue background. Whats up with that?

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Share files from the Library/Application Support folder between user accounts?

I am using Mac OS 10.10.2, and am having trouble with allowing my son's user account to see his Minecraft files which are on my user account (User/Library/Application Support/Minecraft) how do I make it so that Minecraft will find and use these files rather than the empty folder on his own user account?
thanks!

Thank you! I should have thought of that. So, what I actually did was go into finder, "get info" on the Minecraft folder, and check the "share folder" box in the info window. I was then able to open his saved worlds on his account, and doing it this way will mean any changes to them can be accessed from my account as well.
Thanks again!

I-Tunes Library Between User Accounts

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