Itunes library on more than one computer

A co-worker of mine came to me with the following:
"I want to take my home ITunes Library make a copy of it and use it on both my work laptop and home laptop at the same time. Is this possible and if so how hard and what would I need to do."
I have no idea on how or if this is possible.
Can anyone here help me out with this issue?
Thanks
Ken

Yes

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Can I have my itunes library on more than one computer

I want to add to my library from a couple of different computers and not have to use the same one all the time. Can I have Itunes on 3 different computers and synch the libraries?

It is possible but requires very careful organization. Essentially you need to replicate your library from one PC that you designate as the "master" to the others you want to use the same library on. See these two of turingtest2's user tips:
Make a split library portable describes how to bring your library into the best layout to make it easy to replicate
Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy describes a robust procedure to copy your library to an external drive, and then to make incremental updates to the backup
This is essentially the approach I use, with three different PCs - desktop running Win7/32 as "master", two different Win7/64 laptops as "secondary":
You'll notice that everything here is one-way, from the master, via the replicated library on the external drive, to each of the secondary systems. It is possible to reverse the process under very specific conditions - an example's best here ...
I update the backup on my external HDD from my master system
I update the library on one of the "secondary" laptops from the external HDD (so this is now a 100% duplicate of what's on the master)
I add to the library on the secondary laptop - new media, modified playlists, etc.
Now, assuming I've made no changes to the master since step 1, I can reverse the process - backing up the library on the laptop to the external drive, then updating the master from the external drive.
The last time I posted this picture/procedure it was suggested that I should accompany this with a "health warning", so here goes - YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING for this to work correctly (or, like they say on TV, "don't try this at home") - there are many ways for this to go wrong and really only one way to ensure it works correctly. The whole approach is predicated on the assumption that you have two (or more) libraries with identical content. Even then, I tend to steer away from the situations where I modify the library on one of the secondary systems and sync this back to the master - not because it doesn't work, but because it opens up a few more possibilities for "dumb user error" that could leave me with inconsistent content across the three machines.
The other possible solution, which would be an option if all the machines you're using are on the same local network, is to use Home Sharing and make use of its facilities to copy media from one library to another - in this case you have distinct libraries with a method for copying content from one to another. You won't, however, be able to have the same playlists on each machine. The other benefit of the approach described above is that because you have several physical copies of the same logical library you can sync your iDevices to any of them without the possibility of the device content being erased because iTunes detects that its previously been synced to a different library.
I'll be honest and state that it took me considerable time to arrive at this setup - with more than a few ****-ups along the way - so you may want to carefully test this out before implementing something like this across several systems.

Can i sync my itunes music library to more than one computer? my computer crashed and now has a different id.

My computer crashed - the orginal one that I synced my phone to and my iTunes music. Now I have a new computer and want to sync my music but it won't let me - I get an error message stating that I am only allowed to sync my phone to one computer. How do I get around this?

You can move the song files into a different iTunes library and sync them to a new device, but they will remain associated with the original Apple ID.
(109462)

Can i use my itunes account on more than one computer?

i have itunes on my computer at work and at home. any way i can combine them? or, is there a way that something i buy and download onto my work computer can be linked to my home computer? the problem is that my home computer is incredibly old and slow and i'm concerned that it will take forever to download a song, but i'm also concerned that it will crash and then all my itunes music will be gone.
this leads to another question: i have an old mac that i believe still works, and i have an itunes account on that computer and i would like to get that music off of there. how can i do this?
thanks so much for any help, and use VERY BASIC instructions, as i am NOT tech savvy
- tara

Hey tferm78!
I have a couple of options for you to consider. First, you may simply want to authorize all of your computers for your iTunes account and turn on Automatic Downloads, so that when you download something on one computer, it will automatically download to other computers:
iTunes Store: Authorize or deauthorize your Mac or PC
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1420
iTunes Store: How to enable Automatic Downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4539
You could also look into iTunes Match, a service that would seamlessly link all of your iTunes libraries:
Apple - iTunes - Match
http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/
Lastly, here is an article that will help you move your library from one computer to another, if you so desire:
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

Deauthorize? Keeping iTunes active on more than one computer?

I'm sure the answer to this is somewhere here, my apologies, have only so much time to peruse the KB and am having no luck.
I've been working overtime$. I have a new iPod and a new MacBookPro. I want to move all my songs from my old desktop G4 to my new MBP. Have found how to do that using my ipod for data transfer. But I want to keep my desktop iTunes folder in place and be able to shop iTunes from there or my MBP and I want to keep all my music on both my iPods and be able to update the old with the old and the new with the new. Can I do this? I don't understand this deuthorize thing. I know there are proprietary issues and I'm not trying to do anything shady. It's all legitimately my music I just want to get to it from different places.
Thanks to anyone that will help.
ibook g3, desktop g4, now cadidate MBP owner Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Hi Sarahp,
Welcome to Apple Discussions
I am not a iTunes/Music Store expert, but I believe Music Store authorization/deauthorization lets you manage which computer can play the songs you bought from the iTunes Music Store. All downloads from the Music Store are protected so only 5 computers are allowed to play them. The reason this is done is so people can't give theses songs out to 100 people for free. Basically it protects the copy rights. By deauthorizing a computer, one is taking away its "ability" to play the songs one has downloaded from the Music Store.
Example: I have 5 computer authorized to play the songs from the Music Store and I am selling my iMac to buy a MacBook Pro. I would deauthorize my iMac because I am no longer going to use it, and it is taking up 1 of the 5 authorizations. Without deauthorizing a different computer, my new MacBook Pro would not be able play the downloaded music. You might want to consult Knowledge Base Document #93014. One of the most important things to remember from KB Document 93014 is:
"Make sure you deauthorize your computer before you upgrade your RAM, hard disk or other system components. If you do not deauthorize your computer before you upgrade these components, one computer may use multiple authorizations. If you find you have reached 5 authorizations due to system upgrades, you can reset your authorization count by clicking Deauthorize All in the Account Information screen. Note: You may only use this feature once per year. The Deauthorize All button will not appear if you have less than 5 authorized computers or if you have used this option within the last 12 months."
I hope that helps,
Jon
PS Did that help? If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
G4 1.33Ghz iBook, G4 iMac 1Ghz, G3 500Mhz iBook, Macintosh 128K, eMate... Mac OS X (10.4.5) Airport EX, Moto Razr, iLife '06, SmartDisk 160Gb, Apple BT Mouse, Sight..

Can you link an iTunes library to more than one apple ID?

My wife and I have our own iPhones (4S) I have an iPad 2 and we have an iMac. We currently have one apple ID but iCloud is updating all our devices with the same data. I want to be able to create a new apple ID for my wife that still allows us to share our apps and music from out iTunes library.

If you create a new ID for her, she will no longer be able to share the apps that you purchased with your ID - unless she signs out out of her account on the iDevice and then signs back in with yours if she want to use or update those apps.

YES OR NO-Can you use one ipod and it's library on more than one computer?

I cannot seem to access my library from this additional computer I have authorized and synced already...is there something I am missing or is an ipod loyal to only one computer at a time?
Thank you
Dell Windows XP

Using iPod with multiple computers:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61675

Sharing itunes library among more than one user

Hi I would like to know how to share an itunes library. I have 2 accounts on my imac and wish both to have access to the same library.
Thanks.

Have a read here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195
Diane Wordsmith

Having Itunes/Ipod on more than one computer

how do you go about doing this? Im trying to get the same stuff thats on my current computer to my laptop. i thought thats what exporting the library does but when i tried to import that file on the new laptop itunes just crashes and constantly gives me a no disc error.
i figgure exporting and importing your libary list only applys to the same computer?

To cover your issue/question more, really all you have to do is backup the "iTUnes Music Libbrary.xml" file as it contains pretty much everything, playlist songs, ratings ect ect. There is a way tho to backup just playlist as a .xml file(s) and its covered here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93763
You can also save a playlist as a text file, this will provide a list of your songs in notepad should the need ever arise. Sometimes people like to print out there playlist for various reasons. You just follow the first 7 steps in that artical EXCEPT in step 4 instead of saving as XML you save as TXT

Can I share my iTunes library between more than one device with different Apple ID's?

I just got a laptop and decided to set up my own Apple account apart from the one my family shares. I still want a lot of the music on my family account but don't want to buy it all over again. Is there a way for me to get this music in my new account? If so, how do I do this? I am looking for the best and simplest answer.

Yes, if they are not DRM protected
Open itunes, connect device, select what you want to sync, sync.
DO the same for your other devices.

Buying iTunes Off Of More Than One Computer

I've already figured out how to use different computers to buy things off iTunes, and be able to keep them on my iPod. My question now is, I have my computer now, and I've bought things off of it, and everything is fine. When I get my new computer, will I be able to open iTunes, and be able to find the things that I have purchased from my old computer? And will everything be the same as it was on my old computer with updating and everything?
Windows ME

When I get my new computer, will I be able to open iTunes, and be able to find the things that I have purchased from my old computer?
No. You'll have to transfer those files yourself. The best way would be to burn them oto a disk. iTunes can do this. Just go to prefernces and change the burning option to data.

Itunes library with more than one account?

Hi- new mac user here.
We have all our itunes on the admin user of our imac, but would like to access the files on all user accounts. Is this possible? If so, how?

revpcox
If you want the others to be able to play the music then enable Sharing in the Admin iTunes (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iTunes running and use Fast User Switching to open another account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. The Admin Library will appear in the Source pane. Repeat as necessary
Remember Tunes must be running in the Admin account for this to work.
Regards
TD

ITunes music on more than one computer

I just bought a new 24" iMac and I currently have a mac book laptop. All of my music is on my laptop and I would like to have it on my new iMac as well. If I get the music on both of my computers is it logical to think my ipod will keep both computers up to date. In other words... if I purchase new music on my iMac will my ipod sync it to my laptop. I am assuming both computers can be authorized for all of my music.
Thanks in advance for any help!
24" iMac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

If both computers are authorized to play that music, you can use the iPod to transfer the music between them.
(21338)

IPhone 4 sync to more than one computer

I have iPhone 4 that I want to sync iTunes library to more than one computer (1 iMac and 1 PC). PC was previously synced with old device. I want to sync iTunes library currently on iPhone and override data on PC. How do I do this? I do NOT want iTunes library currently on PC and override iPhone.

You do not do this.
Iphone will, and always has, only sync pics and itunes content to ONE computer. IF you sync to another it will erase the current content, then replace with content from the new computer.
This is by design and as intended.
Sorry.

Can I load my Itune on more than one computer?

Can I have ITunes installed on more than one computer, and sync with I-Phone and IPAD2? How do I keep the files the same on both computers?

you can authorize up to five computers you control for your iTunes store account.
you can use home sharing to keep the libraries on them in sync.
by design, iPhone and iPad can sync with only one library at a time.
however, you could consider Managing content manually on iPhone, iPad, and iPod.
also see Using iPad or iPod with multiple computers.

Itunes library on more than one computer

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