ITunes music for different family members

Hello
I have just purchased my first Mac, a standard 27" iMac (seems strange to call this wonderful - so far - Mac 'standard'!), I have transferred my iTunes music from my Sony Viao Laptop. This music, with one exception, is from my own CD's, with only one album purchased through iTunes so far.
There are also quite a few Apps for the iPhone, and the synced address book and calander.
Now what I want to do, if it it possible, is to have my iTunes music files on an external HD, and that the three iTune accounts that I want to have, one for each member of the family with their own account on the iMac, can see all the music files, and can each create their own Playlists and sync their iPhone/iPod.
Is this possible? Seems silly to have to have three complete copies of the music file.
Probably this has been gone over umpteen times already.
Thanks
Adam

The ideal would be to have different Apple IDs for each member. This will allow them to set up their accounts as they like and be able to use iCloud without worrying about the possibility that other members can see their personal data. However, if you want to purchase an app for all the members, you will have to purchase it for each account

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Should I have different Apple IDs for different family members or one?

We are four members in a family, sharing the same iMac computer but each having a separate device (such as an iPod, iPad and iPhone). I'm wondering if it would be best to have separate Apple IDs for each family member to manage things like iMessage, iTunes purchases and so on. I'd appreciate any advice you can provide. Cheers!

The ideal would be to have different Apple IDs for each member. This will allow them to set up their accounts as they like and be able to use iCloud without worrying about the possibility that other members can see their personal data. However, if you want to purchase an app for all the members, you will have to purchase it for each account

Itunes for multiple family members

My situation is I've been using iTunes since its inception and built quite a library. I've been through multiple ipods and now on to iphones for multiple family members. All the while using one itunes account on separate devices for multiple family members. Now that we have iphones its become necessary to create separate icloud accounts for each family member. This creates a problem for those with new icloud accounts. The iTunes music library can no longer be shared on separate devices (that I know of). The music library and playlists I have built over years cannot be shared with those devices that now have separate icloud accounts. I am aware of "family sharing" and have set that up going forward but how do I resolve the issue of all the music and playlists that were shared when we all used one itunes account, prior to creating separate icloud accounts? I hope this makes sense. For example my wife and son no longer have access to any of the music/playlists on their iphones that they used to have prior to creating their own accounts. Even though all purchases made before and after creating separate icloud accounts were made using the same credit card.
I believe I could just go back to having the other devices sign back into my itunes account and I think that may resolve the issue but what happens to purchases that were made on the other devices while they were signed into their own accounts? Another point that comes up is that we all have gift card balances on each itunes account. This is so confusing

This is great news as I've been struggling with this issue for some time. Mainly because my wife is a little old school and likes to put music on CD's and this solves that problem. Thanks again!!
Mr Mars,
You are welcome! I hope you have achieved the expected degree of "harmony."
Family Sharing: A new way to bring harmony to your family’s digital life
Ed.

HT204053 Is it possible to have two (or more) different icloud mail accounts (not alias) under the same apple id? If not what is you best advice for all family members to have their own e-mail and still share the purchases under the same apple id. Thanks

Is it possible to have two (or more) different icloud mail accounts (not alias) under the same apple id? If not what is you best advice for all family members to have their own e-mail and still share the purchases under the same apple id. Thanks

mannyace wrote:
Thanks for the response.
So I basically won't run into any trouble? I
There should be no issues. Its designed to work like that. You don't change Apple IDs just because you get a new device.
mannyace wrote:
Thanks for the response.
Is there any chance that the phones can fall out of sync?
Unlikely. But nothing is impossible. Though I don;t see how that would happen. As long as both are signed into the Same Apple ID / iCloud Account they will be N'Sync. (Bad Joke)
mannyace wrote:
Thanks for the response.
If I get a message or buy an app or take a photo on the iPhone 5, how do I get those things onto the iPhone 6?
If you buy an App, you have 2 ways to get it to the iPhone6: If Automatic Downloads is enabled in Settings->iTunes & App Store, it will automatically download to the iPhone 6 when you buy it on the 5 and vice versa if you buy it on the 6, it will download to the 5.
Alternatively, you can simply go to the App Store App->Updates->Purchased and look for the App there and download it. Purchased Apps will not require payment again. i.e They'll be free to download to the iPhone 6 once purchased.
SMS Messages will sync over using Continuity as long as they are on the same Wifi network. Otherwise, restoring the iPhone 5 backup to the iPhone 6 will transfer all messages received up until the backup was made onto the iPhone 6.
Images, can be transferred either through Photo Stream
My Photo Stream FAQ - Apple Support
Or any Cloud service you want such as Dropbox, or One Drive.
mannyace wrote:
Also, something i forgot to ask initially: Should I update the iPhone 5 to iOS 8 first or does that not matter?
If you want the Continuity features as explained above you need to update the iPhone 5 to iOS 8. Otherwise its not all that important.

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My iPhone 4S will charge on a laptop but not from a wall plug. I have tried different boxes and different USB cords from the wall but none work. These boxes and USB cords work for other family members with iPhones and a USB cord that works from the laptop won't work from 3 or 4 different wall boxes that work for others. I'm stumped :/

Update: It seems as though the phone will charge if I plug it in and then turn it off. It will not charge while the phone is on. Also iTunes will not recognize it, so I can't sync or anything. I read somewhere that it could be a fuse somewhere?? Or maybe the dock connector. Where is the best place to get this repaired?

How do I get separate iCloud accounts for each family members device and still share iTunes?

how do I get separate iCloud's for each family members iPhone, iPod and iPad and still share iTunes?

Have everyone share the same iTunes store ID, but use separate IDs for iCloud. The ID you use for iCloud does not have to be the same as the ID you use for the iTunes & App store.

Can separate apple ids be set up for individual family members that use different devices? Several iPads are tied to one Apple ID (email address). Thank you.

Can separate apple ids be set up for individual family members that use different devices (iPads & iPhones)? Several family members are tied to one apple id (email address). Thanks.

How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495
How to Share a Family iPad
http://www.macworld.com/article/1163347/how_to_share_a_family_ipad.html
Using iPhone, iPad, or iPod with multiple computers
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1202
iOS & iCloud Tips: Sharing an Apple ID With Your Family
http://www.macstories.net/stories/ios-5-icloud-tips-sharing-an-apple-id-with-you r-family/
How To Best Use and Share Apple IDs across iPhones, iPads and iPods
http://www.nerdsonsite.com/blog/2012/06/07/help-im-appleid-confused/
 Cheers, Tom

HT204053 I only have one e-mail, how do I set up separate apple IDs for three family members ?

How do I create apple IdS for three family members with the same e-mail? They are kids and have no e-mail.

You can configure a new email address for them using the @cloud.com server suffix. Do that when you open an iCloud account for each and set up the separate Apple IDs that will each be tied to a different email address.
Apple iCloud - Pertinent Questions
Apple IDs and iCloud
iCloud Help
Creating an iCloud account- Frequently Asked Questions

HT203167 I've downloaded Itunes music for nearly 10 years on multiple computers, however, I've noticed that I can't access music that I purchased on some of the older computers. Can this problem be fixed?

I've downloaded Itunes music for nearly 10 years on multiple computers, however, I've noticed that I can't access previously purchased music from some of the older computers. Can all of my Itunes purchases be consolidated?

Hello, ted_marx38.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
The most common cause for this issue would be media present that is purchased with another Apple ID. When prompted to authorize the computer it may show a different Apple ID. If this is the case, the computer will need to be authorized for this Apple ID. The article below will walk you through the process of verifying if that is the case or correcting the issue if not.
iTunes repeatedly prompts to authorize computer to play iTunes Store purchases
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1389
Cheers,
Jason H.

How do I use itune music for creating photo DVDs with music in adobe element 10?

How do I use/transfer itune music for DVDs with music in adobe elements premier?

On each computer:
Open iTunes. Select Preferences from the iTunes menu and click on the Advanced icon in the toolbar. At the top you will see a box showing the path to your iTunes library. Click on the Change button, navigate to the location for the library on your external drive, select it and click on the Open button. Note this permanently changes the library's location on that computer. That means you cannot access your music unless the external drive is connected.
If you don't want a permanent change, then press the OPTION key and hold it down while you launch iTunes. iTunes will then prompt you to select the library you wish to open for that session.

Unable to create iTunes account for MobileMe Family sub-accounts

Greatings,
I was wondering if anyone else had encountered this problem. I am attempting to set up iTunes accounts for a family member who has a mobileMe sub account on my family pack. The MobileMe account works fine in all other respects except when I go to iTunes and enter the id and pass word I an taken to the screen to accept the terms of service and select the country (Canada in my case) and all goes well until I have to enter the address and billing info. At that point the system says sorry can't proceed try again some other time. several other times later it still won't work.
Is this a limitation of the sub-accounts on mobileMe?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
M

I was having the same trouble with my MobileMe sub-accounts (MobileMe Family Plan). I went through all the support emails and calls with no success. I fixed the problem by removing the affected sub-account/email address and then re-established the same sub-account/email address. When you re-establish the sub-account/email address it will tell you that you cannot since it already exists - but there is an option to re-establish the sub-account/email address by entering the correct password. After I did this, I could manage the sub-account/email address with no problems whether it was in iTunes or in the management of the AppleID settings.

Re-creating itunes setup for a family

Hi -
We have four PCs (for four individual family members) all with standalone copies of iTunes, four different libraries on four different hard drives, etc. Two separate apple accounts (three use one apple account to download from the apple store and one uses his own). There are also two iPhones and two nano ipods and one ipod mini.
Lots of duplicated tunes (from copied CDs) mean that I'd like to rationalise it all and have a backup element. So I have bought a NAS mirrored drive and want to move all existing music and iTunes purchased videos to it.
Can anyone tell me if there's a standard procedure for doing this? If I was setting it all up from the start I guess it would be fairly standard, but I'd like to move the libraries so that all podcasts, music (sourced from CD and iTunes store) and (only half a dozen or so) movies are available on the new drive, and obviously so that all future music and other media are loaded onto the network drive.
Thanks,
Steve

Have a read here...
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18409815?ac_cid=ha
Also See Here...
How to Use Multiple iDevices with One Computer
And this may be of Value to you...
http://macmost.com/sharing-ios-apps-with-family.html

Best iTunes strategy for a family with multiple Windows accounts

On our previous Windows 7 PC, I set up separate Windows accounts for each of our family members. Since iTunes can't be run concurrently on more than one Windows account, I also set up another Windows account named "iTunes," the sole purpose of which is to have iTunes running in a way that everyone can access it without having to log into each others' accounts. When you want to use iTunes, you log into the "iTunes" Windows account; when you want to do something else on the computer, you log into your personal Windows account.
Two questions: (1) Is there a better way to do this? and (2) Am I right that iTunes still can't be run concurrently on more than one Windows account?
Thanks.

This is a user to user support forum. Your fellow users can offer solutions or workarounds based on their experience with the application. If you think it should work differently drop a line to iTunes Feedback.
For reasons unknown Apple haven't chosen to allow iTunes to be suspended in one profile and active in another. My recollection is that this applies even if each profile has a different library, although it is some time since I've committed a personal test.
I'm not sure why my suggestion make less sense that your current approach?. As I understand it currently everybody is either signed into their own account when they can do something other than work with iTunes, or they sign into the special iTunes account where they can't access any of their other stuff. You don't have to disable fast user switching. Follow exactly the same steps, but make sure everyone closes iTunes before turning the computer over to another user. Disabling fast user switching helps to enforce that action.
tt2

Managing multiple libraries for multiple family members

I have four family members with multiple iTune libraries, including two that need to be age appropriate for our children. To add to this burden, we now have an iPad as well. How do I best manage these libraries, minimizing duplicate purchases, enabling each to have store accounts for gift card purchases, and sync each iPod simply for those not familiar with the apple software? Can I merge our libraries, create different users with their songs and accounts for purchases and syncing logins? We have two operating systems in the home, mac and pc? Argh, this is cumbersome, my library has over 4000 items, other family members have much smaller libraries, but would like their own individual libraries. Should I merge and make separate playlists for each user? If so, how can I incorporate my own vast library of playlists already created?
Help me please, any suggestions?
Rob Mc

There are 3 options. See this page:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1495
My advice is to use option #1 and have each user with a separate windows userID. They can each keep their own itunes library database file with ratings, play counts, playlists.
Have all the library content in a public folder to avoid filling the PC's hard drive with duplicates.
You can use a 3rd-party utility program like iTunes Folder Watch to update all the libraries when new content gets added.
Method #2 is easiest, but then ratings and play counts will not be separated. Also, they have to remember to log out of the itunes store and log in with their own ID when making purchases. Something to watch for when kids are involved with their own gift cards....this is not a problem with method #1.
Method #3 seems to give a lot of people grief because all users MUST use a shift-start of itunes to choose their own library. Woe has fallen on many who have tried this method.
As for using both Mac & PC, itunes & ipods are designed to only sync with one PC. There is a way around that, but you either have to do a lot of manual backing up and copying, or buy something like TuneRanger.

Different app/itunes stores for different regions

Why does there have to be different stores for different regions with some apps region locked? Can't they just make one universal app/itunes store?
I just find it annoying to have to constantly change regions in order to get the apps I want that are locked to their country's region.
Same with the itunes store; it's annoying that some international music doesn't show up on the US iTunes store, but shows up in a different country's iTunes store, as it is locked to that one region, so I have to change the country in order to download it.

All content is licensed by the content providers (app developers, record companies etc) on a country-by-country basis as they want control over where their content is available - each country therefore has to have its own store, and you need to be in a country (and have a billing address in that country on your account) to use its store. If there is a particular item that you would like that is not currently in your country's store then you can try requesting that it be added, but unless the rights-holder agrees to it the Apple can't sell it there : http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunes.html

ITunes music for different family members

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