ITunes Shared library with all users on one computer

I am trying to share my iTunes (version 8.2) library with all the users on my computer. So far, this is what I have done:
1) I have moved the music folder into the shared folder.
2) I have selected "Add to Library" in all three accounts.
3) I have tried checking and unchecking the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library."
Since then, I have added some CDs that had some songs that I already had. When I loaded these CDs, I deleted the duplicates that had the worse sound. Since then, everything is unwinding. The additions on one user account are not being added to the others. When I delete a track, iTunes (obviously) says that it can't find the song anymore. What's odd is that I then delete the one that is missing, and both are missing now: the one that I deleted on the original account and the one that I did not delete on the original account.
I am starting to think that I need to start from scratch. So, to make a long story short (too late), how can I share my iTunes library with all users on one computer, where I can make a change in one account that will update automatically on the other accounts. If it can't be updated automatically, how can I add/delete files without causing the headaches I am currently having?
Brian

I actually followed this, but I still had problems that I listed above. Is there any way that when you make changes to one account (even if there is only one main account where changes are made), the changes are automatically (or at least easily) applied to the other user accounts?

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Sharing itunes library with all users on the same computer

I am trying to share the itunes library with 4 users on the same computer. Please tell me how.

I've been trying to find a way to do this easily as well. It would be good if you could set iTunes to use the "All User" documents folder instead of the My Documents folder for the storing the main library and just use the My Documents Folder for individual playlists.
Follow the instructions in the link provided by Mimico Kid.
** It is not important that the shared folder is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music. It can be any shared folder on the PC. On mine it's H:\iTunes as I don't have the space on the C: drive.
When you've done that make sure that your Adminstrator account's copy of iTunes shows the Library, Playlists and Album art as you want the all the users to see them.
Then copy all of the remaining files from the Administrator Accounts iTunes folder into every other users iTunes folder.
** C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Documents\My Music\iTunes
If any user adds songs or modifies playlists the administrator will need to log on and copy the files from that users iTunes folder to everyone elses.
This might be a slightly cumbersome way around the problem but it works for me. It has the disadvantage or advantage whichever way you look at it that every User will see an identical view with identical playlists.

Sharing my iTunes Library with other Users on my computer?

...hi guys! Nice to find this friendly commumity!
I wonder if any of you have worked out how to share the library across other users on the computer yet?
I share a PC with my girlfriend, and all of our downloads on iTunes are from our CD collection. But as I installed iTunes on my user account, she can't get the songs now!
When she opens iunes from her user account, it's a blank library!
Please help!
Thanks chaps,
Kerr
Message was edited by: heinzeman

Chris CA wrote:
Move the entire _iTunes folder_ located in *My Documents/My Music*/ to a Shared directory. Make sure to set this folder for read/write permissions for all users.
I set my permissions as follows OS 10.4.X:
first under the original owners login, change all permissions to read & write, then change 'group' to wheel. Then change the owner from the user to system (I applied to all within ~ may not be necessary).
Start iTunes holding the Shift key and select *Choose existing library* then pick the iTunes library file you moved into the Shared directory.
In iTunes 7.5, you'll need to hold the Option key and then pick the /Users/Shared/iTunes/iTunes Music
Quit iTunes and log out of your user and let her log in.
Start iTunes holding the Shift key and select *Choose existing library* then pick the iTunes library file you moved into the Shared directory.
Now she needs to File -> *Add folder to library* and pick *My Documents*/My Music*/*iTunes*/iTunes music*.
This will add all her music to the common library.
Once this is complete, she can delete *My Documents*/My Music*/*iTunes.
Do this for all users. Any changes made by one will be seen by all.

HT3819 how do i share my music with another user on one computer?

How do i share my itunes library with another user on my same computer?

Hi there,
You may find the article below helpful.
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1203
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i've got a family. a few kids and one itunes library. i am the only one who can buy stuff (as i assume its impossible to keep on library in synch with multiple owners ??) - but what i want to do is have the library available to all the kids - that way they can sign in as themselves and not keep signing in as me everytime they want to synch their ipods etc. is there a way to do this ? thanks so much.

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Give this ago, This is what I am trying at the moment and is a bit experimental, I haven't Tested it yet with iPhone/iPad/iPods sync yet. (will do this soon and will report back)
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4. Change the read/write access to the (user - shared - iTunes folder) Right click on the folder - +Get Info+ - Under Permissions allow all the users Read & Write, Click the cog and select apply to enclosed items.
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8. Close out of itunes User done.
9. Log into user 2's and go to (user - shared) folder Check to make sure this user has read & write permissions. Make an alias of the "iTunes folder" and move it to user 2's music folder +(user - "username" - Music folder)+
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Message was edited by: Gmor

Sharing library/playlists etc. All users on one computer STEP BY STEP guide

ok i recently installed a new hard drive and when I set up iTunes I found I needed to set up iTunes the way i used to have it... which was that all users shared the same library... and if one user added a song we all had it... without manually modifying anything... also playlists created by one would appear for others.
A scan of the forum caused me headaches and little help.
SO... a couple of hours palyng around and I am where i want to be!!!!
please note... save time and modify permissions at the correct stage... or it won't work!!!
Step By Step...
Go To...
Main users iTunes folder (iTunes Library, Album Artwork, iTunes Music Library.xml, iTunes Music)
AND... do a get info...
Under... Ownership & Permissions...
Change the group to admin and give this group 'read & write' and others the same or leave it at read only.
Hit the 'apply to enclosed items' button!!!
THEN... drag this folder to a shared location... IE Users / Shared.
THEN... make an alias and drag it back to the Music Folder in your own home library. (where the original folder was previously)!
DELETE the word ALIAS.
Log in as another user and get rid of the iTunes folder. (if the other user has different songs etc... then save them to a separate location for re-importing later!
Go to the Shared location... Make another Alias... drag it to the music folder and again DELETE the word ALIAS.
Do this for all users...
Any user who adds a song to iTunes... is shared by all.
Any user who creates a playlist... is shared by all.
One downside to this... if a user is logged in using iTunes and you switch users iTunes will not be available to the new user... unless the application is quitted...
G4 iMac 20 1.25ghz / G4 iBook 14 1.33ghz Mac OS X (10.4.9)

That steps above are far too much (and unecessary) work.
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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203

ITunes Shared library with all users on one computer

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