Mac OS X user accounts??

Sorry if this is a dumb questions but I have never had a Mac before and not massively technically minded.
Basically myself and my GF have our own laptops and we are thinking about buying a Mac-Mini to share. Someone mentioned in the iTunes Community that you can have multiple Mac OS X user accounts.
Does this mean that I can create a log in for myself, have access to pictures, my own iTunes library and videos etc.. that she can't have access to? I'm a bit OCD over my iTunes Library and not keen on sharing it as she will download One Direction or something and at the same time she can have her own documents, pictures and iTunes library on her account?
Can you also have different Screensavers on the desktop with each log-in?

You just need to consider who will have the Admin password.
I have set mine up with an Admin or superuser account and then all the family have their normal user accounts.
We set up a family IPhotos account which can be shared across different ancillary equipment such as laptops using the share option under preferences.
The same with the family music, again using the share option within iTunes preferences.
What I dont know is if the admin account can see other users stuff in 10.8.2
I know in windows you could but dont know about the mac

Similar Messages

Is there any information about using iCloud on a Mac with multiple user accounts (Mountain Lion)

When upgrading to Mountain Lion, you are asked to sign in using your iCloud ID. I don't understand how to set up the proper synching of "stuff" if your Mac has multiple user accounts, and they each have their own iCloud ID.
The whole issue of supporting multiple users on a Mac and making everything easy to understand with regard to iTunes and iCloud is, in my opinion, currently in a state of disaster. Apple needs to address this. They have conveniently made it a non-issue on iPads by not allowing multiple users. I can tell you that as one of the resident iOS and Apple experts in my office, most of the questions I get from others (not work-related) are on this topic. It needs to be easier to understand and accomplish.
Thanks in advance for any information you have on this subject.

CS7981 wrote:
is "Is there any benefit to using my Airport Express with my wireless router
no.

Share music on same mac with different user accounts

I'll try to make this clear, i have an imac with a large itunes collection. my two kids have accounts on that same mac, and want to be able to listen to what i have in my itunes. i can't see putting three copies of the same music on the same computer. is there a way to let them play what i have in my itunes account while they are logged in to their own account on the same computer?
imac (5 years old) Mac OS X (10.4.6) macbook, G4 I book, I book, Imac
macbook w/ superdrive, G4 with combo drive, I-book w/o cd burner Mac OS X (10.4.6) macbook, G4 I book, I book, Imac

Jase, you said "Music sharing works across different user accounts, whether they are on the same computer or different computers", but my son will log into his account where he currently has no music. in the window on the left, we can see the other computers in the house that are on line, but there is no sign of the master account (on that same imac). i assume this is because the master account is not logged in, therefore the secondary accounts can't find the master account's music, nor can I from a remote computer ( my macbook, for example). for instance, right now from my macbook i can see my son's itunes list (on the imac) in my "share window" (even though his list is empty). he can also see my macbooks list in his "share window". he cannot see either my list on that imac, or his sisters list on that same imac. all acounts on the imac have sharing turned on, as well as "look for shared music" turned on.
i guess the focus is on this: can the master user itunes list be made available to other users on that same computer while they are logged in as other users (and the master account is logged off, which it has to be in order for the secondary accounts to be logged in, right?) I can't think of any other way to ask this, so i hope that clarified what we have tried and what we are asking for.

How do I log use two apple ID's on the same I mac with two user accounts

I cant seem to find a thread to answer this question.
I have have one I mac, both my wife and I have a user account each, we both have our own apple ID's is there away they can be used at the same time?
As so far I can't find a way of doing this. It seems one user account can only use its apple ID for a period of 90days, If I need to use the other apple ID I have to wait.. as I get this messsage
"You can download past purchases on this computer with just one Apple ID every 90 days. You cannot associate this computer with a different Apple ID for 61 days. "
Is there a way around this?

Oh...How about one APPLE account, but two different users on the computer- one being administrator, and allow admin privileges if you want, or one be admin, the other a user.
Or- what you can do, is have the second apple account, but only log in to it without involving the computer.
Or break down and get a second computer. On hers, you be guest user and on yours she be guest- then if one breaks, you can still each use in turn.
Or alternately, go to applestore or contact apple to ask...

Multiple Macs with multiple user accounts

I have a Mac computer connected to airport and use Time Machine for backups. This works well.
I have now purchased a second Mac and would like to include this second Mac so that I can move between Macs and work. There does not appear to be any mechanism to allow this.

After searching the web and the discussion here, here's my minimal impact solution for multiple Macs with multiple users in a household:
1) Set up Mac1 for myself only
2) Set up Mac2 for the wife and kid
3) Set up each Mac to backup to the Airport base station using Time Machine (this would create two separate backups on the Airport base station's drive, which from what I've read has its own problems)
4) On Mac1 setup "empty user accounts" for the wife and kid. These will not have any files in them - just an access mechanism. If they want to access their files, they can use Time Machine's "The Browse Other Backup Disks Option" to get their file from Mac2, work on it and then drop it in the Shared Folder. Next time they are on Mac2, remember to copy the updated/created file from the Shared Folder into their Mac2 user account. If possible, get Time Machine to not backup the "empty user accounts".
5) Do the same for me on Mac2.
Not the most elegant solution, but until Apple get off their backside and make this seamless, I can't think of anything else :-( .
P.S. iCloud is not a soluton since it costs hundreds of dollars a year, uses up intenet data allowance and is slow.

Migrate itunes from pc to mac with multiple user accounts

I've read the numerous articles on transferring one's itunes library from a windows machine to a mac and I *think* I've got the details sorted (have itunes copy everything and then organize my library, then copy whole folder to external drive). I only have one itunes account but it my full library and itunes account is used across different windows user accounts.
My mac is setup with multiple user accounts and I'd like to have a single library and single itunes account (same apps, etc.,). I'm not quite sure how to migrate the library from windows and then set it up on the mac such that all mac user accounts are sharing the same library and itunes account. Any guidance?
Forgot to mention, have 2 iphones and 1 ipad as well, all attached to the same apple id.

See these support documents:
How to share iTunes between multiple accounts on a single computer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

Sharing between two macs with one user account?

Is it possible to connect two macs to share documents and music if they are both logged into the same user account?
I recently bought a Mac Mini and when setting it up, I transferred everything from my Macbook Pro to it, including my user profile which I now also use on the Mini.
Since setting up the Mini, I've been using both machines so the content on both is no longer identical. There have been occassions where I have wanted to transfer something from the MBP to the Mini or vice-versa over wi-fi and have encountered problems. I suspect this is because I am using the same user account and they get confused.
I don't need the two macs to be identical in their content, however there are times when I want to share or quickly transfer music, documents or Garageband files from one to another. Would I be better off setting up different profiles for the Mini and the MBP to achieve this? Is there a better way to do what I'm trying to do?

There have been occassions where I have wanted to transfer something from the MBP to the Mini or vice-versa over wi-fi and have encountered problems. I suspect this is because I am using the same user account and they get confused.
Could you please explain, what kind of problems exactly you encountered? Error messages? Corrupted files? And why do you think the problem is caused by the same user profiles?
Like markwmsn I have no problem with sharing using the same account name on all my macs. Only since upgrading to Mt. Lion I usually use AirDrop to send single files. That saves the trouble to copy the files to a public folder.
Do both your macs support Air Drop?
OS X Lion: Share your files with others near you
and the requirements: HT5444
Regards
Léonie

Turn on Mac in specific user account

Can you schedule mac to turn on to schedule in energy saver and login as specific user, so that it can then run a scheduled chronosync and then shut down, but not autologin as that user when normally turned on. Want to backup at night from my user account, but don't want it to auto login when kids turn it on

Hi,
No way I'm aware of.

1 Mac. Two User accounts. Same iTunes library.

can two user accounts use the same tunes library?
i donthave to put the library in the public/shared folder do i?
thx

one question though.....
it seems that each user has a different user library, even though the libaray files are stored in the same place.....
that is irriating
how can i tell itunes to have both users itunes library data files in the same place?
is that possible?

Can I install windows 7 using bootcamp on a mac with two user accounts?

I'm asking because I share a MacBookPro (13inch Mid2010 / Lion) with my girlfriend so we have two user accounts.
If I install windows 7 via bootcamp can we both switch to windows?
Thanks in advance
Frank

Yes you can, you can even have 2 users on the Windows side, his n hers

Sharing iPhoto '09 library between Mac OS X user accounts

Hi,
I'm brand new to the Mac world, so forgive the new user question on something that is probably obvious to all.
I've set up my new iMac for both my wife and I to access on two separate accounts. I've loaded our photos from my PC to my iPhoto program on my account. How can I get my wifes account to see the same photos? Do I have to load them on her account also?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
Tom

Tom
For iPhoto 09 (version 8.0.2) and later:
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.
Quit iPhoto in both accounts. Move the Library to the Users / Shared Folder
(You can also use an external HD set to ignore permissions, a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.)
In each account in turn: Double click on the Library to open it. (You may be asked to repair the Library Permissions.) 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.
Regards
TD

How do I share music from different itunes accounts in the same Mac, in different users account on that Mac with different iPhones?

Hi
My wife and I share the same Mac.
She has her session and I have mine thus each of us has our iTunes session with our own music and settings.
She has her iTunes account and I have mine too.
And..;)...she has her Iphone and of course I also have mine.
So, the big question:
Both like music that the other has bought but we do not want to buy it twice! (through her account and mine).
Is there a way to share music I purchase so she can have it in her iTunes session and therefore have it also on her iPhone when she syncs..and of course viceversa for me too?
It goes without saying that although we like music the other one has, we do not like all of the music, so basically we want to have the possibility to share those special songs we like so we can have them both in our phones and individual Itunes sessions.
Was that clear or I lost you???
Any answer will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

First of all if you havent done it yet i think u shold authorize the mac on both accounts on itunes. You also can switch the accounts on your Iphones at itunes while you are in the internet adn download the music.
This is just an idea you should think of. For sure there are other ways I dont know.

New Mac User: iTunes Auth with multiple user accounts

With a Mac with multiple user accounts, does EACH user account need to have iTunes authorized, or is iTunes authorized for an entire mac machine?

So then I assume that iTunes will know then if each of the computer's user accounts has a different iTunes account?
When you authorize an iTunes account on your computer, the authorization info is stored in \Users\Shared\. When you run iTunes, it looks there to see if it can play purchases. The purchase account info is embedded into each purchased file.

Messages on the mac, different user accounts

If you sign into messages on your own password protected user account on a shared mac with different user accounts, will other user accounts be able to access your messages from their account?

Hi,
This is really a yes, no, maybe answer.
If you set up new Mac user accounts on your Mac and never use any of the details that you use in Messages (any account) then, No.
If however you set up a Mac User account to test and entered the AIM Screen name you use then the Keychain and the .plists may remember some of that account details.
This could be a problem if you then let someone use that Mac User account.
There are ways to get the password info in the Keychain.
To explain a bit more of the how.
If for instance you created a test Mac User account and set up Messages here.
You could then turn On Parental Controls if it is not an Admin account
If you set the Messages settings then you can not add Buddies to the lists
You cannot chat to Buddies unless they have been added to a list in Parental Controls.
At thie point all your Buddies are Blocked.
Going back to your regular account will find they are blocked there as this function flags the Buddies at the Server end.
If you then add some Buddies but not all then in the AIM Account they become the Allow Specific People list and everyone not in the list is Blocked.
The Allow/block situation remains the same (even if you move computers or try a web login to AIM)
The same regarding using the same Apple ID in this Mac User account as it's details are held in the .plist
Also if you had an older Apple ID that you then registered for iCloud and received an @me.com email ID in addition and later an @iCloud.com one you can use these Apple IDs independently of each other with regards to iMessages.
However the server will keep trying to add these to your iMessages account in Messages.
I have not tried creating a separate iMessages account and testing this yet to see if the main Apple ID would try to get added to the other set ups
Basically the answer is no.
However be careful if any of these Mac Users Accounts were set up before and have tested anything you use in your Messages app.
9:35 pm Friday; December 6, 2013
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

2 Mac User Accounts - 1 cannot open a catalog

Hi,
I have a Mac with 2 users account (wife and I) and I have spent hours creating a catalog and setting up it perfectly. I now want my wife to be able to see this from her account.
After many trials I have moved all my photos to the Shared Users folder and also created my catalog in the same folder. My wife can also see this folder but when I try to open the catalog from her PSE 10 account it gives a "The catalog cannot be opened. It is either corrupt, or the version is out of date and cannot be updated". It works fine from my account.
The version is not out of date.
Surely it must be possible for 2 users to view the same catalog on 1 PC, i.e. no multi user access as only 1 person can log in at a time. Otherwise everytime I load new pictures into the catalog and she logs in she will also have to import them without knowing where I have saved the photos.
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks,
Glenn

While I really think this is a question for a Mac discussion forum, reading below may help
Mac and Root User http://forums.adobe.com/thread/879931
-and http://forums.adobe.com/thread/940869?tstart=0
If those previous discussion don't help, you might ask on an Apple forum... file access is at the operating system level

Mac OS X user accounts??

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for