Multiple computers as one iTunes

I've got two iBook G4's running 10.4.8, as well as a PC running XP, all three with iTunes. My original idea was to get an external hard drive to store all the music on, but since the PC's main use is media, I am debating whether or not to buy anything at all.
Is there a way I can convince the two iBooks, and the PC to act as one iTunes, so I can store music on the PC, access it with the iBooks, and use two iPods (A 1GB shuffle and a U2 Special Edition) on one or any of the computers, or is it all just a pipe dream?

hi Fenryr,
sharing music files between computers is quite easy, however managing a library is not.
depending what you are exactly trying to do, it may not be just a dream. here is my suggestion; you should manage all your songs from only one dedicated computer and have only one library file. then, activate the sharing library option on each computer and listen your song from the shared libraries on your other computers.

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Can I have multiple computers accessing one iTunes library simultaneously?

I've purchased a Lacie Network HD that I'm keeping all of my iTunes on. I've put an alias to the iTunes library from that drive in the music folders of the computers I want to access and update it. That all works well. The only problem is that both computers cannot have iTunes running at the same time. I get an error stating that the library is locked. It would appear that I can't have multiple computers accessing the library at the same time. Is there a work around for this aside from doing network sharing via iTunes? The reason I don't want to do that is that I want both computers to have access to the actual files if I'm using the various iLife apps that use iTunes.

Scott
The only problem is that both computers cannot have iTunes running at the same time. I get an error stating that the library is locked. It would appear that I can't have multiple computers accessing the library at the same time
This is true. It's not a server app.
The nearest thing would be a library file on each machine pointing to the same set of music files. However, you might have problems if both machines try to access a particulat track at the same time. Also, changes made on one machine would not be reflected in the other. So if you rip a CD on one, the files will also have to be 'imported' to the other.
Regards
TD

Question about multiple computers on one iTunes Store account

I have an iPad which I need to sync with several (actually 8) different Macs around the country. This is the nature of the work I'm doing at the moment. I plan to set all 8 Macs to the same iTunes Store account. I don't need to authorise them to play music or video, but I do want to be able to transfer content and apps I purchase so that I can backup the iPad whichever office I happen to visit. If I purchase an app in one office, presumably I can download it again for free on any of the other Macs should I need to. Understand that this is purely so that I can sync and backup in multiple locations without losing my apps or content.
Does anyone know if what I'm proposing will work? Is the "Authorized Computer" limit purely a limit on playing back content in iTunes? Or will I be prevented from syncing my apps and content on more than 5 computers?

What is not yet clear is quite how the new rules square up with the old rules that one account can be authorized on up to five computers and up to five accounts authorized on any one device.
Unless I'm much mistaken I think you can backup an iPad/iPhone on any computer running iTunes without authorizing it to any of the individual accounts that may have been used for purchased content on it first, although transferring purchased content from the device to the computer does require prior account authorization.
Since you can re-download apps at any time and, at least if you are in the US, now re-download previously purchased music, I think you should be fine. Thought I'd still suggest that it might be easier to take a portable version of your library with you than set up eight independent instances of iTunes.
tt2

Multiple computers sharing one iTunes account?

I know this must for a FAQ, but I can't seem to find the answer. I have an iTunes account that I use on my home computer running Vista. I have purchased quite a bit of music online. I want to transfer my purchases from my online iTunes store account to my work Macbook and iPhone. When I login into my iTunes store account on the Mac, I don't see my purchases. How do I access and download them to the Mac so that I can sync them to iPhone?

You need to copy them from one computer to the other yourself, until the just-announced iCloud is up and running (we need iTunes 10.3 which should be available shortly). For now, see
iTunes for Mac: How to copy purchases between computers
iTunes for Windows: How to copy purchases between computers
And if you happen to also own an iPod:
How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
Once you have the tracks on some removable medium, you can mount that on your new computer and then just drag the content to the iTunes window. Make sure that the option to "copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" is set in the iTunes -> Advanced preferences before you do.
Alternatively, you can use the Add To Library command and select each track (or folder of tracks).
Regards

I have multiple devices and one itunes account can they have separate icoulds?

I have multiple devices on one itunes acccount, can they have separate icoulds?

Settings > iCloud > Sign in with the desired Apple ID.
Settings > iTunes & App Store > Sign in with the desired Apple ID.
The two above can be different Apple IDs, mine are.

HT1449 how do you move all music from two computers into one itunes account?

How do you move all music from two computers into one itunes account?

An "iTunes account" is an online account you use for buying music, like a bank account. An iTunes collection is the media you see when you open iTunes. Which do you mean?
If it is two computers, it would also help to know where these are located. Are they on the same local network? If they are, try Home Sharing (and you have control of both and you aren't just trying to get music fro your computer to your friend's computer in another state). If they are not, you'll have to use an external hard drive or flash drive.
Is this on a PC? Your computer information says Windows but you posted this in the iTunes for Mac forum.

Can I authorize more than five computers on one iTunes account?

Can I authorize more than five computers on one iTunes account? I have several PC's being used as HTPC's and I'd like to use iTunes on all of them. My three iPhones and three PC's have taken up all of my authorizations. If I need to create a second iTunes account, can it be linked to my existing account?

Todd, some suggested reading, none of which looks to me as requiring authorization as an iTunes device for Apple TV:
Over view
AirPlay Mirroring
Troubleshooting

HT202213 Can multiple iPhones share one iTunes without syncing the phones together? We just got new iPhones and set up desperate apple id's, but don't know if we can both sync to our existing iTunes without linking our phones together (contacts, apps, etc

Can multiple iPhones share one iTunes without syncing the phones together? We just got new iPhones and set up seperate apple id's, but don't know if we can both sync to our existing iTunes without linking our phones together (contacts, apps, etc) ????

How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer

Multiple iPhones and one iTunes Library

I have a question about multiple iPhones and one iTunes Library.
Currently I have 3 PC's, 2 iPods and 2 iPhones.
My PC had the iTunes library on it and everyone was just listening to mine via the iTunes sharing.
Well I bought a Buffalo LinkStation and told itunes to move my library to M:\My Music\..... and then did a Consolidate Library which in turn moved all the music from my C: drive to the M: drive.
My wife's computer has it's own Library with no music (only app store apps, and ringtones).
Now my question is what happens if I tell my wifes computer that M:\My Music\....... is her new location of the library and restart itunes. I am pretty sure this will work fine. But what happens if she syncs her iPhone now? Will all my apps now be on her phone and she will lose hers? She does have her own itunes store account with her own apps. Is there a way to have it so only her apps are on her phone and my apps are on my phone? Can she choose different playlists to be synced than what I have?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Brad

Since the three of you are using separate iTunes accounts, then you each need to run your own itunes, which should be logged into the itunes store using each individual account. For that, on a laptop, you each need to have your own computer accounts.

Multiple iPods on one iTunes

Is it possible multiple iPod with one iTunes?
Thank you.

Yes. Click here for options if you want to transfer different music to each.
(29932)

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Can multiple computers in one office use the same Adobe ExportPDF subscription?

Hi urinutrioned,
An ExportPDF subscription is tied to a single Adobe ID and password, so it's meant for a single user to access.
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Multiple users under one itunes account

I have multiple mac's (both desktops and laptops) as well as multiple iphones and ipads at home. I am limited in itunes to only 5 devices - what should i do? set-up a different itunes account for my kids (but then they will not be able to access the music and movies that have already been purchased).
Unsure how to best set-up 4 people (with each having an iphone, ipad and mac) itunes.
Any suggestions?

Ideally, each will have their own iTunes account.
I am limited in itunes to only 5 devices
Each iTunes account is limited to 5 computers but 10 devices.
So you can have content from one iTunes account on 5 computers and also 5 iDevices.
set-up a different itunes account for my kids (but then they will not be able to access the music and movies that have already been purchased).
Yes, they will. Just authorize each computer for the other iTunes accounts.
Make sure you go to iTunes prefs > Store and disable Automatic downloads.
Also disable it on the iDevices in Settings > iTunes and App stores.
You can share content between users/libraries by using Home Sharing.
See this -> Understanding Home Sharing

How can I make multiple computers share one iBooks library?

I have several computers with which I sync my iPad. I loaded a bunch of PDFs into iBooks onto my iPad from one of them *but* the PDFs do not show up in the iBooks library on the other computers. If I click on "Sync Books" on one of hte others it asks me if I want to remove all the existing books on the iPad which I most certainly do not. How can I keep the iBooks library in sync on these multiple computers?

Books and pdfs aren't synced. Bookmarks, highlights and collections can be synced across devices. pdfs downloaded onto an iPad can be transferred to a computer when connected using the USB cable.
iTunes Store: Transfer purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer

Can two computers share one iTunes library?

I am trying to map out a new plan for how we store and play music via iTunes at home. Currently, our music is stored on a windows PC and played via iTunes and an airport express. I recently bought a new macbook and am considering an airport extreme with the hope that I can store the music on a hard drive attached to the airport extreme and play music from either computer. Can the two computers share one library? I already have home sharing turned on and can access my library from the macbook, but if possible, I would prefer having the hard drive separate of the desktop. Any reason this won't work?
Thanks!
-JDJ

Ziatron wrote:
Yes, two computers can share the same library.
I periodically copy my iTunes library from my Mac Pro to the Mac Mini.
They aren't using a single library. Each computer is using its own copy and you have two sets of library files. It can certainly be done that way but if between copy sessions you edit a bit of each library then it is a bit of a muddle trying to make sure your versions are synchronized with each other. For example, ratings are stored only in the .itl file, so if you rate a song on your second computer it will get lost the next time you copy over from your first.

Trouble loading multiple iPads with one iTunes account

I am trying to load the same exact information from ONE iTunes account to multiple iPads (4-6). I was able to sync the app and information I needed to ONE but when I try plugging any of the other iPads into my computer NOTHING happens. The computer doesn't recognize that I have plugged in the iPad nor does the iPad recognize it is plugged into the computer. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

I am trying to use the same Apple ID for all of them. One has been synced and I am logged into the same Apple ID but the other 2 have been reset so they are like "new" iPads but my computer won't detect them.

Multiple computers as one iTunes

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