My iTunes library is on an external hard drive; how do I set it so other users (accounts) on my imac, will also have the same library, with the same playlists

my iTunes library is on an external hard drive; how do I set it so other users (accounts) on my imac, will also have the same library, with the same playlists

Quit iTunes.
Sign into another user account.
Hold Option, launch iTunes.
Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Do this for all users.
NOTE: You must quit iTunes when switching users as the library can only be opened by one user at a time.

Similar Messages

  • HT1329 My large iTunes library is on an external hard drive. Can I set up iTunes on my new Macbook Pro and copy the library to it or are there any pitfalls?

    I have my large iTunes library on an external hard drive. Can I set up ITunes on my new Macbook Pro and transfer/copy this library to the internal hard drive or are there any problems I should be aware of?

    ITs an old Iomega 100gb external HD that has about 90gb of music on it. The Macbook has a 500gb HD. I would like to put the iTunes library on the internal HD so I have room to expand.
    Phil0124 wrote:
    You can copy it to the internal hard drive as long as it fits on it. How big is your library, and how big is your internal HD?
    The only thing you do not want to do is over-stuff the internal hard drive. The OS needs some space to operate correctly, so if your iTunes library uses up more than say 80 to 85% of the internal HD's available space it may not be a good idea to transfer it over.
    With that said, the internal HD will provide slightly faster access to the library than the external would, but other than that, you can point iTunes to the external drive just fine.

  • HT1449 My iTunes files are on an external hard drive. how to access them

    I have a new iMac with an SSD and a 1TB second drive.  I backup the iMac 2nd hard drive to an portable external drive so I can carry my entire iMac file storage on an extended trip...5 months.  What is the easy way of connecting my MBP iTunes app to the iTunes on the portable exernal hard drive so I can access stored movies, music etc.
    Thanks
    Steve

    Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the library on the external drive.

  • ITunes library stored on an external hard drive which is connected to my airport extreme, I wish to share my iTunes library over my network, I can do this with my laptop, but not with my iPad, can anyone tell me if it is possible

    I have my iTunes library stored on an external hard drive which is connected to my airport extreme, I wish to share my iTunes library over my network, I can do this with my laptop, but not with my iPad, can anyone tell me if it is possible

    You can't connect directly to the external drive, but should be able to use iTunes Home Sharing via the laptop.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1453

  • I have my itunes media stored on my external hard drive.  On this external drive I have a folder called "TV shows".  How do I incorporate this folder back into the itunes library?

    I have my itunes media stored on my external hard drive.  On this external drive I have a folder called "TV shows".  I previously cut and pasted itunes TV shows to this folder to free up some space.  How do I incorporate this folder (TV shows) back into the itunes library?

    assuming the copy files ... when adding option is checkmarked in preferences > advanced, drag the folder into an open iTunes window while holding option (⌥).

  • ITunes library on a networked external hard drive

    Recently, I want to upgrade to snow leopard (finally) but was short on hard disk space on my MacBook Pro and lacking a consistent backup solution. I added a 1TB time machine to my network and mounted an external hard drive to the Time Machine for media. The goal was to have my media on the drive and then back up all hard drives to the Time Machine. I copied the iTunes library to the hard drive and pointed iTunes to the new folder location. (I also moved photos and other media.) The media has been accessible and iTunes works fine (with occasional network interference) but I was reluctant to immediately delete the old iTunes library.
    Well, I've finally reached the hard disk point that I must delete the old library, but as I was about to, I noticed that my "iTunes Library" database file and "iTunes Music Library.xml" omni outliner file in the original MacBook Pro Hard Drive Location were updated yesterday, not the same files I copied to the new iTunes folder on the network. I thought if I moved the library and redirected iTunes, I'd be done, but I guess not.
    Questions:
    1. Can I point iTunes to search for its database and XML files in the new folder on the network, and how?
    2. Is that advisable, or should I delete the other music files from the "Music" location on my MacBook Pro and leave the database files remaining on the hard drive?
    3. Are there any other considerations I've overlooked in trying to store my media library on a network mounted EHD?
    Thanks for your help.

    kneedragger101 wrote:
    Note this is an iTunes Library that was on a PC
    you might want to read these articles: one and two.
    why not move your media files using _*Home Sharing*_ ?

  • My itunes Library is on an External Hard Drive, but my internal hard drive crashed, I have to re-install windows XP--What do I do to re-associate my Library on the external drive and not wipe my iphone when I synch?

    My ITunes Library is on an external hard drive, however, the internal hard drive on my laptop crashed, requireing a complete re-format and re-installation of Windows XP--When I re-install Itunes, what do I need to do to make sure I do not lose all of the content on the two iphones I have, and to re-associate the library with Itunes ( i know how to change the path) but I am fearful that somehow the library link will be broken since the old Itunes installation is gone, and who knows what else might go awry. 
    any help or advice is welcome.

    You're Welcome...
    This Link explains the correct way of putting iTunes onto an External Drive...
    If you have have not done it this way that could explain a lot...
    Backup iTunes to an External Drive
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

  • How can i transfer my itunes library from a PC external hard drive to iMac?

    I have recently bought a new iMac but my iTunes library is on an external hard drive that is formatted for PC use, this is then linked to my old PC laptop, how can i get the library onto my new iMac?

    Drag the entire library to the Mac's internal drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, and point it to that library. If the library only contains the music and not the iTunes database files, drag it into the open iTunes application window.
    (80731)

  • How do I get itunes library to move to external hard drive automatically?

    I have a 250 GB Verbatim external hard drive. This hard drive has an existing itunes library from my PC. I figured out how to combine the two itunes libraries, (1 from PC and 1 from Macbook). I cannot figure out how to set up itunes to automatically save to external hard drive. In other words, I've gotten everything onto my Mac, but not onto the external, which is what I want. When I try to move the itunes folders to my Verbatim in Finder, it gives me the circle with the line through it. It will not let me move anything over to the Verbatim. Please help!

    On the copying issue, if the drive was used with a PC initially it is quite possible it is formatted to NTFS.  Macs can read NTFS drives but not write to them  You could try to use a utility such as NTFS-3G to enable read-write, or you could use Disk Utility to reformat the drive to FAT (probably FAT32) which can be read by both PCs and Macs. FAT has certain disadvantages too, such as not being repairable by Macs, and there is a limit on single file sizes (2GB or 4GB depending upon the FAT version).
    Once you get your whole iTunes folder (not just media) onto the external drive, start iTunes with the option key held down and  show it the new location.
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with just storing media on another drive:
    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

  • HT1751 I have recently purchased a MacBook Pro. My iTunes library is on an external hard drive. What do I do next ?

    Recently purchased a MacBook Pro.
    I am currently setting it up to use. My entire iTunes library is on an external hard drive. What do I do next?

    Quit iTunes.
    Sign into another user account.
    Hold Option, launch iTunes.
    Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
    Do this for all users.
    NOTE: You must quit iTunes when switching users as the library can only be opened by one user at a time.

  • ITunes 11 no longer displaying external hard drive files

    My iTunes library is on an external hard drive and I have iTunes directed to the media on the external hard drive, but no media of any kind is showing when I open iTunes.  This problem started today and as recently as two days ago everything was fine.  I moved my entire library to an external drive a year ago and have been using iTunes forever.  I have opened iTunes while holding 'option' and directing to the music on my external but I'm not able to select the music folders on the external and there is no file named "iTunes Media" on th external.  There is a "iTunes Media" folder on my internal hard drive bit it contains only 3 artists since I've moved everything.  The iTunes libray itl and xml files are on my internal drive as well.  Any thoughts on what to try next to get iTunes to show the music on my external drive?  Preferably I'd like to keep the info and playlists that I was using a couple days ago.  Thanks!

    I thank u all for your input espec mark but also all the various posts in discussions generally. i am pleased to say i astounded myself by working it out (but no hubris here).the answer was to LEAVE the old 'iTunes Library' folder and the old xml file in the 'iTunes' folder on mac2 and then to copy to (subsequently) replace them with the original similar files from mac1 et voila everything - songs,tiles,dates,playlists etc all show up in new iTunes screen. how pleasant when ones aimiable bumblings work!

  • Itunes cannot see the itunes music folder on my external hard drive

    I recently put all of my music on an external hard drive to free up space on my computer,
    However, when I am in itunes and trying to point the library to the music folder, itunes still cannot see it. Instead all it can see is the E drive WD Passport, and folders named autorun, WD Sync Data Wd Windows Tools.
    Can anyone tell me how I can see my itunes music folder on my external hard drive while I am in preferences, advanced, library location, change??

    I don't know enough about iTunes for Windows to help you with this. But if you post your question in the Using iTunes for Windows forum you will get help from people who know more about this.
    (This is the forum for Apple's Mac OS X web browser, Safari.)

  • ITunes Music Folder Missing on external hard drive after changing iTunes Media Folder Location from MacBook Hard Drive.  Not deleted...just missing?

    I store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there.  It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location.  I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro.  In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive.  When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began.  I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process.  Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive.  I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive.  I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there.  Is there a way to make it re-appear?  I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
    Thank you.
    Best,
    Matt

    When you change the location in preferences it tells iTunes to start, from this point on, storing new media files in the new location.  It then presents you with the option to move any old files in their current locations to the new location.  It doesn't move the library files which are not media files.  Read the links below to understand how iTunes works because you are the one with the computer in front of you and are in the better position to understand how it stands as regards to iTunes files.
    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
    Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
    Now, did you keep the whole library on the external drive, or did you keep just media?  From your description of the situation it sounds as if you kept the whole library there and when the external was not attached it returned to default location on the internal drive.  What you should have done then was plug in the external drive, hold down the option key, and guide iTunes to the library file on the external.  At this stage you could have dealt with the mislocated new files on an individual basis. 
    I guess the key question is, did your trying to move the couple of new media files to the external drive overwrite the iTunes folder there, which because you then canceled may have also just resulted in it being deleted.  I am not going to test the theory on my system.
    How big was your library on the external?  If it was 40GB do you now suddenly have 40 GB free?
    Look for any iTunes folders on the external drive.  In view options turn on "calculate all folders sizes" and see if there are any big ones.

  • Can you save your itunes and songs onto an external hard drive so that incase your computer crashes you will still have all your music?

    Can you save your itunes and songs onto an external hard drive so that incase your computer crashes you will still have all your music?

    The procedures below are for "moving" your library but as long as you don't delete it from your internal drive you are basically backing up.
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    Simple answer:  Copy your whole iTunes folder to the external drive.  For subsequent backups you might want to learn about cloning and using a tool that only does incremental backups of recently changed items rather than copying all your files each time.

  • Ok here goes.  I have so much music I don't want to store it all on my computer and would like to store on an external hard drive.  So if all my music is on the external hard drive, how will iTunes see it in order to play the music.  Thanks

    ok here goes.  I have so much music I don't want to store it all on my computer and would like to store on an external hard drive.  So if all my music is on the external hard drive, how will iTunes see it in order to play the music.  Thanks

    This article might help you moving/relocating your library :
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
    Cheers AF

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