Opening a Windows iTunes library with Mac iTunes

I have my iTunes folder on a shared drive on my network. This was created in Windows XP using that version of iTunes.
I have a Macbook Pro and have access to the shared drive. I would like to use that same library so that I can preserve my ratings and playlists. However, if I attempt to open that library I cannot seem to (either the .itl or the .xml file).
Is there a way to share the same library across machines (and not using the shared libraries functionality)?
TIA,
-p

By design, an iPhone syncs or manually manages iTunes content with ONE COMPUTER at a time. Every time you change computers, all iTunes content is first erased from your phone, to be replaced with the content from the new computer. And no, there's no way to prevent this.
However, if you copy your iTunes library from your Windows computer to your Mac, you'll simple be replacing like content with like content.

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Ideal network to share 2TB iTunes library with mac mini and iMacs by wifi?

Greetings,
Just made the move from pc to apple world. First time poster. Please feel free to suggest if this topic is better suited in another area.
I am looking for an ideal means of sharing my music library (+/- 1.5TB size) from my mac mini with my 2 kids iMacs.
The mac mini has an internal 80GB SSD and 4 GB RAM. It connects via ethernet to my Netgear WNDR 3700 wifi a/b/n router which connects to a Docsis 3 modem. Speed and signal strength is great.
My music library is currently backed up on a Seagate USB desktop HDD. My interim plan is to use USB to connect it to the mini. Long term plan is to migrate to a NAS system.
The kids iMacs (1x 2006 model with core duo and 1 x 20008 with core 2 duo) both run snow leopard 10.6.3 and access wifi signals for internet. Wifi signals ~16-20 Mbps strength.
Is there prefered method to share the music library with the kids by wifi? Only one way? do I need to add airport devices, or? It would be extremely difficult to provide ethernet to their rooms.
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kenreau wrote:
It would be extremely difficult to provide ethernet to their rooms.
have you consider *powerline adapters* _*such as these*_
here's an interesting read on the subject.
JGG

How can I share my iTunes library with 2 iTunes accounts?

How can I share my iTunes library between me and my wife?
I do not want to set-up 2 seperate accounts on my mac. Do not want to do home sharing or anything like this.
I just would like to connect my iPad to ONE itunes library and at the same time connect my wifes iPad to the SAME itunes library. Can this be done? How? Thanks! Maybe the answer is something really easy like "just connect both to the computer and sync them".
Thanks!

g71.engstrom wrote:
I just would like to connect my iPad to ONE itunes library and at the same time connect my wifes iPad to the SAME itunes library. Can this be done? How?
Plug them in and use them.
That is all you need to do.
In the answer from Apple I do not find anything about how the 2 exisiting iTunes accounts will be handled.
They will be handled fine.
All purchases from both iTunes accounts can be sync'd to both/either iPads with no problem.
I have three iTunes accounts (me and two daughters), 3 iPhones, an iPad and a few iPods.
Any/all content can be sync'd to any device, no problems.

How can I move my PC (Windows 7) iTunes library (with my cps ripped) to my Mac iTunes library?

Just for my curiosity and knowledge,
I have a PC (Windows 7) and a Mac (OS X 10.10).
Both of them with the latest version of iTunes.
Both of them with the exact music library (genre, artist, album, etc).
All my music is coming from iTunes Store, so very easy to re download at any time I want with my Apple ID
My PC (Windows 7) computer has a CD/DVD drive. I would like to RIP some music from my CDs and add them to my PC (Windows 7) iTunes library.
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If you've downloaded the media idependently to each library so far then thet won't be exactly the same as there are different naming rules for the files and folders in OS X and Windows. See Make a split library portable for some general advice. You can move a portable library between Mac and Windows, but there is a delay opening the library after each change of OS.
tt2

When I open iTunes on my Macbook Pro, I am now getting a small window that says "Checking iTunes Library" with a pinwheel. This goes on for 5-10 minutes before I am able to access iTunes. Help! How do I fix this?

When I open iTunes on my Macbook Pro, I am now getting a small window that says "Checking iTunes Library" with a pinwheel. This goes on for 5-10 minutes before I am able to access iTunes. Help! How do I fix this?

I have the same problem. It is only with tv shows and only with programs I have downloaded after the software update.
Apple support sent me the above link too....but it doesn't solve the problem...my computer is authorized and the content is in my library and will play on my Mac air, but it will not sync the tv shows, it keeps saying my computer isn't authorized for it.
No answers here, but you are definitely not alone with this issue.

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Hello. I have a Mac Pro with two drives, a 1TB Mac OS 10.5 drive and a 500GB Windows XP drive. I have a large iTunes library on my Mac OS drive, and I'd like to be able to access it when I'm using XP. I downloaded MacDrive hoping that I'd be able to use the same iTunes library, but I'm stuck as to what to do now. Anyone know if this is possible, and how I can get it to work?

I have my entire iTunes library shared between Mac OS X 10.5.2 and XP (aka. Media Center 2005).
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Note: I suspect the Mac side will need write access to these two files, and as I used FAT32 for the Windows volume the Mac does have write access. However there are now at least two ways for the Mac to get write access to NTFS volumes (MacFuse being one). It may also be possible to tell iTunes to store these files themselves in a common location (not tried that).
While it is not relevant to your query, I have also managed to share my entire iTunes library with Windows Media Player (and therefore also to Media Center 2005). All my music is in Apple Lossless format and I have a directshow filter for WMP to let it play Apple Lossless (or unprotected AAC). I also have a plugin installed to let WMP read the meta tags in MPEG4 (i.e. AAC and Apple Lossless) files.
When I switch from Windows to Mac and run iTunes it does a brief rebuild, when I switch from Mac to Windows it again does a brief rebuild and the result is that the list of music in iTunes on both operating systems is always the same and successfully accesses the same music files on the shared volume. I rebooted back in to Mac OS X at the weekend and was happily accessing the music in Front Row.

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I dual-boot Windows 7 on my MacBook, and have iTunes 9 installed in both. Since I'm also using Snow Leopard, I have access to all my iTunes media (on the Mac side) while in Windows.
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Simply copying the .xml files from Mac to Windows won't work, because iTunes for Windows doesn't recognize these as iTunes libraries--it's asking for .itl files.
Importing the files into iTunes for Windows (in a new library) works OK, but the result is a media mish-mash. In particular, the two versions appear to handle iTunesU subscriptions, music videos and TV shows differently.

You need to convert your iTunes library to the new .itdb format first. While in the Mac OS, launch iTunes, then go to File->Library->Organize Library... In the dialog box, check the "Upgrade to iTunes Media organization" checkbox, then click OK. Depending on the size of your library, this may take some time.
Once this is done, reboot into Windows, launch iTunes, and then (in Preferences) choose your iTunes Media library on your Mac OS X partition (in Windows, this should be something like D:\Users\<username>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library).

How do i share my itunes library with other users on the same mac

I'm trying to share my itunes library with other users on the same mac. I have tried moving my library to a public folder but when the other user logs in they can't see it in the public folder?

Presuming you moved the entire iTunes folder to the shared folder the other users need to start their iTunes while holding down the option/alt key and select the iTunes Library.itl file in the shared folder. Only once should be necessary. Note that any changes anybody makes will be seen by everybody, so you have to trust each other a lot.
If all you moved are media files each user will have to add those files to their iTunes library.
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203 - relocating iTunes' media folder to a shared area but leaving separate library files - extra tip at https://discussions.apple.com/message/17331189 Chris CA's instructions on sharing one iTunes music library between multiple user accounts - https://discussions.apple.com/message/8974074 - Multiple users using a single library file - similar post at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3753008 Suggestion by Turingtest for multiple users and one library - http://discussions.apple.com/message/9117622 - use smart playlists and tags to isolate groupings.

When selecting playback from itunes library on Mac (purchased album from itunes!) i get random song played from that album and my selected song disappears from view. Nothing to do with shuffle.Mac OSX 10.6.8. Help, doing my nut in!!

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If iTunes 11, have you checked the "Up Next" list? If it is not empty, try if clearing "UP Next" will help:

How to synchronise window itune library and mac mini itune library

Hi,how can I synchronise Window 7 itune library and Mac mini itune library?
Meaning copy wholemedia library to the other itune(window itune/mac mini itune)
Thanks!

Thanks for your advice, but I did AB audition between Home sharing my other laptop itune and playing direct thru my mac mini (Direct playing thru mac mini SQ is better than playing Home sharing thru wifi) that's why I want to copy my full itune library from my other laptop into mac mini.
Blame it on my ears..

Sharing Itunes library with another User Account & Fast Switching

Hi. I recently purchased a new iMac G5 and am in the process of setting it up to be used by 2 separate users (girlfriend and me). I apologize in advance if this is more of an Itunes issue and not solely an Administration issue.
My question deals with creating a new user account on my Mac (with Fast Switching) and allowing my girlfriend to share my iTunes library with the ability to transfer music to her ipod when she is logged into her own unique account. I will be the Administrator on the Mac.
We are trying to avoid loading our music two times into the Mac under each of our logins. Is there a way that we can share the music I have already loaded into my Itunes library when she is logged into her account so that she can transfer to her ipod and create her own distinct playlists? If so, any advice on how to enable this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Seth
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Unfortunately, baltwo's solution will not allow your girlfriend to create any playlists or copy songs to iPod.
The easiest thing would be to share the entire music folder, so anyone of you can listen to your music.
You'd have two options.
If you want to be using the exact same library, so any playlist you created can be edited by your girlfriend and vice versa:
1. Go to yourusername/Music/iTunes. You'll find two files called "iTunes library" and "iTunes music library" Copy them to your desktop, so you'll have a backup just in case.
2. Move your yourusername/Music folder to computer/users/shared. (The folder will be copied ONLY in case your using FileVault, so you'd have to delete the original User/Music folder after making sure you'd got a functional copy at computer/users/shared) Select users/shared, press "apple+i" to get the info window, go to "Ownership" change all permissions to "read & write" and hit "apply to enclosed items"
3. In case you're using FileVault, either delete or rename the original Music folder within your own account. Again, not necessary as long as FileVault isn't enabled.
4. Select computer/users/shared/music, hold down "ctrl" while clicking on it and choose "create alias" from the contextual menu. Copy that alias into your homefolder as well as your girlfriend's account (need to log in) and rename it to "music" without the "alias" at the end.
5. Launch iTunes. Done.
6. Don't worry, in case you don't see your music. I've used a slightly different approach, yet this one should work totally fine.
If you want to listen to the same music, yet be able to set up your own playlists, ratings etc.:
For your account:
- go to yourusername/Music/iTunes, move "iTunes Music" to computer/users/shared and change ownership according to #2.
- If FileVault is enabled, check #3. Of course, you want to rename the original "iTunes Music" in this case.
- create an alias for computer/users/shared/iTunes Music and copy the alias to yourusername/Music/iTunes. Rename it to "iTunes Music" without "alias".
- Launch iTunes. Should be working the way it used to. Quit.
For your girlfriend's account:
- log in, copy alias to username/Music/iTunes, rename alias.
- Launch iTunes, go to File-> Add to Library, select username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music, choose.
That's it.
The only downside is, only one user at a time can access the music folder, so if you're logged in and running iTunes, you're girlfriend, logged in via fast user switching, won't be able to open iTunes until you quit it for yourself. Haven't found a way around this yet.
Fell free to report any issues.
huhh...rather long posting...

How to share Itunes library with multiple users on same laptop

I have a macbook pro and am the administrator. I have a profile for my daughter as well. How can I share my itunes library with her without manually loading all the songs on her profile which would take up more memory. Can someone please send me a step by step guide as I am struggling with this. Thanks. Jasu UK.

Move the iTunes library to a location accessible by all accounts on the computer, such as /Users/Shared/ on a Mac, which can be done from the Advanced section of the iTunes preferences. Next, open her copy of iTunes, turn off the option to automatically copy songs to the iTunes Music folder from the same section of the preferences, and drag the folder into the open iTunes window.
(33546)

Using same iTunes library with external hard drive (EHD) on different PCs

I know some of the issues related to this question have been touched on in different discussions but I don't think I have seen a clear yes/no and if yes, here's how, answer to my queries, so here goes.
Like another member, I would like to take my iTunes library with me when I'm away on holiday so that I can (for example) use an Apple TV with Home Sharing to watch movies in my library or pay albums in my music library while on holiday, in the same way as I am able to at home. I have a Samsung NC 10 notebook running Windows XP (which I would take with me with a Samsing Story EHD) and a Dell desktop. My iTunes media folders are now on the EHD and I think I have iTunes library files on the Dell and on the Samsung. Of course, if iTunes Match covered movies as well as music, I would use that and just take my Apple TV with me ... but it doesn't and seems not likely to.
By messing around and not properly understanding some of the discussions about this topic, I think my iTunes library looks as I expect it to be, on my Dell - though I have yet to test this by doing a synch with my iPad or iPod Touch. However, when I plug the EHD into the Samsung and open my library, I am missing at least one movie and I don't have any artwork showing for any of the movies. This is inspite of clicking Get Album Artwork, Consolidate Files and clicking to add, as a file (or folder) to the library, the missing movie which is on the EHD in the Movies folder of the iTunes Media. In iTunes on the Samsung "Preferences>Advanced", the iTunes media location (on my EHD) is correct.
I have obviously messed something up trying to replicate my Dell desktop iTunes library on the Samsung. So:
can/should I start again (if that is the best thing to do) with getting my iTunes library properly on to my Samsung notebook? And, if yes, how do I do that?
is it really possible to have all that you need to run and use iTunes on an EHD (i.e. both media folders and the various iTunes library files (.itl, .itdb, .xml etc.)) so that whenever I plug the EHD into my Dell or Samsung I can access my iTunes library in the same way and via the same files? Or, do you always have to have the library files (at least) located on the PC you are connecting your EHD to (showing my ignorance here! )?
if you can have all the library files as well as media on the EHD (i.e. all of your iTunes library), I assume there is more to moving these from the C drive in my Dell to the EHD, than just cutting and pasting them into the EHD and then deleting similarly named files in C drive in the Samsung?
if all of my iTunes library can be located in the EHD, would I just access that (i.e. open my iTunes library) - whether on my Dell or the Samsung - by pressing the Shift key when clicking on iTunes as a programme on my Dell or Samsung, or - and I appreciate this is more basic computer knowledge than iTunes query - does the fact that I would need to access iTunes via some form of link on the relevant PC indicate why some iTunes library files would always have to reside on the PC rather than the EHD?
if the iTunes library files have to stay on the relevant PC, how can they be kept in synch - i.e. the more portable Samsung offering the same access and picture of my iTunes library as the Dell does - or is iTunes just not set up to do this, in which case I might as well ignore trying to replicate my iTunes library on the Samsung?.
Apologies for this long list of questions. Any pointers to where the answers lie or even better specific answers themselves would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.

I think that's yes, yes, yes, yes, and not necessary...
Make a split library portable
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the layout above right, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links from the library to the media, and being self-contained it is much easier to backup and restore. (You do backup, don't you?).
You can rearrange things to make a split library portable by taking a number of small steps which don't break the library.
Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should be upgraded to iTunes Media Organization (Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder, otherwise the links to these won't survive changes in the path of the library.
The basic non-fatal manipulations are:
You can create or connect to an alternate set of library files by holding down Shift (Win) or Option (Mac) when starting iTunes. (Note iTunes will continue to use this library until you use the same method again.)
You can move the library files to a new location and connect to it there as long as the media stays put.
You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder.
If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
You can rename the media folder to iTunes Media (if it isn't already) if the media folder is inside the library folder.
iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.
IMPORTANT: After each change you need to open, test and close the relevant library before attempting another change. If a change broke the library, undo it or revert to using the previous set of library files.
In essence all you need to do to join up a split library and make it portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.
tt2

Does home sharing allow me to share my iTunes library with other users on the same imac

Does home sharing allow me to share my iTunes library with other users on the same imac?

Apparently so (as long as each user operates out of a different Mac User account).
After setting up home sharing in the various different user accounts on the Mac, you need to have iTunes open in the account that you want to Home Share from.
Now use fast User Switching to get into the account that you want to Home Share to. Launch iTunes in there. The library in the other account should appear as shared for you.

Opening a Windows iTunes library with Mac iTunes

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