Question about sharing itunes library with another mac acct user

I have set up my itunes library to be accessible from an external HD and have it set up to where a second acct user on my mac can access it. My goal is to be able to sync my wife's and my iphone to the same itunes library/playlists, since we share that music. I followed the instructions to set this up and can see the original library showing up in the itunes acct of the second user. What I dont understand is haw to sync my playlists to the second accounts user's iphone? When I connect and pull up itunes, and select to sync specific playlists, it only gives me the option to select new playlists created on her accounts, not the ones I am sharing with the second account? All of the songs are showing up in her library as well as my visible shared library. Is this how it should work...in other words, it I add a new song to my library, it will also show up in the second accounts library, along with the one that is visible as my shared library. Does the second account just need to make their own playlists, vs being able to select specific ones on my account to sync?

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Sharing ITunes/IPhoto with another MAC?

Have a Mac Pro on Snow Leopard and Mac Mini on Tiger. Also have a wireless Airport Extreme.
Am I able to have one ITunes/IPhoto library and share with the other Mac without using a Network Media Center? Thinking about the Iomega Home Media Network Drive. If able, assume would be best to put everything on the Mac Pro since I have so much space than the Mac Mini.

Zimmer1956 wrote:
On my Mac Pro, have two accounts sharing the media files.
The Mac Mini isn't set up to share - it is running Tiger, how do I set it up to share with the Mac Pro? Is there something I need to do to the Pro to allow it to share with the mac mini?
I believe that the sharing declaration is done entirely in iTunes and iPhoto. It's easy to try. Launch iTunes, open its preferences window, select the "Sharing" pane, and select "Share my library on my local network". Then see if that Mac's music appears under the "Shared" heading in the iTunes sidebar on another Mac.

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...

Question re. sharing iTunes library with other user accounts

I have seen this document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
I want to share one library with four users on my account. I'd like for any music purchased or ripped to this computer to end up in User 1's iTunes library, and for Users 2, 3 and 4 to have access to User 1s library just as User 1 does.
When I follow the directions for "Listening to another account's music files" in the above referenced document, it tells me to navigate to User 1's library through the dialog box that pops up after User 2 clicks "Add to LIbrary".
The problem is, when User 2 is doing that, and User 1 has put the iTunes library in ~user1/public, as the directions suggest, that dialog box won't allow user 2 to access User 1's Public folder.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance...
Chris

Another long description in store here...
iTunes has two main elements. One is the library.itl database file. When you open iTunes it is this that you see. It contains what music is in a library, playlists, date added, playcount, etc. It is this that is really the library. The other element are the media files. When you tell iTunes to play a track it checks in its library file which music file is associated with that track and goes and plays it.
Now you say, "for Users 2, 3 and 4 to have access to User 1s library just as User 1 does." Do you really want User 4 to be able to go and delete or rename tracks, or change the playlists? This can be done if you really want it. Or do you want each person to keep their own library [file] and share media? Even that has disadvantages as a person might still be able to rename a file or even delete it for all. At least everybody would have their own playlists, ratings, etc, though a person could delete a file and then it would appear as a broken link for others. To be honest, iTunes isn't great for sharing.
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
Exactly what you want to do will involve different setups so before going into detailed insructions it would help to know which ones to provide. Here's an sampling:
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
iTunes Home Sharing now works between users on same computer - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3865597 The problem with HS is I think you then end up with multiple copies of files, one for each user. At least they cannot damage another's collection though.

Sharing iTunes library with another user on the same computer

My husband and I use the same iMac and have the same iTunes login, but have different user accounts on our computer.
When I download things from iTunes, they only show up in my library and do not show up in his. In addition, the two libraries are not syncing. I want everything in my library to also be in his.
I have tried home sharing, and that is not working. I'm guessing that's because the two accounts are on the same computer -- rather than two computers on the same network. The only thing I can figure out is to manually drop the files in the shared folder. But it has to be easier than this.
Please help.

I typed "Share itunes library" into the search bar at the top of this screen by "Support" and found this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
Dopes this help?

How can i share my itunes library with another computer

how can i share my itunes library with another computer

Fingers crossed, the following document may be of some help with that:
iTunes: Setting up Home Sharing on your computer

Can I share my ITunes library with another ITunes account on a different device? (i.e. IPhone to IPhone)

Can I share my Itunes library with another itunes account on a different device? (i.e. Iphone to Iphone)

Can I share my Itunes library with another itunes account on a different device? (i.e. Iphone to Iphone)

How can I share my iTunes library with another user on my laptop?

How can I share my itunes library with another user on my laptop?

If you type "Shore itunes library" into the search bar at the top of this page by "Support" you will find:
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

How do I share a common iTunes library with another family member

How do I share a common iTunes library with another family member

One of these articles might help (seeing that you didn't divulge any info on what sort of set up you have):
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2688
https://www.apple.com/au/support/itunes/library/
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1203

HT5312 how do i add my music library with another apple id user's music library?

How do I add my music library with another Apple ID user's music library?

Locate the folders containing the song files, and use the command File > Add Folder to Library.

Sharing an iTunes library with another user

My wife and I both got iPad2's recently. I would like to add some of my photos from iphoto and some of my music from iTunes to her iPad.
I have one iTunes account. I have built it over the years and it recognizes my iPhone and my iPad.
Can she sync content (photos, music, movies) from my iTunes account on to her iPad?
I am really confused about how iTunes deals with multiple users on the same iTunes library.
Hopefully this is enough information for someone to give me an iTunes 101 lesson on multiple users (with different Apple ID's) and sharing of one iTunes library, and syncing photos, movies, etc.... with each user's devices.
Both my wife and I are in the cloud, but we really haven't done anything for her to access content in the cloud. I am fully set up for the cloud with my iMac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV2.
Appreciate any help offered or references to help me understand the link between one iTunes library and multiple users.

how to share music between different accounts on a single computer

Sharing iTunes library between two Macs on Time Capsule

Hi there
I've just about persuaded my fiancee to get a MacBook, which would give us a mac-only household. If I got a Time Capsule, could we share an iTunes library? We each have an iPod and it would seem like a pain to have to recreate two entire libraries on the Time Capsule, much of which would be the same music.
I'm also assuming we could both use the TC as wireless Time Machine backup for our Macs - is this correct?
Finally, does anyone have a view on the likely range of TC relative to a standard Linksys 802.11g wireless router? The Linksys doesn't quite reach to the other end of my apartment and I'm wondering if the TC is likely to be better.
Very many thanks in advance.

Hello
You will run into pain. I just tried every found solution on Internet. Whatever you will do, it ends up in a hack. Fact is: iTunes administer your library only local. You CAN share your iTunes library on one Mac by menu settings in a network, BUT the Mac sharing its iTunes library MUST run all the time you want to listen to music from shared iTunes library even if the shared library (music files) is on the Time Capsule. It even wont work turn on "Wake up on LAN activity". The shared library will only be available as long as the Mac sharing its iTunes library is up and iTunes opened. That way it makes no big sense to have the music files in library physically on your Time Capsule. Another problem might come up when you stop listening shared iTunes library: As soon as the sharing Mac goes into StandBy mode (time depending) you can't access its library again. Standby must be stopped.
The other "solution" is also to have the whole library on a shared drive (Time Capsule) and to import it on both Macs. You will run quickly into Sync problems, beside its a pain to administer the song library that way: You have to import further songs twice, on both Macs to hear them on every one.
And of course, there are third pary hacks around nobody really wants to use.
After implementing Time Machine into Lepoard Apple wanted to make money out of it and offered Time Capsule mainly for storing data and backups (what both works great, also WLAN works fine).
I hope Apple will find a way in iTunes not to handle the music libraries so restrictive, so it can be accessed f.e. on Time Capsule while the Mac sharing its library must not run all the time.
Hope I could help.
Message was edited by: Tayger

4 people in our family have an iphones or ipod on the same apple id ..so that we can all share the itunes library. however this means that we all get each others imessages. is there a way of sharing itunes library with 4 separate ids?

4 of us in the family with iphonesor ipods share the same apple id so that we can share the itunes library . However , this means we all receive each others imessages, unless we disable imessaging. Is there a way of sharing itunes library (ie.g with 4 separate ids) that avoids the sharing of imessages? .

Thanks, Terence, but if she was inclined to upload things, I wouldn't need access!
Here is an example: we go on vacation, she takes 250 photos, edits twenty of the best shots, and uploads three to facebook. I want to make an album including some of the edited shots and some of the less perfect but still fun shots - so I need all 250 photos - uploading that many photos to a photosharing site takes forever even if she did it - but she won't. I used to just hijack her computer for a day, but I'd like to be able to hijack her iphoto library without stealing her computer...if possible!
Thanks for any help you can offer!
- A

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 itunes library on 1 mac with multiple accounts

I have got my daughter an iphone for xmas and created a new account on my wifes mini mac for her and want to share the main itunes account - i found this explanation (see below) but it still wont work?
I logged into my daughters newly created account then into the itunes account - prefs - look for shared music and....nothing!!!
i moved the "iTunes Music Folder" to the shared folder on my wifes account as described below.
Quit iTunes.
Locate your iTunes Music Folder. It is stored by default:
~/Music/iTunes or ~/Documents/iTunes/.
These folders cannot be accessed by other accounts on the computer. In order for other users to be able to access your music, you must move it to a publicly accessible location.
The Public folder in your home directory (~/Public), or to another folder outside your home directory that other users have access to, such as /Users/Shared. Tip: The tilde "~" refers to your home folder. For more information see Mac OS X: Using Your Home Directory.
Drag the iTunes Music Folder to a publicly accessible location. Important: Do not move the iTunes folder, the iTunes 4 Music Library file or the iTunes Library.xml file.
Open iTunes.
From the iTunes menu, choose Preferences.
Click Advanced.
Click the Change button.
Navigate in the Change Music Folder Location dialog to the location of your iTunes Music folder.
Click Choose.
Repeat these steps for each account that is sharing music with other users.
Note: If multiple users of a computer are storing music in one folder, duplicate song files are generated when a user imports music from CD that has already been imported by another user.
See the "To listen to another account's music files" section below.

Is your wife's iTunes account still seeing all the music ok in iTunes after you moved the music folder?
So what you need to do in your daughter's account is open iTunes, preferences, change the folder location to the same location as the shared folder so when she adds music it will be added to that folder if you want to keep everything in the same folder. To add all that music to her library you have to go to File -> Add to library... then navigate to and pick that iTunes Music folder on the shared directory.
iTunes will now add all the titles to the library. Since the preference is to use that same location for her library and the stuff is already there and organized, iTunes shouldn't make any copies or duplicates.
Keep in mind that what you have done now is you have two iTunes libraries accessing the same media folder. Meaning, that each account can have their own ratings, playlists, etc. but more importantly, each account does NOT know what the other account does, so if your daughter adds a CD to her account, it will go into the shared folder, but it will NOT automatically go into your wife's iTunes library. She would have to add it manually. Likewise, if one account deletes music from their library and tells iTunes to remove it to the trash, the other account will not know and iTunes will still try to access the file from the shared location even though the file is now trashed,
Patrick

Question about sharing itunes library with another mac acct user

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