Sharing an iTunes Library w/Multiple iPods/Computers

I'm sure there is a tutorial somewhere that tells you how to do this...but I cant seem to find one. I'm trying to find out how to share one iTunes library that is on my mac with another computer on my network (a laptop PC). I have 2 ipods as well, and would like both ipods to be synched to the same itunes library. Is this possible? Please help!
thanks

Not really. Each computer will have a separate library within iTunes. They can be set to use the same file storage location but I have no idea how to do that with a Mac.

Similar Messages

  • ITunes Library on Multiple iPods?

    Can one iTunes library supply multiple iPods? If I have an iTunes library on my computer, and I have already put that music on my iPod, can I put that same library on a second iPod, without affecting the viability of the library ? If so, will I still be able to reinstall the music on my first iPod, if I would ever need to? Thanks you!

    Be sure to check out the following kb article:
    How to use multiple iPods with one computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

  • Sharing an iTunes Library across multiple user account and a network.

    Sharing an iTunes Music Library across multiple user accounts.
    Hello Everybody!
    Firstly, this was designed to be run in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. It will not work with earlier versions of Mac OS X! Sorry.
    Here's a handy tip for keeping your hard drive neat and tidy, it also saves space, what in effect will be done is an iTunes music library will be shared amongst multiple users on the same machine. There are advantages and disadvantages to using this method.
    • Firstly I think it might be worthwhile to state the advantages and disadvantages to using this approach.
    The advantages include:
    - Space will be saved, as no duplicate files will occur.
    - The administrator will be able to have complete control over the content of the iTunes library, this may be useful for restricting the content of the Library; particularly for example if computer is being used at and education institution, business or any other sort of institution where things such as explicit content would be less favorable.
    - The machine will not be slowed by the fact that every user has lots of files.
    The disadvantages to this system include.
    - The fact that the account storing the music will have to be logged in, and iTunes will have to be active in that account.
    - If the account housing the music is not active then nobody can use the iTunes library.
    - There is a certain degree of risk present when an administrator account must be continually active.
    - Fast User Switching must be enabled.
    Overview:
    A central account controls all music on the machine/network, this is achieved by storing iTunes files in a public location as opposed to in the user's directory. In effect the system will give all users across the machine/network access to the same music/files without the possibility of files 'doubling up' because two different users like the same types of music. This approach saves valuable disk space in this regard and may therefore prove to be useful in some situations.
    This is a hearty process to undertake, so only follow this tutorial if you're willing to go all the way to the end of it.
    Process:
    Step 1:
    Firstly, we need to organize the host library, I tidied mine up, removing excess playlists, random files, things like that. this will make thing a bit easier in the later stages of this process.
    Once the library is tidied up, move the entire "iTunes" folder from your Home directory to the "//localhost" directory (The Macintosh HD) and ensure that files are on the same level as the "Applications", "Users", "Library" and "System" directories; this will ensure that the files in the library are available to all users on the machine (this also works for networks)
    Optionally you can set the ownership of the folder to the 'administrator' account (the user who will be hosting the library.), you may also like to set the permissions of 'you can' to "Read & Write" (assuming that you are doing this through the user who will host the library); secondly you should set the "Owner" to the administrator who will be hosting the library and set their "access" to "Read & Write" (this will ensure that the administrator has full access to the folder). The final part of this step involves setting access for the "Others" tab to "Read Only" this will ensure that the other users can view but not modify the contents on the folder.
    Overview:
    So far we have done the following steps:
    1. Organized the host library.
    2. Placed the iTunes directory into a 'public' directory so that other users may use it. (this step is essential if you plan on sharing the library across multiple accounts on the same machine. NOTE: this step is only necessary if you are wanting to share you library across multiple accounts on the same machine, if you simply want to share the music across a network, use the iTunes sharing facility.
    3. set ownership and permissions for the iTunes music folder.
    Step 2:
    Currently the administrator is the only user who can use this library, however we will address this soon. In this step we will enable iTunes music sharing in the administrator's account, this will enable other users to access the files in the library.
    If you are not logged in as the administrator, do so; secondly, open iTunes and select "Preferences" from the "iTunes" menu, now click the "Sharing" tab, if "share my library on my local network" is not checked, the radio buttons below this will now become active, you may choose to share the entire libraries contents, or share only selected content.
    Sharing only selected content may be useful if their is explicit content in the library and minors use the network or machine that the library is connected to.
    If you have selected "share entire library" go to Step 3, if you have selected share "share selected playlists" read on.
    After clicking "share selected playlists" you must then select the playlists that you intend to share across your accounts and network. Once you have finished selecting the playlists, click "OK" to save the settings.
    Overview:
    In this step we:
    1. Enabled iTunes sharing in the administrator's account, now, users on the local network may access the iTunes library, however, users on the same machine may not.
    Step 3:
    Now we will enable users on the same machine to access the library on the machine. This is achieved by logging in as each user, opening iTunes, opening iTunes preferences, and clicking "look for shared music". now all users on the machine may also access the library that the administrator controls.
    This in effect will mean that the user will not need to use their user library, it will be provided to them via a pseudo network connection.
    As a secondary measure, I have chosen to write a generic login script that will move any content from the user's "Music/iTunes/iTunes Music" directory to the trash and then empties the user's trash.
    This is done through the use of an Automator Application: this application does the following actions.
    1. Uses the "Finder" action "Get Specified Finder Items"
    1a. The user's "~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music" folder
    2. Uses the "Finder" action "Get Folder Contents"
    3. Uses the "Finder" action "Move to Trash"
    4. Uses the "Automator" action "Run AppleScript"
    4a. with the following:
    on run {input, parameters}
    tell application "Finder"
    empty trash
    end tell
    return input
    end run
    IMPORTANT: Once the script is adapted to the user account it must be set as a login item. in order to keep the script out of the way i have placed it in the user's "Library" directory, in "Application Support" under "iTunes".
    Overview:
    Here we:
    1. Enabled iTunes sharing in the user accounts on the host machine, in effect allowing all users of the machine to view a single iTunes library.
    2. (Optional) I have created a login application that will remove any content that has been added to user iTunes libraries, this in effect stops other users of the machine from adding music and files to iTunes.
    Step 4:
    If it is not already enabled, open system preferences and enable Fast User Switching in Accounts Options.
    Summary:
    We have shared a single iTunes library across multiple user account, while still allowing for network sharing. This method is designed to save space on machines, particularly those with smaller hard drives.
    I hope that this hint proves to be helpful and I hope everybody will give me feedback on my process.
    regards,
    Pete.
    iBook G4; 60GB Hard Drive, 512MB RAM, Airport Extreme   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   iWork & iLife '06, Adobe CS2, Final Cut Pro. Anything and Everything!!!

    how to share music between different accounts on a single computer

  • Sharing an iTunes library across multiple computers

    I tried Home Share but it did not do what i expected.  In addition to doing Home Share, the files need to be copied to each computer apparently. 
    Is it permitted to have the iTunes Library be located on a shared disc (such as one attached to an AirPort Express)?  So that one copy of the library would be used by all copies of iTunes running in the house?
    I am confused because different products seem to work differently.  If I set up my iMac and my Mac Book with Home Share, each of htem needs a copy of the library in its own disk space.  But if I set up Apple TV to use Home Share, it plays my videos from the hard drive of my iMac.  Yes both describe Home Share as the same concept. 
    So far it appears that MacBook and iMac do not share libraries in the sense of using a single copy on disk.
    What about iPhone and iPad?  Do they read the library from the home sharing computer or do the media files need to be downloaded ahead of time to the iOS device?
    What am I missing here?
    Thanks,
    Bruce

    Not really. Each computer will have a separate library within iTunes. They can be set to use the same file storage location but I have no idea how to do that with a Mac.

  • Sharing one iTunes library across multiple accounts on the same Mac

    Hello, I've poked around at some of the posts dealing with sharing one iTunes music library across multiple accounts on the same Mac but it seems like this can only be done if the libary is moved to a shared folder. I realize this can be done but I was trying to share it the way it is described in a post on Apple support (See link below.). That post seemed to imply that you don't have to move the library from its original location (owned by account A, e.g.), rather just make a couple preference changes in the accounts, use fast user switching and voila. That doesn't seem to work. So my question is this: Is the only way to share one iTunes music library across multiple accounts on the same Mac to move it to a shared folder? I'm running 10.4.8 on an Intel iMac. Thanks in advance!
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195

    After reading this and several other related threads, I am becoming thoroughly confused about all of this. I have a situation similar to the one that pokerpal described in the post dated January 7 at 8:06 pm, except that the music files on my system are located on an external hard drive. Everything else is pretty much the same though - I am the admin user (and the main iTunes user and maintainer) and my girlfriend is a standard user who has no music in her own iTunes library. She can see and listen to and make playlists from and sync her iPod with the music in this library from her account, and I can do the same thing, independent of her, from my account. And if I make a change to information within a song, she doesn't see it, and vice versa, and I understand that. What I don't understand is why when I add a song or an album to the music files by importing a CD or downloading something from the iTunes Music Store, she has no way of knowing that unless I tell her, and then she can add it to her library by using the "Add to Library" function. Is there no way of automatically updating her library files to add the new song(s)? We have almost 15,000 songs and videos in that library, and I don't even want to think about what might have to happen if the answer to my question is "no." Interestingly enough, if I put an update to a Word document in the same exact location (on the hard drive), we can update that and pass it back and forth all day - why is that such a difficult task for iTunes to accomplish?
    Sorry I went on so long, but this has been building up for some time, and none of the solutions I've read about here have really been of any help, so I'm a bit frustrated and, as I said at the beginning, confused.
    iMac G5, MacBook   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

  • One iTunes library between multiple home computers

    I have looked for a complete answer to this question, but haven't been able to find a complete answer.
    I'd like to have a single iTunes library to be shared by 3 home computers.
    First let me note that the library I have is composed of about 12,000 songs, all of which were taken from CDs that I have purchased.
    I have 2 Mac Powerbooks (connected via ethernet) and a Mac mini (wireless connection), all running Mac OSX 10.4. Additionally I have a LaCie 2d Network 2 drive connected to my home network via ethernet.
    On one of the laptops I have my entire music collection, complete with album artwork (much of which I have scanned in myself). On the other laptop I have a partial collection, no artwork.
    I'd like to have all the computers access a single music library. I'd also like that library located on the LaCie Network drive. I would also like each computer to be able to add music to the library and to create their own playlists if possible.
    I seem to remember that there might be a application that would allow this. I am OK with purchasing a product that could manage this, but I don't remember the product name or who created it.
    I am also more than willing to set up each computer individually if I have to but I can't seem to fins specific instructions as to how to go about doing this.
    Does anyone know of any tutorials or purchased applications that can help me with this?
    Thank you,
    TPK

    Thank you Gerald. That is very helpful.
    I have enabled the sharing, and it seems to work fine, but on the connecting mac I am unable to pull up the artwork or sync an iPod. I'll look at my settings and see if I missed something.
    My goal is to have a single library where family members can sync their iPods from their own machines.
    Thankx,
    TPK

  • I want to use my iTunes library with multiple Windows computers

    I want to put my entire iTunes library on a server and then allow any of the 4 - windows laptops, 1 - windows desktop, various iPods, an iPad 1, and a Samsung Tablet to gain access to use it.   3 of the laptops are Windows 8, the desktop and one laptop is Windows 7.      I don't mind having multiple iTunes accounts set up.  I just want to make sure that when a song is purchased or uploaded from a CD or whatever that it all goes into this central location so that everyone has access to it.   How do I make that happen?

    1. Yes you can do that.
    2. But you shouldn't.
    3. There's no need to anyway.
    This thread
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
    Will tell you more on how, and why not, and why what you want to do is making more for for exactly zero extra capability.
    Or, put another way, maybe iPhoto is not the app for you.

  • Sharing an iTunes library between multiple accounts on one machine

    I have tried to set up a shared library so that all users on my computer can access the same music. I have tried moving my iTunes folder to the HD under Users, Shared and setting the filepath in the Preferences, Advanced, General to point to that location. It works fine with the main admin account but other users have an empty library despite their paths being altered also.
    Any advice would be much appreciated.

    It's a misunderstanding that setting the 'iTunes Music folder location' tells iTunes to look at that location.
    The iTunes Music folder location is the location where your next imported CD is stored. The song locations however are stored inside the 'iTunes Library' file which is in ./Users/YourUsername/Music/iTunes.
    Moving the music folder to another location without 'telling' iTunes normally will lead to loss of links. You will see exclamation marks before the song name, telling that iTunes can't find the files.
    Recent versions of iTunes can track a moved folder, when it's moved on the same disk.
    The other users will not see this music. You have to copy the 'iTunes Library' file and put it in the iTunes folder of the other user(s).
    --edit
    Instead of copying the 'iTunes Library' file, you can add the entire music folder to each users library.
    This will enable every user to apply their own rating (which is not stored in the song file, but in the 'iTunes Library' file).
    --end of edit
    They will then have full access to the library, which means, every user can add and delete music from the shared library.
    The methods of sharing music are described here:
    iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer
    Hope this helps.
    M
    Message was edited by: macmenno

  • Sharing an iTunes library with multiple user accounts

    I have a large music library (>200GB) and I want to have the library accesssable to myself and my 2 sons. We each have our own Windows account and I set there iTunes instances up to not copy files to their iTunes music folder. Music is working ok, but podcasts are a problem. When I log into iTunes, there are exclamation marks next to all moyt podcasts now.
    Is there a way to do this that will allow us to share all the music, and have our own podcasts? If not, how can I at least have a common podcast directory for all 3 of us.
    TIA

    how to share music between different accounts on a single computer

  • Question/Problem Sharing iTunes Library between multiple users

    Hello all,
    I have a question (potential problem) regarding sharing an iTunes Library between multiple users.
    In the past, I had placed the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared, and created an alias to it in the "Music" folder of each user, and it worked fine.  However, with a recent upgrade to Mac OS 10.5, only the Home user account can access the library. 
    I read the Apple Support Document http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1203 uner Mac OS X which specifically states *not* to move the iTunes folder, just the iTunes Media folder (which I don't have, would that be iTunes Music?).
    Any recommendations?  Should I delete the different alias, move the iTunes folder back to the home user, and then follow the instructions in the support document?
    We're also looking to sync music purchsed on our iPod touches, as well as apps (which weren't supported in our privous Mac OS X version.
    Any advice is appreiciated.

    David Guay wrote:
    ... iTunes Media folder (which I don't have, would that be iTunes Music?).
    yes.
    specifically states *not* to move the iTunes folder
    *do* keep the entire iTunes folder in /users/shared, however, instead of creating aliases, launch iTunes while holding the option (⌥) key, click choose library when prompted, and select the iTunes folder in /users/shared.
    obviously, only one iTunes at a time can access the library !

  • Can I share one iTunes Library with multiple computers on a network?

    Can I share one iTunes Library with multiple computers on a network?
    note: one library universally shared, not Home Sharing (one library each, shared to each.)
    I want to share one library stores on my server and access it through various local computers. When I buy a song from a computer (non-server), I want it to be added to the library (stored on server). I want it to auto copy to my server, for organization. I want to be able to sync my phone from any computer.
    Most of this I can do, if i figure out how to use one universal library for all my computers.
    Any ideas how I can do this?

    eyeinit,
    You can authorize your iTunes account on up to 5 computers at a time.
    However, purchased music is downloaded to the first machine to download it, but these articles have more information on moving your music between authorized computers:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93063
    This one is for moving all your music using an iPod as a storage drive
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173
    Hope this helps,
    Nathan C.

  • Same iTunes Library on Multiple Computers

    I was wondering whether someone could help me out a little here. I have 3 computers at home. A MacBook Pro, a Windows Vista Laptop and a Windows Vista desktop PC. Both my Wife and I have iPods (mine an iPhone and hers an 8Gb 2nd Generation Nano).
    What I want to be able to do is access my iTunes music collection (the music files are currently stored on the MacBook) through any computer in the house (I have wireless through Time Capsule). This I am told is easy through iTunes sharing, however this does not allow you to connect your iPod to any machine and update it, as sharing does allow this.
    Is there a way of storing the iTunes library and files on one machine, like a central server and then you can play music from any computer (perhaps using iTunes on that machine) and you can also plugin your iPod/iPhone into any machine in order to update it?
    Looking forward to hearing peoples suggestions on this one.
    Thanks.

    Hello
    Try this website:
    http://theappleblog.com/2008/10/13/one-itunes-library-on-multiple-computers/
    I have been using this solution with my Library and Music situated on a NAS for awhile now with great success.
    Hope this helps.
    Kevin

  • HT202213 When using home sharing, can you copy music permanently from an iTunes library to an iPod touch?

    When using home sharing, can you copy music prmanently from a iTunes library to an iPod touch? Is it possible when home sharing music from my Mac to an iPod touch, can you copy the shard music on the ipod touch in to the ipods library?

    Not that I have found via a Google search

  • Here goes. My iPod touch has all my songs on it. I have changed computers several times and iTunes has a library of similar but not as many songs as iPod. When I plug iPod in ans go to sync it says that iTunes library will replace iPod songs.

    Here goes. My iPod touch has all my songs on it. I have changed computers several times and iTunes has a library of similar but not as many songs as iPod. When I plug iPod in ans go to sync it says that iTunes library will replace iPod songs. I don't want this to happen I want the I pod songs to sync with iTunes. What do I do?

    That really does not work since music is not included in the backup.  See:
    iTunes: About iOS backups
    puttly123 wrote:
    backup your ipod. then sync your ipod to the computer, then restore your ipod and it will still have the right songs. its exactly what i had to do with mine.

  • Updating itunes library occurs with sharing an iTunes Library

    Hi,
    I have two macs, one of the macs has the iTunes library on a hard drive connected to it, lets called it "Mac1". I have another mac called "Mac2" which I mount the hard drive from "Mac1".
    So I go about and make sure iTunes is not running on "Mac1", then go ahead and start iTunes on "Mac2". After I'm done and shutdown iTunes, if I restart iTunes on "Mac1" I get the message "updating itunes library" which takes a while since I have a large iTunes library.
    Any ideas? I'm very careful to shutdown on iTunes on one computer before starting it up on another.
    Thanks for any input, this is driving me crazy

    iamjedi wrote:
    I think I may take your suggestion and just have separate libraries.
    you can use _*Home Sharing*_ to keep them in sync.
    also, there are 3rd party tools such as
    PowerTunes
    TuneRanger
    Syncopation
    however, a "one-iTunes-library-with-multiple-computers" approach is doable. click here for information.
    JGG

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