Sharing itunes library among multiple computers?

Hey all,
We are a Mac family. We have an iMac and a Powerbook, and I recently bought an iBook for my wife. We'd love to be able to share our iTunes library among the computers. Is there an easy way to set this up? Any help would be greatly appreciated......
I'm betting this has been talked about elsewhere but wasn't sure if there was a simple solution I'm missing.
Thanks in advance.....
jon

It depends on what you mean exactly. If you want to simply be able to play stuff out of each other's libraries, you can turn on Sharing in the iTunes preferences. Any computers on the same network with iTunes open and with sharing turned on, will see each other's libraries (they show up in the left side column like a playlist sort of). But this method of sharing only allows you to play their stuff. You will not be able to add the songs to your own library, add the songs to your own playlist, or burn a CD of songs from their library.
If your question was how to have a SINGLE central library serving all the computers, I don't think it can be done, at least not easily.
Patrick

Similar Messages

  • Syncing the same iTunes library among multiple computers

    I have two computers, a Windows 7 laptop and a new iMac. iTunes on both computers are signed into the same Apple ID. I currently have my iTunes library on my laptop, but I would like to also have the exact same library on my iMac. For instance, if I download a new podcast to my laptop, it should be placed on my iMac as well. When I delete the podcast, it should be deleted on the iMac too. When song metadata is updated on my laptop (play count, lyrics, etc), I want it updated on the iMac automatically.
    I have not had much experience with Home Sharing, but would that do all of this automatically? I know I could manually transfer songs from one computer to the other using Home Sharing, but what about updated metadata or deleting files?
    iCloud has made this situation more interesting. I know iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match will keep music files in sync among various devices (including metadata?), but what about podcasts or movies or files not purchased via iTunes? I know there are plenty of details that are yet to be released concerning iCloud, but do you think it will solve this problem entirely, or will manual labor be required to obtain the exact same library among multiple computers?
    I have considered only using my iMac to maintain my library, since it is always on and I could use Home Sharing to listen to music on my laptop since they are on the same Wifi network. However, I feel it would be best to keep the same library on two computers for when I take my laptop on vacation away from my home network.
    What would you suggest for this situation?
    Thanks!

    sorry about the slight irrelevence of this post on this thread....i saw this much older post you had in my explorations and it is almost to a "T" my issue currently and i was wondering if you ever came to a conclusion or had any tips or resolution paths i could explore. your original message:
         I have 2 computers I'd like to set up Home Sharing on. One is Windows XP and the other is Windows 7.
         I set it all up but then the libraries never show up. Nothing happens.
         The computers are on the same network and I can successfully share files and a printer. Both computers are      authorized using the same account. Both are signed into that account.
         I don't know why it's not working. Can you please help?
              Thanks!!
    is EXACTLY my problem with the only variable being that both of my computers run 7. furthermore, you went on to say you were experiencing issues with the "remote" app. that was the initial objective for me in my system that got me here with a deeper problem with home share. i want to home share my itunes library and control it from my iPod touch 4g. is that such an unreasonable request?!?!? lol. i'm incredibly frustrated and was hoping that since you had such specifically similar circumstances....have you found a solution? PLEASE HELP!!! thank you so much for your time.

  • Sharing iTunes Library Among Multiple User's on the Same Computer

    OK, so I've followed the instructions in iTunes article HT1203 to set up my laptop to share a common iTunes library but for whatever reason it won't open. Here's what I did:
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    Restored the DVD to the new laptop
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    Dragged it to \Users\Public\Public Music
    Opened iTunes
    Editted the Preference Advanced tab to change the location of the music folder to \Users\Public\Public Music
    Closed the preferences
    No music is displayed. I know it's there because when I opened iTunes BEFORE I moved the folder it showed all of the music titles I was expecting to see.
    I even went out and changed the Security on \Users\Public\Public Music to Full Control for all users (only two) and it had no effect. What am I missing?
    Thanks for you advice.

    iTunes always uses the last ITL databse file it used from before, unless it can't find it....in which case, it makes a new library ITL file that's blank.
    When you dragged the ituness folder to the public foder, I think it confused itunes.
    Try a shift-start of itunes and select the ITL file in the public folder.
    Press *AND HOLD* the shift key while starting itunes until you see a prompt to choose or create a library. Browse to that public folder and choose its ITL file.

  • 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

  • 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 !

  • Sharing (synchronizing) a single iTunes library over multiple computers

    Okay, i've been looking all over for a simple answer to this problem for a while and haven't found a solution that doesn't involve paying for third-party software or a lot of seemingly unnecessary hassle. Here's my situation:
    I have an older 12" PowerBook G4 and a brand new MacBook Pro. I also have a Time Capsule and a 30 gig iPod, but i'm not sure whether they will be helpful or not for my situation. When i got my MacBook Pro, i let Leopard transfer all my info, so now both computers have the same login information, music library, iPhoto library, etc... But not for long, naturally. I want to use my MBP at home primarily and will spend most of my time on it, but i will also frequently be out and will be taking my PowerBook along as it is both more portable and less of a concern if something happens to it. What i want to do is to set things up so that my iTunes library (including playlists, ratings, and other metadata) is kept synchronized across both computers (perhaps via the Time Capsule?) and that any changes made on either mac will at least eventually be mirrored on the other without causing duplicates or loss of any files. I don't need to keep separate versions or sizes of iTunes libraries either; the hard drives are each large enough to hold the entire thing.
    On a side note, the iPod only needs to be able to sync from the MBP, i think, though it would be nice to have the option to sync from either. Sadly, it’s not large enough to hold the whole library, so i can’t use that to go back and forth or anything.
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    I wouldn’t mind a “master, slave” type setup either, with the MBP being the master, since with the only working optical drive and a faster connection, it will be doing most of my importing- but it’s important that the playlists and everything are the same and it sure would be nice if i didn’t have to remember not to make any changes from the PB. I don't plan on buying any music from the iTunes store and my entire library is DRM free, so that won't be a problem. Both systems are running the latest versions of all software and operating system (though i hear this may change with Snow Leopard...?)
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    I’d like to find a way to set this up using just Automator and maybe some Applescripts if possible, but if i do have to bend and go third-party, it would need to be solid.
    I know my situation is unique (I’ve found a lot of people trying to synchronize libraries, say, with a spouse, etc. WITHOUT syncing the metadata- or people wanting different libraries on different computers to feed into the same pool, but those are very different cases, obviously) but i’m sure there are plenty of people out there with several different macs of their own who could benefit from this solution. Any help you can give towards this would be appreciated. Thanks!

    I have a similar problem. Wish I had an answer but am struggling with a similar problem. My situation is this: I have a Imac and a Macbook Pro. I have the same 4 accounts on both and I sync them through '.mac'. It works fairly well. My goal is to get one Itunes library accessible from the 2 computers and the 4 accounts per computer. I am also using Time Capsule/Machine as well. I currently keep the Itunes library on an external drive (not TCapsule). So, my problem is this:
    1. How to update from multiple accounts accross the two machines?
    2. How to access Itunes store from all of the accounts on machine 2?
    I am now trying to set up individual Itunes libraries for each account on machine 1 and share to machine 2.
    In any case, this is not pretty and needs to be reachitected to support a multiple user environmet.

  • 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.

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    webalias rex:
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    Hey guys,
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