Sharing iTunes library between 2 computers and 2 iPods via network disk?

Hi,
Me and the missus each got a laptop -hers a PC and mine a MacBook.
We both use iTunes and we've both got an iPod.
Recently I bought an Aiport Express and hooked it up with a 1TB WD MyBook -is there any way that we can share our iTunes library via the network disk, so that we can 1. have full read/write access from both laptops and 2. both sync our iPods?
Furthermore, is there a way for iTunes to monitor the music folder, so instead of me dragging music into iTunes (e.g. CD's that were ripped with other software than iTunes) iTunes would just update every once in a while, to check for new mp3's (kinda like Picasa does with pictures)?
More questions most likely will pop up, but this is the most pressing ones.
Thanks in advance
/Jakob F.

*is there a way for iTunes to monitor the music folder, so instead of me dragging music into iTunes*
iTunes doesn't support folder watching, anything you add to a folder on your hard drive has to be manually added to the iTunes Library: Adding Content to iTunes
You could have a look at this Applescript for folder watching on a Mac: Doug's Applescripts - Folder Actions and iTunes or this program for Windows: iTunes Folder Watch for Windows
You'd need to do a deeper bit of research on both as I don't know if either would work from a folder that's effectively not on either computer

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Sharing iTunes Library between Mac and PC

Hello
I have a Windows PC at home and had a Dell laptop. I have my itunes library on an external hard drive. This worked perfectly since which ever machine I was on I had access to the same library. Recently my work upgraded my laptop to a Mac Book Pro with Snow Leopard. Is there a way to share this same library on my Mac? I am new to the Mac world and am a bit lost. Thanks in advance

I have a similar setup. You need to move your itunes library to your network storage device. You need to do this within itunes (you will have to google moving your itunes library because I don't remember all the steps). After you moved the itunes library to a network share, you need to go into advanced preferences on each computer that will access the library and set the location of the itune library to point to the network share folder where the file itunes library.itl is located - the exit from Itunes. Restart Itunes on each computer (pressing shift on the Windows computers and option on the Macs). You will then have to choose the Itunes library. Browse to the network share and click on the itunes library.itl folder.
Three notes. Only one computer at a time can access the library. Second, each time you switch back and forth between mac and pc, the library folder needs to be updated. Third, for some reason, with iTunes 9.0.2, the updating process has slowed down. It is especially slow taking 15 minutes or so for a 13GB library. Hope apple fixes this.

I am unable to drag songs from a shared music library between computers. This was working until about a month ago. I have updated to the newest versions of Itunes on both computers (a macbook and an older Toshiba satellite). I have also rebooted both.

I am unable to drage songs from a shared music library between computers.   This used to work perfectly until a month ago.   I have installed the newest version of Itunes on both computers and have rebooted them, but nothing happens when I try to drag a song to another playlist or another shared folder. Any ideas how to fix this?

Have you:
- Restore from backup. See:
iOS: Back up and restore your iOS device with iCloud or iTunes
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.
If a PC
Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
or
Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8

HT201272 Having a bad day my iTunes library got corrupted and my back up disk has failed how can I restore my purchases from the iTunes store

Having a bad day my iTunes library got corrupted and my back up disk has failed how can I restore my purchases from the iTunes store? When I try it tells me the pruchases have already been downloaded to this computer.

Does your purchased rmusic appears under the Purchased link under Quicklinks on the right-hand side of the iTunes store home page (music can't be re-downloaded in all countries) ? If they do and you don't have the cloud symbol against them so as to re-download them, then do you still have the entries for them in your library i.e. where you would normally click on them to play them ? If you do then try deleting them from there (iTunes will be seeing them and assuming that you still have them somewhere) and they should then get the cloud symbol for re-downloading in the Purchased link.
If you aren't in a country where music can be re-downloaded then you could try contacting iTunes support and see if they will grant you a re-download : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page,

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 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

Sharing iTunes library across computers

Step 5 of the Help file says "select 'Automatically import new purchases from [Computer Name].'" Where is that selection found?

Thanks for the suggestion. I'd be happy to elaborate. In iTunes Help, enter "home sharing" as the search term, and select the top topic, "Sharing your iTunes library across computers." The five items are under the heading, "To import items from other libraries using Home Sharing."
I have gone over the steps again and found my problem. I was signed onto the Store under different names (different Mobile Me email address, both mine) on the two computers. I switched to the same name, then turned Home Sharing off and then on on both computers. When each opened the other's library, the other library window has a Settings button in the lower right hand window. That button produces a pane with setting for automatic transfer.
The Help file could be improved. Or iTunes could recognize multiple email addresses for one Mobile Me account. Thanks again.

Sharing an iTunes library between computers

is it possible to share a library btwn itunes apps on separate computers in the same house/wireless network?
not looking to trump the 5 computer limit, but trying to get two computers to show the same library between them. when i buy a song in one place, to show it as available to play on the other, too...also making it possible to update ipods from both...
any thoughts would be great...

Hi,
We have something similar with 2 computers at home, and use 'iTunes Library Updater' (freeware on http://itlu.ownz.ch/wordpress/) which should serve your purpose.
Dell Windows XP Pro

Sharing Itunes library between an admin and user account on one imac G5

Hello,
Please forgive the repetitive question. i have set up an admin and a user account on my iMac. I set the itunes library to users/shared/music/itunes/itunes library on both accounts. The music shows up on the admin account but not the user account.
Can anyone give a quick step by step including obscure settings that may need to be altered so that I can finally get this pesky stress monkey off my shoulder!
Thanks!
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) Ipod video 30Gb

Hi,
Someone recently poasted a similar problem as yours.
Here's the discussion and solution:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1192454

Sharing Itunes library between windows desktop and macbook not working

Hi, I just bought my laptop today. I've had it about 3 hours. I have 2147 songs on my windows itunes library, and i would love to be able to put them on the laptop too. Now, both of my computers are on the local area connection, but for some reason when i go to network places on my desktop the laptop doesnt show up. When i go to iTunes on my laptop and click import, i find my server, i find my computer, and then it asks me for a domain name, a username, and a password. I've tried multiple combinations, i'm not sure which username/pw combo its looking for but no matter what I do i get no error messages telling me i'm wrong, but absolutely nothing happens. Please help.

This is a compleentary advice: MAKE SURE THAT WINDOWS AND MAC HAVE THE SAME GROUP NAME!
In mac go to the preferences and activate Windows Sharing from the network.
Then go with the finder to applications utility and Directory Access. SMB is the protocol that OS X uses to exchange with Windows. Go into its proprieties and choose the same name you have given to your windows group (USUALLY "WORKGROUP" but it may differ)
To change the name in windows Xp is even easier. right click the m computer and choose properties and then the "Name" tag - change the group - You'll need to restart.
Almost forgot: you have to share the Music Folder on XP to have it show up from the mac. Right click it and choose Properties - Share tab - Activate network sharing
And remember, it is easier with a USB drive
Message was edited by: eiapoce

Sharing iTunes Library between Snow Leopard and Windows 8

My setup:
2006 Macbook, running Snow Leopard
Microsoft Surface Pro, running Windows 8 Pro
Toshiba 1TB portable external HDD
I am using my external HDD to host all of my media content, including my iTunes library. When I want to take advantage of the portability of my Surface Pro, I connect my external HDD to my MacBook, and use my MacBook as a media server. When it is connected this way, all of my music is in my iTunes Library. When I use my MacBook to listen to my iTunes library, all of my music is there. The problem is when I connect my external HDD directly to my Surface Pro, some of my music is missing. This is inconvenient because it leaves me without the ability to add new music or delete music from my iTunes library unless I am working on my MacBook. I have already tried ripping my iPod, which actually has ALL of my music on it, and transferring it directly to my external HDD. When it is connected to my MacBook directly, it looks like that actually worked. However, if I connect it to my Surface Pro or use my MacBook as a server and connect to my external as a network drive, the music is missing. Am I missing something obvious? Has anyone else had this problem?

Sounds like some of your music on external drive is in file format that Windows can't read. Am I missing something?

Share iTunes library between Tiger and XP Pro?

I just recently got windows XP running on my macbook. I have already imported all my music (as unprotected MP3's) in iTunes for Mac. Since hard drive space will be slim for Windows, I would like to have iTunes for windows use the same library as iTunes for Mac. I'm running MacDrive 7 and iTunes-Windows sees everything just fine, but I have MacDrive set to make my Mac partition read only so as not to corrupt it. This makes iTunes-Windows unhappy. Is there any way to make this work?

Just for your info, Vista ***** whatever you try to do. I'm stuck with Vista on a pre-installed laptop. All experience I have from Vista is bad, don't buy Vista or a computer with preinstalled Vista if you can avoid it.
We have three computers in a home network, one Macbook Pro, one PC with Windows XP, and the Vista laptop. All are using iTunes-8, downloaded and installed last week.
Sharing iTunes libraries using the option to share libraries on a local network works fine between Mac and Windows-XP. The sharing also works fine between the XP and the Vista PC.
But the Vista PC can't access the Mac iTunes library. When trying to open the Mac library, iTunes on the Vista computer says something like "Fetching library info from...". It's the same problem when trying to access the Vista library from the Mac.
We had a similar problem when trying to access shared folders on the local network. Thanks to a tip on this forum how to tweak the Vista registry, the shared folder problem was solved.
I'm think some registry setting in Vista might solve iTunes shared library problems. Maybe some Windows freak knows how to patch the registry to solve this issue.
Otherwise the solution is to trash Vista, and install Windows-XP.

Share iTunes library between Leopard and Vista, over LAN

Hi,
I would like to share my iTunes library on my Mac, so that our other Vista computer can access it.
I have ticked 'Look for shared libraries' on both the Mac and PC. We use a LAN setup with a firewalled router. I am able to access the Mac's public folder from the Vista PC and vice versa.
Except, the Mac library is not present in iTunes on PC. I used the latest iTunes on both computers.
Is there something that I am missing, maybe a port that I have to forward or anything else? Also, do I have to enable another kind of sharing on the Mac, except Sharing in iTunes?
Can someone please give me some advice?
Regards

Just for your info, Vista ***** whatever you try to do. I'm stuck with Vista on a pre-installed laptop. All experience I have from Vista is bad, don't buy Vista or a computer with preinstalled Vista if you can avoid it.
We have three computers in a home network, one Macbook Pro, one PC with Windows XP, and the Vista laptop. All are using iTunes-8, downloaded and installed last week.
Sharing iTunes libraries using the option to share libraries on a local network works fine between Mac and Windows-XP. The sharing also works fine between the XP and the Vista PC.
But the Vista PC can't access the Mac iTunes library. When trying to open the Mac library, iTunes on the Vista computer says something like "Fetching library info from...". It's the same problem when trying to access the Vista library from the Mac.
We had a similar problem when trying to access shared folders on the local network. Thanks to a tip on this forum how to tweak the Vista registry, the shared folder problem was solved.
I'm think some registry setting in Vista might solve iTunes shared library problems. Maybe some Windows freak knows how to patch the registry to solve this issue.
Otherwise the solution is to trash Vista, and install Windows-XP.

Share iTunes Library between OSX and Win7 Bootcamp

I've done quite a bit of research on this but I still haven't found a solution that does what I require.
Basically my setup is a SSD & HDD in my MBP. I have OSX and Win7 (Bootcamp) on the SSD and the NTFS HDD is a shared file storage drive for both Windows and OS. I have my iTunes library located on this drive and I want to be able to share the library between the OSs. I also want changes e.g. additions deletions made in windows to be reflected in OSX and vice versa.
Technically this is possible and does in fact work if I point iTunes to the .itl file but the problem is that when I open iTunes after switching OSs it must go through a very lengthy library update which can take 30-60mins in some cases before I can use it. Obviously this is not a good solution so I'm wondering if there are any workarounds to accomplishing this?
For example can I duplicate the .itl file and have one for win and one for OSX and still have the libraries stay in sync?

Just for your info, Vista ***** whatever you try to do. I'm stuck with Vista on a pre-installed laptop. All experience I have from Vista is bad, don't buy Vista or a computer with preinstalled Vista if you can avoid it.
We have three computers in a home network, one Macbook Pro, one PC with Windows XP, and the Vista laptop. All are using iTunes-8, downloaded and installed last week.
Sharing iTunes libraries using the option to share libraries on a local network works fine between Mac and Windows-XP. The sharing also works fine between the XP and the Vista PC.
But the Vista PC can't access the Mac iTunes library. When trying to open the Mac library, iTunes on the Vista computer says something like "Fetching library info from...". It's the same problem when trying to access the Vista library from the Mac.
We had a similar problem when trying to access shared folders on the local network. Thanks to a tip on this forum how to tweak the Vista registry, the shared folder problem was solved.
I'm think some registry setting in Vista might solve iTunes shared library problems. Maybe some Windows freak knows how to patch the registry to solve this issue.
Otherwise the solution is to trash Vista, and install Windows-XP.

Sharing iTunes library between different user accounts

I recently purchased my imac and made the leap from the PC world. I set up another user account aside from the general administrator and followed the steps of having itunes folder go to the users/shared folder in an effort to be able to share files between users. I am able to now share the library between users but find that when I load new songs onto one user I then need to go into the other user's account and manually copy the new songs from the shared folder into itunes.
Anyone know how I can have it so when I load songs into one users itunes they will automatically appear in library of the other user's itunes without having to take the step of copying/importing?
Also when I was downloading and importing over 4000 songs my imac had the transparent black box which informed me I needed to shut down my computer at least twice. Should I be concerned? I'm assuming this notice is very similar to the "blue screen of death" known in the PC world so that can't be good especially when I paid the extra $ for fully loaded imac.
Thanks for the help!

DANMAC808, Welcome to the discussion area!
See KB 93195, iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer.
Also when I was downloading and importing over 4000 songs my imac had the transparent black box which informed me I needed to shut down my computer at least twice. Should I be concerned?
That is not normal at all.

Sharing iTunes library between 2 computers and 2 iPods via network disk?

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