Sharing music between 2 accounts on one computer

I have 2 accounts on my Windows XP Pro machine, both of which can see and utilise iTunes (though unfortunately, not at the same time - though this is another problem entirely). Both of these users iTunes accounts have been set so that they utilise the same 'shared' music folder. To do this, I have switched both users iTunes Music Folder Location to be:-
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\iTunes Music
I do not seem to be able to add music that already exist as mp3's to this folder using one account and then have them visible on the other users iTunes account. To do this I have to import the mp3's again for this User.
However, importing music from Audio cd's do not seem to suffer the same problem.
This surely can't be right. Has anyone got a workaround for this?
Additional info - I do not use the facility to copy imported tracks into the iTunes Music Folder - purely for space saving reasons, and do not want to use this functionality.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Windows XP Pro

If you copied these files to her iTunes directory, you certainly should have seen music in her library when opening iTunes. I suspect that even if you copied these files, when you launched iTunes it was using a different copy of these. Where did you put them? By default, they would be in her ..\My Music\iTunes folder. You can put them anywhere you want, but you have to tell iTunes which one to open. Try this:
1- Re-copy your files to a known folder that is accessible from her account.
2- Log into her account, press and hold the Shift key while you start iTunes.
3- At the "Choose Library or Create Library" prompt, select "Choose Library".
4- Navigate to where you put the "iTunes Library.itl" file from step #1.
This forces her iTunes to use the specific iTunes Library.itl file and should now display the same library that you see in your own iTunes.

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Sharing music between diff accounts on 1 computer - what am i doing wrong?

Hi,
Can someone please help me out? I've just bought an iPod shuffle for my daughter and already have iTunes set up for myself using my own iPod (using Windows XP). Now I want to make all the music I've previously set up in iTunes available to her account.
So I followed the instructions in "How to share music between different accounts on a single computer" (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195) but when I log on to the other account and start up iTunes, I can't see the music I've copied over. Any ideas why?
I basically copied the "iTunes Music" folder to "C:Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\iTunes\ then opened iTunes on the other account and changed the location via the Edit menu, Preferences, Advanced, Change button. When I do this I can see the underlying folders of music, it just doesn't show up in the iTunes Music Library within iTunes. I've also tried copying the iTunes library files in desperation, but that made no difference.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Adam.

If you copied these files to her iTunes directory, you certainly should have seen music in her library when opening iTunes. I suspect that even if you copied these files, when you launched iTunes it was using a different copy of these. Where did you put them? By default, they would be in her ..\My Music\iTunes folder. You can put them anywhere you want, but you have to tell iTunes which one to open. Try this:
1- Re-copy your files to a known folder that is accessible from her account.
2- Log into her account, press and hold the Shift key while you start iTunes.
3- At the "Choose Library or Create Library" prompt, select "Choose Library".
4- Navigate to where you put the "iTunes Library.itl" file from step #1.
This forces her iTunes to use the specific iTunes Library.itl file and should now display the same library that you see in your own iTunes.

HT1203 hello, tried to follow the instructions for sharing music between multiple users on one computer however it does not seem to be working.

hello, purchased a new iphone 5 and i now want to put all my music and picture from my 3gs onto it. however its been several years since ive updated my 3gs and now itunes wont fint it when i try and conect it.

Reset the iPhone & try again.
Try a different cable.
See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Sharing Music Between Users Accounts on a Single Computer

I know that you can listen to music belonging to another user account on the same computer (as long as that user remains logged in), however, is there a way to COPY (drag and drop) music from one user account to another user account (on the same computer) similar to how it is done between multiple computers with Home Sharing?

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

Sharing music between different accounts on a single computer

I have read the instructions here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203 , but I'm still having a problem.
Scenario: Two Ipods, one PC (WinXP), one big music library, originally created and stored directly in C:\My Music, which is accessible to all users of the PC. From my non-admin account, I add folders and files to my itunes library, modify songs and artwork, no problem. Now my son has an iPod, and I would like to be able to share out portions of the C:\My Music library with him. It kind of works. He adds files and folders to his library, on his account, in his itunes. The music is there, but it is somehow protected. No artwork, in fact I get the "artwork is not modifiable" message. Nor can he modify any info in the songs. In a few cases, the artwork comes with the songs, but mostly not. In either case, no info in the songs are modifiable. Neither of our Windows XP user accounts are admin, but why does my account seem to "own" the songs? He's not going to be happy without any artwork in his library or on his ipod.
Any ideas? Thanks!

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

Sharing music between different accounts - is this how it works?

The way iTunes shares music between different users seems a bit poor.
I have two user accounts set up on the same PC, with music files accessed by each from the same folder (as described here: How To Share Music Between Different Accounts On A Single Computer).
My main issues are:
1) I have to manually add new music added by the other user instead of it just appearing in iTunes.
2) iTunes doesn't recognise if a music file is already in the joint library, so we end up with two copies of things (particularly tiresome for podcasts).
Am I doing something wrong - maybe there is an easy way around this?
... or do the people at Apple need to do a bit of work here?
Pentium 4 Windows XP

By default, any new file or folder created is set to be read+write for the creator, and read-only for everyone else. The file creator can grant write access to other users by changing the permissions on a folder and its contents, as Neil suggests. But you'll have to repeat that process every time a new file is added.
Fortunately, there is a way to automatically grant read+write access to all files created or copied to the folder. First go to System Preferences -> Accounts. Click the + button under the users list. Then, make a new group; calling it "sharegroup" or something similar. Add the users you want to the group.
Then put all the files you want to share into a commonly-accessible folder, such as a subfolder in /Users/Shared.
Then log in to an admin account and open Terminal. Paste in the following two lines:
sudo chmod -R +a "sharegroup allow delete,chown,list,search,add_file,\
addsubdirectory,delete_child,file_inherit,directoryinherit" \
Press return, then drag the folder into the Terminal window, and press return again. Enter admin password when prompted and press return. That should do it. Everything there now should be fully writable by all users in sharegroup. New files that are *created in* or *copied to* the folder will be the same way.
Files that you *move in* from a different location on the same hard drive won't be, though. So make sure you copy previously existing files into the sharefolder instead of moving them (hold down option key while dragging to copy) so that they get the custom permissions applied.

Sharing Music between User Accounts

Hello,
I've been trying to share a single itunes music folder between two accounts on the same computer. I've read dozens of threads on this topic in these forums, and still can't seem to get this to work.
Right now, I'm going back to basics and simply trying to put the iTunes music folder in a Public folder, which can be accessible by both user accounts. I've followed the instructions documented in the following article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195
When I do this, I have a problem with permissions. If I move or copy the music folder on one user account to a public folder - when I switch over to the other user account, and access that public folder, some of the individual music folders within the itunes music folder are accessible, and then on others, I am denied permission. There does not seem to be anything unique about the folders that I don't have permissions on, compared to those that I do.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
ML
iMac G5, Mac Mini Intel Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
I did a copy paste of the iTunes Music folder into a new iTunes Music folder under Users/Shared. When I switch over to the other user account, I get the same results. Some folders are accessible and some folders I have no access. It's strange as about 25% of the music folders are No Access, and the others are readable.
Any further thoughts? Thanks,
ML

How do i share music between 2 users on one computer with ipod nano 7th generation

How do I share music on itunes between 2 users on 1 computer and get the music from the computer onto my ipod nano 7th generation?

Hi kstrenge,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
I understand you want to share iTunes music on the same Windows XP computer between two different user accounts. To accomplish this please read over and follow the steps in the attached article.
iTunes: How to share music between different user accounts on a single computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
Once the music is shared and you are ready to sync your music from the computer to your iPod nano, please follow the steps in this article.
iTunes: Syncing media content to iPod
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1351
Have a great day,
Joe

File permissions between user accounts on one computer

Hi!!!
I have an iMac PowerPC G5 computer which I set with 2 accounts, one for me (the administrator) and another for some workers.
I´m having problems regarding writing and using files. I have some documents which both accounts need to use, read and save. The original files are not in the administrator account, but on the normal one. What I do when I want to read and write on a file located on the normal account is access to it going into the other user account and open it from the document folder. BUT i have to be givening permissions all the time because it lose them when I switch between both accounts
Sorry for my english, i´ll try to explain better:
1-I open a file which is in the normal account from my administrator account
2- It wont let me save anything so i have to give writing permissions
3-I switch to the normal account and wont allow me to write again, so I have to give permission again
4- Everytime I switch accounts i will have to give permission
How can i solve this?
Thanks!!
G.

Sean Dale1 wrote:
Very interesting thank you.
I wondered if it might be possible to modify files copied into such a shared folder with the aid of an AppleScript or Automator action saved as an application
nothing you can do with applescript or automator can come anywhere close to be as simple or as effective as the ACL method. folder actions only watch the top level of the folder they are attached to and plus they are extremely unreliable. what could be simpler than the method outlined above? you run two terminal commands and you are set. no scripts to run, no cron or launch daemons to make to run some periodic change of permissions scripts. file system does everything itself.
or would opening a file and then doing a simple 'Save As' to the folder do the trick?
only if you don't mind creating multiple copies of the same file any time you need to change it.
the only real problem with the ACL method is that inherited ACLs are not applied to items moved into the shared folder, only to copied or new files. this is not normally an issue except with some applications like photoshop which like to utilize temp files. when photoshop saves chages to a file it does the following. it saves the changed file to a temp file in a temporary directory, deletes the current file and then moves the temp file to where the original file was. because moving is involved this washes out the ACLs. very bad of photoshop. if you are unlucky enough to be using an app like this then there is a different method that can be used that does not have the deficiency of ACLs with respect to moved files but it requires some more prep. although once the prep is complete it works quite well. see my os x hint here
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20100202195536952
on how to do that. However, in most situations the ACL method is perfectly suitable and is much easier to set up so I recommend you go with that.

Differentiating/Sharing Music Between Mac Accounts

Hey, all!
I am prepping to get a new Mac, and I have a deboccale that I'm trying to figure out.
My fiance and I will have separate accounts on the computer for iCloud and other purposes. However, I have an extensive library of music that I would like to share with her. I understand how to share my library through the preferences as far as keeping it from copying the files, but what happens if she wants to add a CD that I don't want?
This is sort of confusing, but here's my end goal: she can open her account, open her iTunes, and here, she'll be able to see the bands that I have that she's interested in. Then, when she gets a new album, she can add it to that same library without affecting my library or doing something weird with hers.
Any help would be appreciated!

Sorry, BackFromAfrica, but I'm not really knowledgeable in that area. I just tried to do it on my Mac by logging into my extra dummy account. I tried to direct the iTunes on the dummy account to my library, but the folder had a red dot on it and was not accessible.
If it can be done, there are definitely knowledgeable folks in the forum who can tell you how. I suggest you post back with that specific question. I fear that your question here in another thread may not get noticed. Or...you could search in the forum, if you haven't already, and see if you can find an answer.
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I'd like to make one iTunes library that serves multiple users on that computer (all the users are me anyway). Is that even possible?

Yes. In your Main account, use the iTunes Preferences to enable Sharing. Leave iTunes running and use Fast User Switching to move to the next account. In that account, use iTunes Preferences to 'Look for Shared Libraries'. Wait a moment and the main library will appear in the new account's iTunes.
Repeat as necessary.
Regards
TD

How do I share iTunes music between different accounts on one Mac?

Good morning !
There are various users sharing our Mini. Can I set the Mini up so that we all can share the same music library ?

It works for "initial sharing" but the described solution includes some drawbacks;
- songs added under one account don't show "automatically" for other users
- if added there is a copy of the song-file (* 2.mp3)
- no "bulk" import withoud re-adding already present songs
Any workarounds for these problems known? 'caus I'm getting tired to keep the 3 iTune Libs of my girls in synch
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I tried to configure 2 windows users accounts using a single library per the instructions in HT1203. My iTunes library is on an external drive. I cannot get this to work. Any suggestions?

To give other users read-only access to your iTunes library, use the Sharing features of iTunes. Sharing works over the local network as well as on the same computer. See the built-in help for details.
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iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer
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Se descargan aplicaciones para mi iPad 64 3G, las cuales en el momento de sincronizar no pasan a la iPad debido a que solicita una autorizacion para el ordenador la cual se autoriza con ID y el Password, esta orden se procesa y vuelve a solicitar nuevamente la autorizacion y asi sucesivamente.
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Sharing music between 2 accounts on one computer

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