Sharing music on same computer, different accounts

I am the administrator of my computer, and would like to share my music files with my kids (and vise versa), who log in under different account names on same computer. How do I create a "common" set of music files that all of us can access under different accounts?

I have never done this, but what I would recommend is...
Get your kids to Duplicate their iTunes folder in their own account, and append their name to the duplicate, before moving (not copying, or you may soon run out of space) this to the Shared folder.
Then follow the advice above, except for the bit about not trashing the kids folders, as they will still have their main iTunes folders in their own accounts. After you've found that everything works ok, you can then ask your kids to clear out their own iTunes libraries to free up space.
Two things before starting:
- check there is enough space on your hard drive
- BACK UP all the iTunes folders to an external hard drive, or to DVDs
iMac G5 17" 1.5Gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Similar Messages

Copying songs on same computer - different accounts

My son and daughter each received an iPod for Christmas. They are managing their own iTunes library under their own login on the same iMac that I use. There are a couple songs in my library that they would like to sync to their iPods. I know I can share my library and they can play these songs in iTunes, but they want them on their iPods. Can I copy these songs into their libraries? These are protected songs I purchased from iTunes. I am not sure whether the license for a song is per computer or per user. I know I cannot copy a song to another computer without authorizing that computer with my Apple ID. What about copying a song on the same computer into another user account? Will that affect my licensing at all? Is there a better way to do this for just a few songs? What if they purchase a song they wish to share?
Thanks for any help you can give!

I have never done this, but what I would recommend is...
Get your kids to Duplicate their iTunes folder in their own account, and append their name to the duplicate, before moving (not copying, or you may soon run out of space) this to the Shared folder.
Then follow the advice above, except for the bit about not trashing the kids folders, as they will still have their main iTunes folders in their own accounts. After you've found that everything works ok, you can then ask your kids to clear out their own iTunes libraries to free up space.
Two things before starting:
- check there is enough space on your hard drive
- BACK UP all the iTunes folders to an external hard drive, or to DVDs
iMac G5 17" 1.5Gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9)

While in Hotmail, Firefox crashed & now I can't open or delete messages, however, on the same computer-different account- my Hotmail works fine.

While a request to print a sent email was being executed (successfully), my attention was diverted away from the computer screen. When I returned, the Firefox "crash" notice was on the screen, but everything appeared fine so I didn't file a report. I exited Hotmail and later signed in and found out I can not open or delete any messages. I exited Hotmail, switched computer user accounts and opened my Hotmail under the computer's administrative account. Under the adm. account my Hotmail works without a problem. Switched back to my computer user account, signed in to Hotmail and the original problem still exists. What can I do to get Hotmail to work in my computer user account?

Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.
"Clear the Cache":
* Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"
"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:
* Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
*Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
Thunderbird

Two iPhones to the same computer different accounts?

We got a new Windows 7 computer and need to know how to sync both our iPhones to this computer. I used to sync my iPhone to our old computer and my wife synced to her laptop. I have been trying everything I have read on how to do this on the net for the last few days and cannot get it to work. We each have our own iTunes accounts but will be sharing the same music. We don't want to share our address books and photos so I have read you need to create 2 user accounts. I have tried this and the main account has access to the music library but the alternate user doesn't show any music in the my music folder. Do I have to copy all the music into 2 different places in order to get the music on both users? I'm at my wits end and just can't figure this out. Any help would be appreciated.

This is an Outlook problem, and a bit tricky to fix via long distance through a forum. So if you have a local Windows expert ask them to look at it. If you want to try yourself I'll see if I can help.
Does your Outlook sync to an Exchange server, or do you just use it as an email client for POP3 or IMAP?
Has your wife ever used Outlook with here own email account? It sounds like the answer is no, so how does she now access her email?
What you need to do is log on as your wife, then create a new Outlook account using Outlook under her Windows ID. In Outlook go to Menu/Options/Email Accounts and choose to set up a new account.

Share M4P music on same computer with different windows Sessions

According to the guidelines provided on this site, I already shared my music folder to enable different users on my single computer to access shared music files.
I kept different libraries to provide each user a different library to keep perosnal playlists, ratings and so on.
m4p shared files can be read by each user by clicking on the file in windows folder so I understand protection is shared on the same computer.
But there is no way to add a shared m4p file (itune protected)to the libraries !!
I used the "add file" or "add folder" function... only mp3, mpg, appear in the library, but no m4p.
How can a user manage a different library on the same computer and be able to add shared m4p files to each library ?

Jase, you said "Music sharing works across different user accounts, whether they are on the same computer or different computers", but my son will log into his account where he currently has no music. in the window on the left, we can see the other computers in the house that are on line, but there is no sign of the master account (on that same imac). i assume this is because the master account is not logged in, therefore the secondary accounts can't find the master account's music, nor can I from a remote computer ( my macbook, for example). for instance, right now from my macbook i can see my son's itunes list (on the imac) in my "share window" (even though his list is empty). he can also see my macbooks list in his "share window". he cannot see either my list on that imac, or his sisters list on that same imac. all acounts on the imac have sharing turned on, as well as "look for shared music" turned on.
i guess the focus is on this: can the master user itunes list be made available to other users on that same computer while they are logged in as other users (and the master account is logged off, which it has to be in order for the secondary accounts to be logged in, right?) I can't think of any other way to ask this, so i hope that clarified what we have tried and what we are asking for.

How to share music on same computer with different accounts

Hi -
I just got a new IMAC and me and my girlfriend use it and have two different accounts on the computer. I am trying to figure out how she can listen to my music from my itunes account when she is logged into her account. I seem to be failing at the suggested home sharing options that apple reccomends? is there a way? does she need to import all my songs into her account and recreate her own playlists that way?
thanks for any and all help
j

Ok, so the iTunes music folder holds all the music. I copy or drag my iTunes folder and my Daughters iTunes folder from our separate user accounts to the shared music folder. Then open iTunes and steer my and my Daughters iTunes Music folder location to the same place.
If she downloads new music I would have to open iTunes under my user account. Go file/add folder to library/ locate the new music on the shared music folder and that would bring something into my library file so I could see the new music on my iTunes.
I guess what I started out to do was save memory space on my computer. Does all this do that?
If it doesn’t I really don’t care anymore as long as I can copy her new music to my iTunes and vise versa.
Thanks for the help
Mainer

Share music on computer (different accounts) / restrict playback

Hi,
I am running on windows xp and was wondering if anyone know.
1. How to restrict playback of restricted songs?
2. How to share music library over multiple accounts on the same computer. ( I know you can import - but I would like to know if there is an easy way to export a folder
over multiple accounts on same computer.
Thanks

I'm no authority on the parental controls but ...
... looking at the article I provided a link for in my previous post, it seems that they (the parental controls) are not intended to stop a user from playing restricted content but rather prevent them from seeing such content in the iTunes Store. If they can't see the content, they can't buy it and can't listen to it ... unless someone else buys it and puts it in a Shared Music folder they have access to.
The trick would seem to be to make sure any restricted content you're purchasing does not end up in a Shared folder but rather in a private folder on your system. When you have an XP User Account with a private folder, buy your restricted content on that account and make sure the iTunes Music folder for that account is part of the private folder so your purchases will be downloaded directly into it.

Multiple logins on one computer - Different accounts, same picture...?

Greetings,
Since the iPhone 3.0 recently released push notifications, I decided to open an account for my wife that she could use on her iPhone. From what I understand, iChat now allows multiple logins on each computer.
I set everything up accordingly, noted that I am the admin on this computer, my picture pops into my ichat name. If I then enable her account on the same computer, her login also pops up next to my window. This is working according to plan.
However, if I try to change the picture on her ichat window it also changes on mine. What am I doing wrong here?
Cheers...

Hi,
iChat can not display different Buddy Pics for different Buddy Lists.
This may change with Snow Leopard.
Click the iChat Menu and use the Feedback option and post your wish there.
iChat can use one of 4 Buddy pics.
You can set a Pic in the iChat Buddy List by clicking on the current one and using the edit features.
If there is not one in the Address Book for yourself And this tends to be the one selected in System Preferences > Accounts > Your account although you can set them to be different (Three choices so far) it will default to one for the account type (A Running yellow man for AIM, A Blue Globe for @mac.com names and the Cloud for MobileMe names).
Apple have tended to suppose that if two or more people are going to be using a Mac that there are then Mac User Accounts set up on the computer and therefore there is no issue with Buddy Pics.
The iChat Buddy List is held on the AIM server (AIM names, @Mac.com [email protected] ones).
Part of the process is that the local Buddy list compares this to the Address Book and Add the Real names you have entered.
So only this name in the Address Book on that computer will show Real names if entered.
You can Export the Address Book on one computer and Import on the other to get them the same. (Or Sync via MobileMe if you have an Account)
You are getting in to the realms of your wife's Buddies being in your Address Book.
Did I mention another Mac User Account ?
10:31 PM Thursday; June 25, 2009

Home share on same computer different sign in

How do I home share on the same mac. We have two users on Mac snow leopard with latest Itunes 10. I can see the home share account that I want to pull music from under shared on my account , but it wont let me drag it over to my music. It doesnt have the show items button at the bottom either ?
It lets me do it from an itunes library on a different computer but not when we are sharing the same mac.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Rather than using Home sharing, I'd check through the following document with that one:
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

Music file location. Trying to share music on same computer multiple users

THE FACTS!!:
I have a iphone4
my wife has a iphone4
my son has a itouch4
we each have different apple id's
we have one computer and all different user accounts on this same computer
Yes I have gone into I tunes on all three user signon's and gone to preferences then advanced and changed the music folder to the same location.
The problem:
     I will download songs on my iphone
     My sone will download songs to his itouch
     my wife will download songs to her iphone
     We go into our respective user accounts and plug in our devices, and the music will sync, but when I switch over to another user the music will not show up. It will only show on the itunes for the user that sync the music.
     In theory, if we are downloading music to the same folder, wouldn't the song show in each user's itunes music folder, since I chose the same library on each user account for itunes????
I would love for everyone to plug in their devices and whatever music is synced on any device, it will go into the same library. ONLY MUSIC!!
Does anyone have a answer. This is driving me nuts!

     In theory, if we are downloading music to the same folder, wouldn't the song show in each user's itunes music folder, since I chose the same library on each user account for itunes????
What you really have there is separate libraries sharing a common music folder. Adding new things to the folder does not cause the other iTunes library to know about it. If you would like to have this capability, you can use a 3rd party program such as iTunes Folder Watch.

Front row & shared libraries on same computer

Hey
My girlfriend and I dont have the same music taste, which is why we like to keep our music on different accounts. However recently I've bought a Mac Mini intended to work as a mediacenter. I've planned to use Front Row along with the remote control, but I still like to keep 2 different music lists for me and the girlfriend.
So far I've tried with 2 accounts on the Mac mini each of them with shared Itunes libraries. I can access the 2 different libraries on other computers fine, but not through Front Row on the Mini itself.
Any ideas on how to solve my issue?
Thx in advance.
/Rocky

Ohhh it's easy... just get a new girlfriend ? <G>
So I see your problem.
Just to be clear, you seem to be aware that using Fast User Switching, as opposed to logging out is the only way to half way make this work. But you are right, it doesn't seem possible to share different iTunes user accounts on the same computer thru Front Row.
As a matter of fact, I was playing a shared song in iTunes from another user on my computer, and when I clicked the remote to engage Front Row, the song stopped....
I would like to point out that it IS possible to share two different user's iTunes on another computer..... so if you set up your first computer with you and your girlfriend's accounts, set iTunes to share on both, then keep both accounts active by using Fast User Switching, THEN on your Mac Mini, you can access both of those shared accounts... just not at the same time.. This is done under the SOURCES menu...
If I come up with any other ideas... I'll let you know.

Can I share iTunes purchases on same computer, different apple ID?

If I purchase an album from iTunes, can I share it with my daughter, who lives at home and uses the same computer, but has a different apple ID and separate user account in Windows 7? Our computer would presumably be authorized already by each of us. Thank you.

iTunes: How to share music between different ... - Apple - Support

Sharing Itunes on same computer

My husband and I just bought our Mac and we set up two different accounts on the one computer. I've set the music to "share" but if I purchase music online while I'm logged in, he can't sync it onto his Ipod and vice versa. Is there any way we can share eachother's music without completely wiping out our own ipod playlists and having to re -purchase tunes while logged in as the other person? Does this make sense?
THanks

Try this... (swap husband and wife in this. I had it already typed in somewhere else)
1. Quit iTunes.
2. Drag your entire *iTunes folder* from /Username/Music to /Users/Shared.
3. Log out.
1. Log in on your Wife's account.
2. Click on the iTunes icon to start it, then immediately press an hold the Option key.
3. iTunes will ask to *Create new library* or *Choose existing library*. Select *Choose existing library*.
4. Select the *iTunes library* file in the *iTunes folder* in /Users/Shared.
5. iTunes will open and all the music in your account will be there.
6. Now, go to iTunes prefs -> General -> Import options.
7. Make sure *Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library* is ticked.
8. Go to File -> Add to library and select the *iTunes music folder* in /Wife's username/Music/iTunes. This will add all the music in her account.
9. Go to File -> Library -> Import playlist and select *iTunes library.xml* in /Wife's username/Music/iTunes. This will import all her playlists. There may be some duplicate playlists but just delete them.
10. When done, quit iTunes.
11. Go to /Wife's username/Music and drag the iTunes folder to the trash. Do NOT empty the trash yet.
12. Restart iTunes normally (don't hold Option).
13. Everything should be there.
14. Quit iTunes and log out of her account.
1. Log into your account, start iTunes normally and all music should be there.
2. Quit iTunes and go back into her account and make sure iTunes works okay. If it does, empty the trash.
Any changes to anything will be seen by the other user when they run iTunes.
If you are logged in and he plugs in his iPod, it should sync just his playlists and vice-versa.
Note that iTunes can be opened by only one user at a time. If you are using Fats User switching and not logging out, the user must quit iTunes before switching.

Sharing Music Help! 2 Users Accounts, 2 iTunes accounts, share SOME music??

Hi - I'm new to Mac and iTunes all together (finally joined the cult... and love it!)
Anyways, My ideal setup is to have 2 User Accounts and 2 Separate iTunes Accounts so my bf and I can buy our own music, obtain separate libraries, yet share SOME music. I want to see all of MY music in the Music Library when I log in, but I still want to be able to transfer some of his music to my phone's playlist and vice versa.
Currently, our Itunes libraries are stored on each of our user profiles /users/name/music. When I log into iTunes, I see my music and [if his user account is logged on] I can see his under SHARED. But that doesn't allow me to transfer his music to my playlists and in the end, my phone.
I read Apple's how-to on pointing each of our iTunes to Users/Shared and but then whenever I'm in iTunes it would just be a huge pool of both our music and I have to weed through all of his.
Any suggestions on how we can both maintain our separate libraries/accounts but share some music (not just listen to each other's music).

In the Finder. I should have said "In the Finder, create the folder /Users/Shared/Music".
In case it wasn't clear, all of the instructions should be carried out in the Finder. iTunes should definitely not be running when you move your library and create the aliases.
A few additional points:
1. There's nothing significant about the folder location /Users/Shared/Music. You can substitute the name of any folder you want, provided all users will be able to read and write to it.
2. Beware of having two or more users accessing your shared Music library *at the same time*. (Since you mentioned you want to share your music between two users on a single MacBook, I assumed only one user would access the library at a time.) This only becomes an issue if at some time in the future you share a library in this way between two computers over a networked drive. If two or more users are making simultaneous changes to the same iTunes library, they will stomp all over each other's changes, and very likely corrupt the library. Note that it's also possible to corrupt your music library if you both are simultaneously logged in on your MacBook via "Fast User Switching", and are both simultaneousy running iTunes and making changes to the library. So don't do that. (Not that you ever would.)

2 ipads 1 computer different accounts

Hi I have an ipad and just got my wife one
We now only have 1 computer How can we use both ipads on the same computer without each of us having the same music and pics sent to both our ipads

I made two different playlists for our iPads/iPhones. You can also select the iPad in itunes, select the Photos Tab and then select which photos you want to sync to that particular iPad. I have a Mac, so not sure if that part is a little different on WIndows or not, but I would assume it is possible.

Sharing music on same computer, different accounts

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for