Using a iTunes Library on a network drive

I would like to have my itunes library on a external HDD plugged in to my airport extreme and have all my macs use this common library for itunes.
I have copied the itunes folder to the drive and pointed all of the itunes to use this as the default library but it is not working the way I would like it to.
When i close itunes on any of the computers it goes back to using the default library,
What am I doing wrong?

When you copy the content to the network volume, do you copy the media, or the iTunes library files as well? If you copy the library files as well, then you can delete them from the local computer, and when you open iTunes the next time it should tell you that it can't find the library and give you the option to locate it. Just point iTunes to the copy of the library files on the network disk and you should be fine.
One thing to keep in mind is that in doing this, you can not have 2 computers attempting to access the iTunes library at the same time. Perhaps this is what is happening that is throwing your computer back to the "default library".

Similar Messages

  • Can two computers use same iTunes library on a network drive?

    Can two computers use directly (rather than share) the same iTunes library on a network drive? 
    My media library is on a network drive attached to my Airport Extreme. Right now I share the library with my desktop Mac. I can share fine, but I would like to be able to add, delete, and make other changes in the media library from both computers. The two computers would not be accessing the library at the same time as I am the sole user of both.

    I appreciate your input and I think you're right about this being impossible. But just to clarify, you say I can't "have multiple machines accessing the same music files from a shared location." I can have multiple machines accessing the same music files from a shared location--I just can't have them accessing the same music files simultaneously--which may have been what you meant. For my situation, I think it will be less work to just quit iTunes on my server when I want to run it on my client (using Chicken of the VNC). It's not ideal, but it's less time-consuming than periodically syncing three computers.
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    I know some of the issues related to this question have been touched on in different discussions but I don't think I have seen a clear yes/no and if yes, here's how, answer to my queries, so here goes.
    Like another member, I would like to take my iTunes library with me when I'm away on holiday so that I can (for example) use an Apple TV with Home Sharing to watch movies in my library or pay albums in my music library while on holiday, in the same way as I am able to at home. I have a Samsung NC 10 notebook running Windows XP (which I would take with me with a Samsing Story EHD) and a Dell desktop. My iTunes media folders are now on the EHD and I think I have iTunes library files on the Dell and on the Samsung. Of course, if iTunes Match covered movies as well as music, I would use that and just take my Apple TV with me ... but it doesn't and seems not likely to.
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    if you can have all the library files as well as media on the EHD (i.e. all of your iTunes library), I assume there is more to moving these from the C drive in my Dell to the EHD, than just cutting and pasting them into the EHD and then deleting similarly named files in C drive in the Samsung?
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    Apologies for this long list of questions. Any pointers to where the answers lie or even better specific answers themselves would be very much appreciated.
    Many thanks.

    I think that's yes, yes, yes, yes, and not necessary...
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    In the layout above right, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links from the library to the media, and being self-contained it is much easier to backup and restore. (You do backup, don't you?).
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    Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should be upgraded to iTunes Media Organization (Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder, otherwise the links to these won't survive changes in the path of the library.
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    You can move the library files to a new location and connect to it there as long as the media stays put.
    You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder.
    If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
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    In essence all you need to do to join up a split library and make it portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.
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  • Cannot access iTunes library via FTP network drive.

    Hi,
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    I use windows 7.  Can I move my entire itunes library off my computer to my network hard drive?
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    kneedragger101 wrote:
    Note this is an iTunes Library that was on a PC
    you might want to read these articles: one and two.
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  • How do i get my laptop to access the itunes library on my external drive hooked up to my desktop via my home network?

    How do i get my laptop to access the itunes library on my external drive hooked up to my desktop via my home network?

    If you are willing to pay $24.99 per year for iTunes Match you can put your library in the cloud provided you don't have more than 25,000 tracks.
    iCloud- iTunes Match
    iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match Availability
    iTunes Store- Troubleshooting iTunes Match
    iTunes- How to add a computer or iOS device to iTunes Match

  • I have just transferred my iTunes library from a hard drive previously connected to a windows laptop to a MacBook Pro and now all my options for editing info are greyed out. I have seen the answers if still using windows but could find a similar situation

    I have just transferred my iTunes library from a hard drive previously connected to a windows laptop to a MacBook Pro and now all my options for editing info are greyed out. I have seen the answers if still using windows but could find a similar situation to this one.

    Eels290776 wrote:
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    Message was edited by: Eels290776

    Eels290776 wrote:
    if my external hard drive is not connected to either of my machines, and I download something onto my iMac and then something different onto my Macbook, where are my machines going to be storing the new downloaded media
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    and when I next connect the external hard drive how will I easily get the newly downloaded media onto the external HD
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    and essentially, to have it easily readable on both machines?
    in that case it might be best to copy the entire iTunes folder to the external. then, on each machine, launch iTunes while pressing option on your keyboard. when prompted, click on +choose library+ and navigate to the iTunes folder on the external.
    note only one iTunes can access the iTunes library @ a time !
    also, make sure the external is mounted on either machine before launching iTunes.
    JGG

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