Using single iTunes library for multiple computers

With the new Airport Disk utility, can I attach an external hard drive with my iTunes library and have multiple computers point to that library as the library for each?

BKRonline wrote:
neptune2000 wrote:
A BIG WARNING (...) If you are a good guy and use ONLY one computer to read/write (i.e., to copy music to it) and all the others are read only (which cannot be enforced in software), then you're OK. Consider yourself warned.
just to clarify...
Use ONE computer and ONE COMPUTER ONLY for purchasing / adding new content to the 'master' iTunes library area. Use ANY OTHER COMPUTER that's looking at that 'master' iTunes library for reading (playing back).
Yes. If you can enforce it by "persuasion", not software
Would there be a conflict if someone rates songs from other computers etc?
Yes. If they both rate at the same time.

Similar Messages

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.
Also, i wouldn’t mind if the library were only stored on the TC and the PB, since the MBP should be able to access the TC 99% of the time, but in that case the PB would have to compare its own library and metadata to that of the TC, while i’m not sure how the MBP would store its iTunes database on the TC and not its own drive. I imagine that, with the current implementation of iTunes at least, it would have to be all on the MBP and the PB, with the TC version merely a backup. In most cases, i should be able to reach both my TC and my MBP from the road over the internet, but i still want to have the library on the PB hard drive for when i don’t have a connection.
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...?)
And while we’re at it, doing the same or similar to my iPhoto, iCal, Addressbook, Documents, etc. would be nice. Perhaps something can be done with the entire Home folder that would accomplish all of this? I’m not sure if the fact that one is Intel and the other is PowerPC would put a hitch in that method though. There are some settings, such as the totally different trackpads, etc. that will not be the same, plus i’ll be using a lot of programs solely on the MBP, which is why cloning the drive is not an option.
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.

Using One iTunes Library on multiple computers.

Hey guys,
I've currently got my iTunes library saved on a Time Capsule and use it with my mac mini.
I want to be able to use the same library on my macbook pro. have set up iTunes on both computers so that it looks for the library on the Time Capsule so at the moment both machines can play all the media.
However if i buy track using the mini and add it to iTunes it saves it in the right place and plays fine but how can i update the library on the macbook as so it can see the new songs that have been added?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Kind regards

Another detail with this setup is that if you've got an iPod or iPhone that you want to load music to, you'll need to connect it to the computer that is the 'host' offering the music library for share. If you use the 'client' computer, then it won't let you install your mp3s to your iPod from the 'shared' library on the other computer.
In my setup, which is similar to what you're describing, it looks like iTunes lets me connect my iPhone to either computer and install mp3s.
Seth

Using single iTunes library in multiple locations

I am about to hook my external with my iTunes library to my AirPort Express for my laptop to access the library, the question I have is what is the easiest way to go about this and if I don't have my AirPort with me how can I plug in the external to have access to my library? I hope this can be done right now I have my MacBook Pro sitting on my desk and I would like to roam around the house, but when I get deployed I won't have my AirPort so I want to just be able to plug in and go. Thanks for any assistance that can be provided.

Turn off the preference that has itunes automatically organize music for you. I have my music on two internal drives.
Note that by having it on an external you will also have to connect the external before you start itunes or else you will get a lot of ! from itunes saying it cannot find the files. Alternatively, if you don't mind operating this way, you can create a separate library for movies and keep it all on the external drive. Hold down the option key at startup to select the library you wish to use.

How to use a Itunes Library between multiple computers

Hi all,
I have never posted a question to this apple forum, so forgive me if this is the wrong place to ask.
My situation is as follows:
I have a Synology DS214play NAS, also attached to my network is a wired Imac (late 2013 model) running the latest software and wireless connected macbook pro.
What I want to achieve is to manage my music on both my Imac and my Macbook, the itunes library file(s) and music are stored on my NAS.
What Im able to do is to manually select the Library file on one devices and it retrieves all the contents and I can start listing and adding music.
However if I want to also listing to my music on another device at the same time, Where I also select the library file its giving me this message:
What this message is telling:
"The File 'iTunes Library Extras.itdb' is locked, this file is located is located on a secure disk or you don't have the privilege to write to this file.
Sorry for the bad translation.
I have tryed everything so far but it doesn't help,
I hope you guys and girls can help me with this.
Regards Jordy from the Netherlands

I want to also listing to my music on another device at the same time
A library file can only be opened by one running copy of iTunes at a time. You have to quit iTunes on the other computer.
You can have two library files sharing the same media, but then you have to keep two libraries up to date with each other.

Use 1 itunes library for multiple user accounts

Is there a way to use 1 library for multi-user accounts on mac osx? I have 4 iphones and was previously using the main account only. I'm getting tired of having everyones contact lists downloaded into my main phone. I can't seem to figure out how to sync the music to the same library.

Hi There,
I sync 2 iphones with the same library, and to stop the other iphones contacts adding to mine I have two groups in the address book, one has my contacts in and the other my friends. I then just sync the appropriate address book in the info pane when the iphone is plugged in.
Hope this helps.

Is there any way to access a single iTunes library on multiple computers simultaneously?

Hi,
I'm looking to set up a system whereby my music would be stored on a single computer kept on 24/7. There would be approximately 7 client computers that would access this master computer to play music from. However, the tricky part is that it would have to be able to do so simultaneously. This would be for a dance studio where there are 5 studios that run classes all at the same time and would need to be able to access music for their given classes. I don't believe this is available on iTunes but there may be other software that would be capable of this. Thanks in advance.

Also look into Music Sharing. Since this is primarily so the groups can play music they don't need editing capability for the library file which could be a single version on a computer not even in a classroom (preventing accidental editing).
iTunes: How to share music and video - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2688 - about Music Sharing and Home Sharing
Distinguishing music sharing and Home Sharing - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6056435
Music Sharing - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2688
iTunes: Setting up Home Sharing on your computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4620

Having one iTunes music library for multiple computers via TimeCapsule

Hi there,
I'm just wondering how to best set-up my iTunes library. I want the library on my TimeCapsule wireless hard drive, and to be able to set this as the library for multiple computers at home. It's a waste of space to have duplicate libraries on both computers.I had this working with an earlier version of iTunes, but its not working now.
I also want to know how I can get the wireless device to fire up simply by pressing the iTunes icon. If I do this without, iTunes says it can't find the library.
Thanks.

Frank, yes. Only one library of the songs and content if it's stuff from the Music Store.
If the music is your own CD rips, then you can put all the music on a central server and have all the computers connect in on your home network.
You do NOT set your iTunes to share their libraries, or look for shared libraries, you manually do the drag-and-drop with your networked music folder into the iTunes library window and each copy of iTunes behaves as if the network volume is it's own.
The only shortcoming to this is if you add music with one machine, the others will NOT have the new songs added to their own library lists unless you drag and drop the songs into the iTunes library manually for each computer.
I have enough music that I have broken down the library list into five folders, A-E, F-J, K-O, P-T, and U-Z. When I add new songs, the folders they're in will be added at the root Music Library folder level, so I can refresh the libraries with the new music THEN manually file it into one of those five correct folders.
This is what my network library looks like:
http://home.comcast.net/~foodandart/Network%20Library.jpg - you can see that I haven't added the Clapton, BBC, Roxy Music, etc, to the library lists for the entire house.
The G4 frankenbeast computer in our living room, is the media server for the house and has the stereo system rigged through it and is used to rip vinyl and watch the video. I still have to refresh the libraries in my husband's laptop, and on my main internet computer, so those albums haven't been filed yet.
Of course the caveat here is that I haven't a single item that's purchased through the Music Store and thusly locked down, since I rip my own LP's and CD's, so everything is much more flexible in how I can handle it.
Deb.

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

How do I maintain a single iTunes library for two separate iMac user accounts?

How do I maintain a single iTunes library for two separate iMac user accounts?...without having to manually do something every download?

Pardon me, I am brand new at using an iMac. I understand the concept but I don't know exactly how to "move" the library. I found a shared folder under users on the hard drive. If I move it, won't I have to redirect each iTunes user to the new shared location?
If I point iTunes to anything other than the music folder under that user name, it shows as a "shared library". Preferences still shows it as that users library, regardless of where the advanced gear button says it is pointing to.
Am I asking for too much to have each user control the exact same music files, apps and playlists? I just want the two different itunes sessions to mirror each other without any frequent updating or copying.
We use the same id for itunes music and apps so we could just sync all devices under one iMac user id and not use it under hers.

Can I use one itunes account for multiple users and multiple devices

Can I use one itunes account for multiple users and multiple devices?

The iTunes EULA, as I understand it (I'm not an attorney )for Apps is basically that one person can use an App multiple devices, or multiple people can use an App one device..so one to many or many to one, but not many to many....

How can I use my itunes library for iphoto slideshow?

how can I use my itunes library for iphoto slideshow?

Here's a possible workaround:
Create the slideshow in Iphoto and add a theme and music.
Install Picasa and it will include the slideshow on it's indexed list.
Upload the slideshow to PicasaWebAlbums and send the link to anyone you wish.
The music and theme is preserved.
Caveat: My playback pictures appear darker than usual but that could be just lousy photography...:)
Example:https://picasaweb.google.com/mb2180/Kona2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPGWz_qPrM XKZA&feat=directlink

Using the same library with multiple computers over a network Use Aperture

Hi Everyone. I am researching some cataloguing/editing programs to recommend one to my boss, and I was wondering if it was possible to use the same library between multiple computers on a network. Does anyone know if this is possible? This may be what makes or breaks the decision on whether or not to go with Aperture as we need a program that can access a large database of photos on multiple computers.
Thank you.

Welcome to the forum.
You can do it, but...
It's not supported by Apple.
Performance won't be great unless you're running a really fast network.
If more than one person tries to access the Library at one time you're likely to end up with a corrupted database, and there's no code in Aperture to limit access to one person at a time.
The Library must be stored on an HFS+ volume - don't even try putting it on a FAT32-formatted drive.
If you want 'proper' multi-concurrent-user network-enabled cataloguing software you're looking into a whole different level of investment than the low price of Aperture - think more in terms of thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
Ian

Using one library for multiple computers and accounts (not store accounts)

Okay, we currently have four macs in the house. One was recently bought: i7 iMac (late 2009), another is dying: (mid 2005 iMac), another is going somewhere else: (late 2006 iMac) and another is a laptop: C2D MBP (late 2008). We might add another computer into the mix some time later.
Anyway, what I want to do is have one iTunes library which all of the computers can access (even guest's/friend's computers). We have a Time Capsule, and as I have heard one can make the TC the HDD for the iTunes library, I thought it best for it to be there.
The only thing is, how can each computer (and the possible multiple accounts) each access the same library, without duplicating and messing anything up? Is that possible? If it is too hard for multiple computers to do this, I would still want the (late 2009) iMac to be able to use the same library for the two accounts on it.
Thanks.

Make sure everything you want to share is on the centralized drive (music, video, and books, but if any of you have mobile devices, keep the apps on your local drive). Mount the drive on your computer. (Remember, from now on you must do this before starting iTunes.) If iTunes isn't running, start it now.
At the moment iTunes thinks the library is on the local computer and has all the music on it so that has to be changed. Click on Music in the left window pane, select all, and delete. This deletes all the music from the library and, if you choose, from the computer too. (Until you are sure this set-up is to your liking, don't delete the music from the drive.) Now go to Preferences and select the Advanced tab. Set iTunes to look at the music folder on your shared drive. And finally, select File>Add to Library to repopulate your iTunes library. This could take a while if you have a large music collection.
Since you changed the music location, anything that is added to one person's library will be saved onto the shared drive so it isn't too much of a hassle to manually add music. You'll have to rebuild playlists which is a minor hassle but it’s a one time deal.

Using single iTunes library for multiple computers

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