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.

Similar Messages

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.

Using a single itunes library with multiple iphones?

My wife got an iPhone 3GS recently and I already have a 4S. I plan to use an existing iTunes install on a single PC to manage them both. I see that Apple support articles say it's worth keeping iTunes libaries separate (with separate Windows user accounts) when there are multiple iPhones using iTunes on one PC.
I like to manually manage music, videos and podcasts in my iTunes library rather than use synching. I like the idea of having a shared pool of music, videos and apps for us both to use. I know apps that are purchased on my iPhone or my wife's are linked to a specific apple ID so that means if she transfers any apps that were bought on my phone originally, her phone will ask her for my apple ID password when they get updates. But sharing passwords with eachother isn't a problem.
I can create a second user account for my wife easily, but I kind of have the feeling I'd prefer to share a single library as I say.
Are there any other reasons I need to keep 2 user accounts and 2 iTunes libraries going when I manually manage the transfer of content?
Cheers.

MikeBelfast wrote:
I can create a second user account for my wife easily, but I kind of have the feeling I'd prefer to share a single library as I say.
Adn this can easily be done.
Move your /Music/iTunes/ folder to a Shared directory (such as /Users/Public/ folder) and everyone can use this single library.
Each user must quit iTunes before the other can open it.
Just hold Shift, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder in the shared directory.
The big advantage with separate Windows user accounts, data such as photos, calendars, emails, and everything else will be separate.

Accessing a single itunes library from multiple macs using a NAS???

hi, at the moment i have a imac g5 holding all my itunes library files on its hard drive. i'm about to buy another mac to locate downstairs, and also have itunes on my windows laptop.
i am thinking of moving the itunes library to a networked attached storage device, something like the buffalo terastation. does anyone have experience of this? does it work well over a wireless network? (802.11g)
how easy is this to set up, and make each mac point to the library on the NAS device? are there any problems with ripping cds to the NAS device, or multiple macs accessing different songs at the same time?
what would i need to do on each mac to make if see the library if i moved it to the NAS?
sorry for the questions, but i know what i want to do, just not quite sure how to do it!
thanks, andy

hi,
sorry i haven't tried this. i've now resorted to
buying a mac mini, attaching an external firewire
harddrive and using itunes sharing. still means i
have to have the mac mini on all the time, so not
ideal. i decided not to buy the nas for the time
being. i'm still interested in hearing if it works on
other peoples systems tho!
There are others who have done something similar in that they created a shared folder on one computer and opened access to that shared folder to all other computers. The result was that only one computer could listen to the library at a time. I would assume the same thing would be true if using a NAS due to the file locking iTunes imposes. Anybody want to take a ride to the Apple Store and see if one of their reps have done it??

Using a single iTunes library with multiple logins.

I've setup my iMac to have multiple logins for everyone in my family. I'd like everyone to use the same iTunes library, though, so that all purchases and playlists can be seen and used by everyone. I have it so that everyone has the same files, but not the same library. That is, the playlists don't come through on the other logins, and purchases made from one login don't translate to another.
I'm not trying to rip anyone off, I just want my whole family to have the same library.
Is this possible?

padrepablo wrote:
Thanks much, but I've done that. That method shares FILES but not the LIBRARY
Then you missed a step or two.
The steps above share the entire iTunes library (media, artwork, playlists, library file, Genius files, everything).
In the Music/iTunes folder on everyone's login is a file called iTunes Library.itl.
Yes, and holding Option and selecting Choose library allows you to select which iTunes library you want to use.
THAT is the file I want to share, but I can't seem to move it.
The steps above will do exactly what you want.
All users will use the exact same iTunes library.
You need to hold Option and select Choose library (notice is says, "Library").
Once you copy your /Music/iTunes/ folder to /Users/Shared/ folder, everyone can delete /Username/iTunes/ folder.

Any way to span a single iTunes Library over multiple hard drives?

I have a hard drive that is almost full and the only thing on it is my iTunes library. It is not feasible for me to get a larger hard drive as this one is already a 1TB hard drive. Now, I have seen I can create multiple libraries, with each library on a different hard drive if I wish. However, not only is most of the media in the library podcasts, using multiple libraries for a single iPod Touch would be a pain.
So, is there a way for the iTunes Library to span over more than one hard drive, but yet be a single library? It would make it easier to sync my iPod Touch.
Thanks in advance!

I'm assuming that I would have to "import" my old drive into the library
You don't import anything since your library is the same as it was. All those items are still in iTunes in the same location. The ONLY thing different is iTunes prefs -> Advanced.
Or am I wrong and it will have my previous media folder still in the library, and anything new would be put in the new media folder?
Yes & yes. Everything in iTunes will still be in iTunes, stay in the same location it is now and iTunes will use it from there.
Anything new added to iTunes will go to the location you set in iTunes prefs -> Advanced.

I want to use my iTunes library with multiple Windows computers

I want to put my entire iTunes library on a server and then allow any of the 4 - windows laptops, 1 - windows desktop, various iPods, an iPad 1, and a Samsung Tablet to gain access to use it. 3 of the laptops are Windows 8, the desktop and one laptop is Windows 7. I don't mind having multiple iTunes accounts set up. I just want to make sure that when a song is purchased or uploaded from a CD or whatever that it all goes into this central location so that everyone has access to it. How do I make that happen?

1. Yes you can do that.
2. But you shouldn't.
3. There's no need to anyway.
This thread
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
Will tell you more on how, and why not, and why what you want to do is making more for for exactly zero extra capability.
Or, put another way, maybe iPhoto is not the app for you.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Sharing an iTunes Library across multiple user account and a network.

Sharing an iTunes Music Library across multiple user accounts.
Hello Everybody!
Firstly, this was designed to be run in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. It will not work with earlier versions of Mac OS X! Sorry.
Here's a handy tip for keeping your hard drive neat and tidy, it also saves space, what in effect will be done is an iTunes music library will be shared amongst multiple users on the same machine. There are advantages and disadvantages to using this method.
• Firstly I think it might be worthwhile to state the advantages and disadvantages to using this approach.
The advantages include:
- Space will be saved, as no duplicate files will occur.
- The administrator will be able to have complete control over the content of the iTunes library, this may be useful for restricting the content of the Library; particularly for example if computer is being used at and education institution, business or any other sort of institution where things such as explicit content would be less favorable.
- The machine will not be slowed by the fact that every user has lots of files.
The disadvantages to this system include.
- The fact that the account storing the music will have to be logged in, and iTunes will have to be active in that account.
- If the account housing the music is not active then nobody can use the iTunes library.
- There is a certain degree of risk present when an administrator account must be continually active.
- Fast User Switching must be enabled.
Overview:
A central account controls all music on the machine/network, this is achieved by storing iTunes files in a public location as opposed to in the user's directory. In effect the system will give all users across the machine/network access to the same music/files without the possibility of files 'doubling up' because two different users like the same types of music. This approach saves valuable disk space in this regard and may therefore prove to be useful in some situations.
This is a hearty process to undertake, so only follow this tutorial if you're willing to go all the way to the end of it.
Process:
Step 1:
Firstly, we need to organize the host library, I tidied mine up, removing excess playlists, random files, things like that. this will make thing a bit easier in the later stages of this process.
Once the library is tidied up, move the entire "iTunes" folder from your Home directory to the "//localhost" directory (The Macintosh HD) and ensure that files are on the same level as the "Applications", "Users", "Library" and "System" directories; this will ensure that the files in the library are available to all users on the machine (this also works for networks)
Optionally you can set the ownership of the folder to the 'administrator' account (the user who will be hosting the library.), you may also like to set the permissions of 'you can' to "Read & Write" (assuming that you are doing this through the user who will host the library); secondly you should set the "Owner" to the administrator who will be hosting the library and set their "access" to "Read & Write" (this will ensure that the administrator has full access to the folder). The final part of this step involves setting access for the "Others" tab to "Read Only" this will ensure that the other users can view but not modify the contents on the folder.
Overview:
So far we have done the following steps:
1. Organized the host library.
2. Placed the iTunes directory into a 'public' directory so that other users may use it. (this step is essential if you plan on sharing the library across multiple accounts on the same machine. NOTE: this step is only necessary if you are wanting to share you library across multiple accounts on the same machine, if you simply want to share the music across a network, use the iTunes sharing facility.
3. set ownership and permissions for the iTunes music folder.
Step 2:
Currently the administrator is the only user who can use this library, however we will address this soon. In this step we will enable iTunes music sharing in the administrator's account, this will enable other users to access the files in the library.
If you are not logged in as the administrator, do so; secondly, open iTunes and select "Preferences" from the "iTunes" menu, now click the "Sharing" tab, if "share my library on my local network" is not checked, the radio buttons below this will now become active, you may choose to share the entire libraries contents, or share only selected content.
Sharing only selected content may be useful if their is explicit content in the library and minors use the network or machine that the library is connected to.
If you have selected "share entire library" go to Step 3, if you have selected share "share selected playlists" read on.
After clicking "share selected playlists" you must then select the playlists that you intend to share across your accounts and network. Once you have finished selecting the playlists, click "OK" to save the settings.
Overview:
In this step we:
1. Enabled iTunes sharing in the administrator's account, now, users on the local network may access the iTunes library, however, users on the same machine may not.
Step 3:
Now we will enable users on the same machine to access the library on the machine. This is achieved by logging in as each user, opening iTunes, opening iTunes preferences, and clicking "look for shared music". now all users on the machine may also access the library that the administrator controls.
This in effect will mean that the user will not need to use their user library, it will be provided to them via a pseudo network connection.
As a secondary measure, I have chosen to write a generic login script that will move any content from the user's "Music/iTunes/iTunes Music" directory to the trash and then empties the user's trash.
This is done through the use of an Automator Application: this application does the following actions.
1. Uses the "Finder" action "Get Specified Finder Items"
1a. The user's "~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music" folder
2. Uses the "Finder" action "Get Folder Contents"
3. Uses the "Finder" action "Move to Trash"
4. Uses the "Automator" action "Run AppleScript"
4a. with the following:
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "Finder"
empty trash
end tell
return input
end run
IMPORTANT: Once the script is adapted to the user account it must be set as a login item. in order to keep the script out of the way i have placed it in the user's "Library" directory, in "Application Support" under "iTunes".
Overview:
Here we:
1. Enabled iTunes sharing in the user accounts on the host machine, in effect allowing all users of the machine to view a single iTunes library.
2. (Optional) I have created a login application that will remove any content that has been added to user iTunes libraries, this in effect stops other users of the machine from adding music and files to iTunes.
Step 4:
If it is not already enabled, open system preferences and enable Fast User Switching in Accounts Options.
Summary:
We have shared a single iTunes library across multiple user account, while still allowing for network sharing. This method is designed to save space on machines, particularly those with smaller hard drives.
I hope that this hint proves to be helpful and I hope everybody will give me feedback on my process.
regards,
Pete.
iBook G4; 60GB Hard Drive, 512MB RAM, Airport Extreme Mac OS X (10.4.6) iWork & iLife '06, Adobe CS2, Final Cut Pro. Anything and Everything!!!

how to share music between different accounts on a single computer

How to use a single iTunes library when using multiple Windows Accounts

Has anyone had success using a common iTunes library between multiple accounts on a single computer? I've tried and have been able to point all of the "different" iTunes programs in the different profiles to the same place...however, when I add files in one profile, they are not visible in any others. I've authorized the "different" iTunes in each profile to play music with my various iTunes store accounts...but no luck.
Any thoughts? (As an aside, what happened to the days when Apple made everything simple? I mean, REALLY SIMPLE! They worked hard at that...and seem to have just given up on the things that made them GREAT! <sigh>)

Drag the entire iTunes folder to a shared directory.
Make sure all users have full access privileges to this folder.
Start iTunes holding the Shift key and select *Choose existing library*.
Now quit iTunes, log out and go the next user.
Start iTunes holding the Shift key and select *Choose existing library*.
Do this for each user.

I and my brother have different apple id's but are using the single itunes library on our home PC.When i am syncing my iphone most of the times the apps that were purchased with my brothers apple id is also getting on my iphone.

i and my brother have different apple id's but are using the single itunes library on our home PC.When i am syncing my iphone most of the times the apps that were purchased with my brothers apple id is also getting on my iphone.
How do i differentiate the apps that were purchased with my apple id and sync accordingly.As i want only the apps that were purchased in my apple id.
I am aware of the fact that i can click on the app and check with "getinfo" to see with whose apple id it is brought.but there are hundreds app which i cannot check one by one.
How do i filter the apps with apple id and sync?

Connect the device to the computer.
Open iTunes.
Select the content desired to sync.
Sync.

Using single iTunes library in multiple locations

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for