hellomynameisstephen

Q: iTunes Sharing on same computer

Just bought a new iMac and want to share my library with my wife on same computer. We have separate user profiles on the computer, but don't want to have to import entire 200gb library twice onto the same machine. Is there a way to get her profile to see my music on the same computer?

 

Thanks for any help!

iTunes, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 7:11 AM

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Q: iTunes Sharing on same computer

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  • by Chris CA,Solvedanswer

    Chris CA Chris CA Feb 21, 2012 7:26 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 21, 2012 7:26 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen
    1. Quit iTunes.
    2. Move your iTunes folder to /Users/Shared/.
    3. Hold Option and launch iTunes.
    4. Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared/.
    5. Quit iTunes and log into your wife's account.
    6. Hold Option, launch iTunes and select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared/.
  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Feb 21, 2012 8:05 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 21, 2012 8:05 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen

    iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203

  • by CasVegas,

    CasVegas CasVegas May 27, 2012 9:27 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 27, 2012 9:27 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen

    I have tried this and managed to create a folder that we can both myself and my partner can access on our separate logins and iTunes accounts. However, if I add import a cd to my iTunes it does not appear on her iTunes unless she manually updates the folder on her login (and vice versa when she adds music). Is there anyway to resolve this so that when I add music it gets added into her library without having to update?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA May 27, 2012 11:10 PM in response to CasVegas
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    May 27, 2012 11:10 PM in response to CasVegas

    CasVegas wrote:

     

    I have tried this

    Tried what?

  • by CasVegas,

    CasVegas CasVegas May 31, 2012 8:52 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 31, 2012 8:52 AM in response to Chris CA

    Tried this:

     

    iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer -http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203

     

    However it does not update your account if another person adds any media to it.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA May 31, 2012 10:54 AM in response to CasVegas
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    May 31, 2012 10:54 AM in response to CasVegas

    CasVegas wrote:

     

    However it does not update your account if another person adds any media to it.

    Correct. You are not using the same library. You are only using the same iTunes media folder.

    If you turn on Home Sharing, one library will show up in the other users iTunes (With Fast User Switching).

  • by daleiranon,

    daleiranon daleiranon Aug 11, 2012 9:06 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 11, 2012 9:06 PM in response to Chris CA

    I encountered a problem after logging into my wifes account and choosing the shared iTunes folder at Step#6. It says the folder is locked. Do i need to change the permissions in each folder within the iTunes folder? With hundreds of embedded folders within the iTunes Music folder, this becomes quite cumbersome.

     

    Did I miss anything in the steps above?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Aug 11, 2012 9:45 PM in response to daleiranon
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 11, 2012 9:45 PM in response to daleiranon

    daleiranon wrote:

     

    I encountered a problem after logging into my wifes account and choosing the shared iTunes folder at Step#6. It says the folder is locked. Do i need to change the permissions in each folder within the iTunes folder?

    In a Finder window, select Shared/iTunes.

    Right click - Get info.

    UNder General, tick Shared folder.

  • by daleiranon,

    daleiranon daleiranon Aug 11, 2012 10:47 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 11, 2012 10:47 PM in response to Chris CA

    Hi Chris

     

    I tried your suggestion but still got the same problem. I noticed that only the shared/iTunes folder had everyone-read/write access in get more info-sharing&permissions. All the files and folder nested in shared/iTunes only had everyone-read access.

     

    So I logged back into my account and provided read write access to iTunes Library.itl. Logged back to my wife's account, what I encountered this time is "the iTunes library genius.itdb file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file."

     

    Do I have to change all the permissions on all the files under shared/iTunes?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Aug 11, 2012 11:43 PM in response to daleiranon
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 11, 2012 11:43 PM in response to daleiranon

    Did you quit iTunes when switching users?

     

    Get info on the iTunes folder.

    Tick Shared folder.

    Scroll down to the bottom, click the gear icon and select 'Apply to enclosed items'.

  • by daniel.montecillo,

    daniel.montecillo daniel.montecillo Feb 19, 2013 8:18 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2013 8:18 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen

    I have a new iMac and I created an account for my wife.

     

    1.Enable the sharing permission on the System Preference screen. => Enable sharing the iTunes Library with Read and Write Permission.

    2. Then go to your iTunes Folder, On the individual Files and Folders get the File Information, and on the sharing tab on the very bottom enable/add sharing permission, add the account of your wife and apply read and write permission.

    3. Login to your wife's account and Launch iTunes while holding the option key. Navigate to your shared folder (iTunes Folder), and viola it will load your iTunes Library together with the playlist.

     

     

    I hope this helps will post screenshot later.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Feb 19, 2013 8:54 AM in response to daniel.montecillo
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 19, 2013 8:54 AM in response to daniel.montecillo

    This was solved a year ago.

  • by marc.garcia,

    marc.garcia marc.garcia Apr 21, 2013 6:15 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 21, 2013 6:15 AM in response to Chris CA

    Hi Chris,

     

    is there any user friendly way to overcome this?

    Chris CA wrote:

     

    Correct. You are not using the same library. You are only using the same iTunes media folder.

    If you turn on Home Sharing, one library will show up in the other users iTunes (With Fast User Switching).

     

    Home sharing is a possibility, however, it does not seem to allow other users to use my updated itunes library to add new music to their devices. How do you go about this yourself?

     

    thanks

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Apr 21, 2013 9:28 AM in response to marc.garcia
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 21, 2013 9:28 AM in response to marc.garcia

    See my first response.

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