Using MUSIC app with DROPBOX

Hi,

You cannot use the same library database for both Music and iTunes. Music can read and convert an iTunes Library.itl database into a Music.musiclibrary database, but the reverse doesn't work. In addition because of the way that Dropbox locks files when it is uploading them placing the library inside your Dropbox folder (or similar cloud service) has the potential to lead to corruption of the library. Apple's supported methods for keeping libraries in sync across multiple computers and devices are Apple Music or iTunes Match. In either case they can work even if you have Music/Catalina on one system and something older running iTunes on another. If both machines run the same app then it is possible to use folder syncing techniques although ideally these would only be run when the library isn't being actively used. The library also needs to be in a portable layout (see Make a split library portable - Apple Community) or the volume names and locations need to be identical on both computers otherwise absolute paths to content that work in one computer won't work in another.

tt2

None of the settings within iTunes will point to Dropbox, they are all for iCloud. Dropbox is not directly supported.

Since you are using Dropbox, everything should be done externally to iTunes.

Which is why I suggested you make sure, the iTunes library being used by the MacBook Pro is the one on Dropbox like I suggested for the iMac. Open iTunes or the Music App with the option key held down, and navigate to the .ITL file there.

You have not exactly explained what you did to get the library onto Dropbox, and how you told the MacBook Pro to look for it there, which means I'm not entirely sure your settings are correct. If you did not do so at any point, you need to open the new library .itl file that exists in Dropbox on the MacBook Pro the same way I suggested you do so on the iMac.

Otherwise there is no way for iTunes on the MacBook Pro to actually be looking for the library in Dropbox. Just because you copied a file does not mean iTunes automatically knows where it is now.

producingdirector wrote:

...created a new library on the MacBook (using option method) and imported everything. Yikes!

That may be the issue. When you created the new library where was the ITL file placed? If the iMac loaded a different ITL file, then the changes would not be visible. Both the iMac and the MacBook Pro need to be pointing to the same ITL file.

If you created a new library and imported everything, there would now be 2 ITL files. The original one you copied over, and the new one you created.

Also, while doing the changes make sure the iMac's iTunes app is closed entirely, this will make it read the ITL file again when you open it and reflect the changes.

Are you sure the MacBook Pro is saving changes to the Dropbox library?

If you point the MacBook Pro to the dropbox library the same way, does it see the changes?

Sounds like you moved your library from the MacBook Pro to DropBox, but the actual library file is still local to the MacBook Pro, so its not itself making changes to the library on Dropbox. Unless you actually pointed the MacBook Pro to the Dropbox library, its not really reading the library form there and not actually saving changes there.

It may also take some time for Dropbox to sync the changes.

You're welcome. 🙂

FWIW I have a main library in Windows that I clone between my home and work computers by way of a synced copy on a portable drive, and a cloud library that I can access in Catalina, Mohave, High Sierra, Windows 7 & 10, and my iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and HomePods, which syncs using Apple Music, and previously synced using iTunes Match. iCloud Music Library (which is the backbone of both iTunes Match and Apple Music) gets around the compatibility issues that would otherwise arise between the three versions of macOS.

tt2

Thanks TT.

Turingtest2 is much more versed in these situations than I am. I was not aware for instance iTunes cannot read Apple Music libraries once converted. Sorry for that mislead.

Point the Music app on the iMac to the iTunes Library in Dropbox, by holding down the Option Key when opening the Music app on the iMac and navigating to the "ITunes Library.itl" file on Dropbox.

See here: Use multiple libraries in Music on Mac - Apple Support

As long as it can access the Dropbox library it will continue to then open that one by default. If for whatever reason it cannot find the Dropbox library, it will revert to the local library which will not be up to date unless you manually update it.

Since both apps will be using the same library over Dropbox, you may run into issues of one blocking the other but as long as you open the libraries at different times, it should not have any issues, and any changes you make on one computer will be available on the other.