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Level 1

0 points

Home Sharing not working as expected.

I have setup home sharing through iTunes 10 on my desktop pc (Windows 7) and MacBook Pro however it doesn't seem to be working as expected.

I can browse all of the laptop media and play it without any issue when I'm on the desktop machine, but when I try to access the desktop's library from the laptop the home sharing doesn't appear in the iTunes shared area.

I've tried disabling home sharing and re-enabling (many, many times) and all this has done is to cause the home sharing to (occasionally) re-appear on the laptop for a few minutes. If I'm quick enough and click on it before it disappears I can establish a connection. As long as I keep streaming content all is well, but if I let it go idle for even a few minutes, I'm back to square one, and the sharing disappears.

Even stranger; even though the shared library has disappeared from iTunes on the laptop, it often reappears after about ten or fifteen minutes, but I'm still unable to connect to it. Clicking causes it to disappear again.

I have also disabled all firewall software on the desktop and laptop to eliminate that as a cause for the problem.

Finally, no matter what state the shared library is in on the laptop (hidden, connected, showing), it has no effect on being able to access the laptop's media from the desktop. Also, the problem seems to be worse when I'm using the laptop wirelessly. That is to say, the desktop shared library disappears quicker, or doesn't show up at all, when I'm wireless.

I'm out of ideas on how to fix this, and I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Added more details

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 13, 2010 1:19 PM

40 replies

eugeneyk

Level 1

35 points

Oct 1, 2010 2:47 PM in response to notanumber

Same here, but I have two wired computers and Apple TV G2 on wireless.
My main computer has all my music, all my apps, everything that I purchased, and is the computer I sync my iPhone and iPad too. My secondary computer, on the other hand, has tons more room so I kept my videos on it. I installed iTunes on it to share the videos, but it has no actual iTunes account linked to it, just home sharing enabled.

For some reason, I can only view my secondary computer's iTunes library and I cannot see my main computer. On the ATV and my main, I can see the secondary shared just fine, but on the secondary and ATV, I cannot see the main.

I've tried disabling and re-enabling Home sharing on both computers, rebooted, turned off all firewalls, and nothing works.

I don't even know why I'm ranting here since Apple never replys, but unfortunately there are no Apple stores within 100 miles of my location.

The FAQs make it look so easy, just enable home sharing and all your libraries are viewable, but sadly that is just not the case.

notanumber Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2010 9:50 PM in response to eugeneyk

I tried calling Apple, as I'm in the same boat; no Apple Store nearby. No luck. The support person went through the usual suspects (firewall, anti-virus, etc) and in the end, I'm still unable to reliably connect to my Windows PC on demand.

Oct 3, 2010 8:03 PM in response to macinsetex

I bought Apple TV yesterday, and spoke with 2 tech support people. The first failed to ask me if i had bothered to install Apple correctly, which apparently, I didn't do. The senior tech guy tried to get me to turn on Home Sharing and it would not show up on the left side bar like he indicated it is supposed to do. He instructed me to trash itunes, which let me to nothing but an all nighter trying to find my previous itunes folder, as I apparently have quite a mess of prior migrations. When I synced my iphone today, I lost much of my music and can no longer have my stuff on my iphone due to perhaps whatever I did? God only knows! I did manage to get a lot back from time machine, which I had some trouble working. I just want to know if anyone can offer any solutions?
A frustrated and local over 50 Mac user.

Oct 3, 2010 8:05 PM in response to Barry Karlin

addendum: They told me to turn off Firewall as i also use airport express...can't I use a firewall?

willyu

Level 1

1 points

Oct 7, 2010 1:43 AM in response to notanumber

Hi notanumber and everyone, I think I have it figured out (had the same problem too). Now my home share does not disappear after idling

Here is what to do.
1. Go to your Windows Firewall and check the allowed application list, and look for a program called Bonjour Service.
2. Check and see if both home/work(private) and public is checked. If not, allow it through the firewall and retest again.

Please report back here so people can know if it works.

==========================
Here is some background if you are wondering why.

Bonjour is an Apple program that "broadcast" services so devices in the network knows what services is avaliable, and this includes the home share service.My theory is that when iTunes starts it does an initial announcement, not through bonjour, so all devices can see it and if needed, connects. After iTunes idles and the port is released, Bonjour is blocked so when you wake the application it does not see home share on bonjour, thus device say it's unavaliable.

This is probably a bug for the iTunes 10 installer. It should have checked and set the firewall setting for bonjour too.

msopie

Level 1

0 points

Oct 8, 2010 6:29 AM in response to notanumber

I have tried everything that has been mention here but I still cannot see Apple Tv in iTunes. I too have Windows 7 w/ iTunes 10 loaded. I've tried sharing changing my firewall settings, and still nothing appears in iTunes. It's very frustrating and I'm completely out of ideas.

willyu

Level 1

1 points

Oct 8, 2010 8:37 AM in response to msopie

msopie, have you checked your firewall setting for your bonjour service as I mentioned above?

edit
forgot to mention, remember to restart you iTunes and possibly your computer after you change the firewall setting for bonjour, just to be safe.

Oct 8, 2010 2:00 PM in response to notanumber

Went to Apple today...a one to one on itunes store dude said tech support told me to throw away itunes was WRONG! The home sharing does not show anything when it is on.
Thanks for anyone writing. Guess everything is ok?

notanumber Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 8, 2010 8:40 PM in response to Barry Karlin

Ok, I think I may have solved it on my end.

I first tried "rebuilding" my iTunes library, but this didn't help.

Second, I followed the steps here( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923) to completely remove all Apple software from my Windows machine, then rebooted, and re-installed iTunes. Afterwards, re-imported all my media and it appears as though the Home Sharing is working!

Oct 8, 2010 9:51 PM in response to notanumber

I am using a MacBook pro. Do I understand your left column actually shows shared albums?

notanumber Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 9, 2010 8:18 AM in response to Barry Karlin

I have a MacBook Pro and Windows 7 PC, both running iTunes 10.0.1. I also have a new AppleTV.

After re-installing everything on both machines, it looks like Home Sharing is working properly between the PC and laptop but the AppleTV is still having issues.

It always sees the laptop as soon as I start iTunes but still has issues with the desktop. I'm about ready to box up the Apple TV and send it back. I'm beyond frustrated at this point. I don't understand why this is so **** complicated. Why can't I just share my **** media, Apple? Cripes, I was able to do this on my 360 without any problems.

Anyways, at this point:
- The Apple TV always sees the laptop, but not always the desktop.
- The laptop always sees the desktop and Apple TV.
- The desktop always sees the Apple TV and laptop.

Once again, if anyone has any idea on how to fix this once and for all, I'm all ears. As an aside, does anyone from Apple even frequent these forums?

Oct 9, 2010 3:53 PM in response to willyu

Hello I am totally puzzled about homesharing not showing up on side bar but it is on!
An apple store person said thats the way it works.
Not sure what do do and about your saying i need Bonjure service on? I turned it on in ichat is that correct?

notanumber Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 13, 2010 10:20 AM in response to notanumber

Looks like it's working for me.

Removing all Apple software and re-installing seems to have done the trick.

adam2005

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2010 12:59 PM in response to notanumber

Am running into similar issue. Need help.

I got the new AppleTv yesterday. YouTube, Netflix etc works great. Remote App on iphone also working for controlling apple Tv.

Trying to make home sharing work, so far no success.

Enabled Home sharing on Apple Tv and my Mac (just on one mac) using my itunes account. But I am not seeing anything in Apple Tv under computer Menu. Tried restarting itunes, mac, apple etc. No luck.

Did anyone a similar issue. If so, how did you fix it?

Thanks.

Nov 11, 2010 1:05 AM in response to blumaleah

It only works for items purchased after enabling it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2972

Home Sharing not working as expected.