Look for shared libraries option is missing from preferences menu

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Look for shared libraries option is missing from preferences menu

Hi Gang,

Odd problem - installed iTunes 10.2.0.34 on a machine on my LAN and the Edit > Preferences: Option "Look for shared libraries" is missing from the preferences menu.

See http://www.philusher.com/images/itunespref.png for screen shot.

The parental control to disable Shared Libraries is unchecked so that's probably not the cause.

Any suggestions welcome?

I have wasted a good deal of time trying to work out what is going on and am now of the opinion that the menu item has been removed somewhere after 10.1.2.17.

Cheers ... Phil Usher

Message was edited by: Phil Usher

Intel Core i7 based desktop, Windows 7, LAN - Windows Home Server - Linux - iPhone 4g - Quite a lot of stuff here

Posted on Mar 5, 2011 12:06 PM

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Answer 1

Phil Usher Author

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Mar 5, 2011 12:57 PM in response to Phil Usher

Update. I think as of iTunes 10.2 "Look for shared libraries" is ON by default and thus was removed from preferences.

The documentation needs to be updated to reflect this plus a reminder that iTunes doesn't operate as a service and thus must be running on the machine sharing to be visible to the client.

I am still chasing a strange visibility problem. In my test I have three iTunes installs. Seems that shared libraries don't necessarily show up immediately but it's unclear what the trigger is. It's all a bit uncertain and uncertainly brings doubt and fear isn't far behind.

A more solid "Refresh Shared Libraries" option which maintained a data set of libraries and showed them as "available or offline" would be much more comforting.

An iTunes LAN server service would be a nice idea BTW - this is probably where someone will jump in and tell me that it already exists as a product, probably called iServe or iShared or some such iCantThink type name and costs $299!

Message was edited by: Phil Usher

Message was edited by: Phil Usher

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Answer 2

hhiguera

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Mar 16, 2011 12:40 PM in response to Phil Usher

I have the same problem but still can not see the "SHARED" section on the left.

Phil.. I have a NAS (Dlink DNS-323) that has the option of an iTunes server, as you described. I, however, am trying to make it work for the first time and with iTunes 10 can not find it. Seems strange.

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Answer 3

LiznHipp

Level 1

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Mar 19, 2011 2:34 PM in response to Phil Usher

Same problem. I have a dlink dns-323 with shared itunes folder on it. Computers with itunes 10.1.x see it just fine. Computers with itunes 10.2.x don't have the option to search for shared libraries and don't see it. Frustrating!

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Answer 4

m0thr4

Level 2

298 points

Mar 26, 2011 9:26 AM in response to Phil Usher

Similar issue here - two Macs (iMac and Macbook Air), both with a fresh install of Snow Leopard, both updated to very latest software via Software Update, both on the same Gigabit Ethernet LAN (from Airport Extreme Base Station).

Both copies of iTunes registered with iTunes and signed into the store - both have home sharing enabled. Neither machine is running the firewall.

The iMac can see the MB Air, but the MB Air cannot see the iMac.

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Answer 5

Apr 15, 2011 4:16 PM in response to Phil Usher

Bumping this. Same problem

MacPro running 10.5.8 and iTunes 10.2.1 is unable to see our..

Macbook Pro running 10.5.8 and iTunes 10.1. But the MacBook Pro does see the Mac Pro.

So, I will make sure not to update iTunes on the Macbook Pro until this is resolved. I may even revert the iTunes on the MacPro.

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Answer 6

May 14, 2011 2:08 AM in response to Phil Usher

I also can't see any shared libraries in iTunes, source and target running v10.2.1. The source Mac shows up in Finder (shared drives on it, etc...). I've authenticated both Macs, though I don't know why this should now suddenly be necessary, with older iTunes/MacOS versions it wasn't. There's no "Look for shared libraries" option, and I never see the "Shared" section on the left pane of iTunes.

The iPhone can't see any shared libraries either.

Shared Libraries are not disabled in Parental Controls.

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Answer 7

Jun 26, 2011 7:48 PM in response to m0thr4

Has anyone resolved the problem that imac can see MB but MB cannot see imac? I tried apple's troubleshooting tips to no avail.

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Answer 8

anjuli23

Level 1

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Jul 18, 2011 10:04 AM in response to Phil Usher

APPLE? Hello?!!! Do you care that a LOT of customer are having this issue????!!!! Is there a solution? Or are you just gonna leave everyone hanging, and try to charge $50 for tech support. This is such ********!

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Answer 9

Z227

Level 1

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Aug 15, 2011 8:43 PM in response to anjuli23

I was having the same problem with iTunes on my new MacBook Air ... no "look for shared libraries" in Preferences and no Shared tab visible in iTunes listings ... but then I went and made sure that my iMac and my old MacBook were actually on and that iTunes was up and running on each and VOILA they both appeared under SHARED in iTunes on the Air...

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Answer 10

Aug 28, 2011 11:07 AM in response to Phil Usher

Similar issue here. Old mac mini can see my new MBA library but MBA can't see Mac mini's itunes library. Sharing is enabled on all.

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Answer 11

Nov 13, 2011 12:31 PM in response to Phil Usher

I had the same problem. I read elsewhere that "Looking for Shared Libaries" is now on the "General" tab within Preferences, and I did find it there. However, then I still could not see the Shared Library(ies) until both computers were not only "on" but also actively running iTunes. THEN I could see the Shared Library(ies) on the left vertical pane.

By the way, closing iTunes then gives you a warning that another user is connected to your library and the connection will be broken.

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Answer 12

jdbsa05

Level 1

22 points

Dec 2, 2011 10:26 PM in response to Phil Usher

Requirements for shared streaming libraries (unofficial, but this is what works):

1) You must be connected over Wi-Fi. Exclusively using an ethernet cable does not work.

2) Both computers must be running iTunes at the time you want to share it.

3) Sharing must be enabled. You can do this by going to General and clicking the "Shared Libraries" checkbox. If it is already checked and you've made sure that the first two are valid, some that I have spoken with have found success with unchecking this box and rechecking it.

4) If password-protected, you must have the password.

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Answer 13

Webcalm

Level 1

0 points

Dec 9, 2011 12:07 PM in response to Phil Usher

all,

I had the same issue and found that having my work VPN running on one of the machines stopped it being located/shared. once i disconneted the VPN all worked OK.

might help somone?

A

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Answer 14

BlueVFR

Level 1

30 points

Mar 28, 2012 1:47 AM in response to jdbsa05

Sorry jdbsa05, your first point is incorrect. My iMac and my pc happily see a shared library and they are only connected via Ethernet.

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Answer 15

Mar 31, 2012 8:22 PM in response to Phil Usher

I only see shared libraries if one of the iTunes programs is running on a MAC, and then only sometimes. :-(

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