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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-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 7:11 AM

Best reply

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 7:26 AM

Quit iTunes.
Move your iTunes folder to /Users/Shared/.
Hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared/.
Quit iTunes and log into your wife's account.
Hold Option, launch iTunes and select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared/.

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21 replies

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Apr 21, 2013 11:50 AM in response to marc.garcia

marc.garcia wrote:

Are you sure that your first response actually manages to solve iTunes limitations when importing or deleting music from one user?

Yes.

Since there is only one iTunes library and all users are using this single iTunes library, everyone will see exactly the same thing.

J Mason

Level 1

0 points

Dec 16, 2013 7:15 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris

I've followed your instructions but have been unable to solve the permissions issue. I've given permissions to the folder by:

clicking the "shar folder" checkbox
setting the user permissions to Read & Write
adding the additional users to the the permissions list

None of these allow other users on the one mac to access the complete iTunes folder (not just the Media folder) when it was placed in Users/Shared or at the top level of Users.

I'm not sure what to try next to resolve this.

OS 10.9

iTunes 11.1.3

Jeff

Mar 6, 2015 5:32 AM in response to J Mason

CChris

I Have followed all of your directions and everything works except when my wife tries to buy a song iTunes says that she does. Of have permission.

Oct 13, 2015 7:57 AM in response to Chris CA

Hi Chris CA,

Thanks a lot for all your very helpful comments.

Just to make it clear to me: it is not possible to use the same iTunes Media folder between two users and have always an up-to-date library; meaning that when I had something to the library it is automatically added to the library of the other users, without the need for a refresh?

Thank you for help.

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Oct 14, 2015 3:35 PM in response to Sunset Smile

Sunset Smile wrote:

Just to make it clear to me: it is not possible to use the same iTunes Media folder between two users and have always an up-to-date library; meaning that when I had something to the library it is automatically added to the library of the other users, without the need for a refresh?

If you use the same iTunes library.itl, everything will always be up-to-date.

Oct 15, 2015 2:35 AM in response to hellomynameisstephen

Ok, thanks. Should I do something special in addition to what was described above; or is it included when simply relocating the folder?

iTunes Sharing on same computer