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I am setting up an iPad for my wife...

...and would like to share our libraries of music and apps, but we will be syncinc to different PC's that are not on a shared network. Her PC is at home and mine is at work. What is the best/easiest way to accomplish this?

Posted on May 7, 2012 10:54 AM

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19 replies

May 7, 2012 11:09 AM in response to 949brianb

You cannot sync to two different computers .... Sync is the key word here.


You can use multiple computers with an iDevice if you choose to manually manage songs and videos in the Summary Tab of Tunes - but you cannot sync with multiple computers.


You must set up this feature in iTunes and apply it in order to use it.


Here is Apple's support article that explains how you can do this.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1202

May 7, 2012 11:18 AM in response to Philly_Phan

Philly ....


After rereading - I do have a little different perspective, but it still seems as though the OP wants to put content on 2 different iPads from 2 different iTunes libraries.


You make a good point about the Apple ID - but he still wants to use content from different iTunes libraries.


It will not be the first time that I am wrong - today even - as a matter of fact! 😁

May 7, 2012 11:38 AM in response to 949brianb

If you want to use different computers, you will still have to manage the content manually, otherwise, when you connect the iPad to the computer - you will get a message that the iPad is synced to a different computer.


It doesn't matter that you use the same ID - it's the fact that iTunes knows that your iPad does not belong to your wifes iTunes library. Does that make sense to you?


Read the link that I posted.

May 7, 2012 11:44 AM in response to Demo

Wait a minute...


We really have a communication problem here. I'm going to explain my understanding without using the word "different."


There are two iPads, #1 and #2. There are two computers, #1 and #2.


iPad #1 will sync to computer #1 and only to computer #1. It will never be connected to computer #2.


iPad #2 will sync to computer #2 and only to computer #2. It will never be connected to computer #1.


He wants the two iPads to share music, apps, etc. That's why I had suggested that both iPads and both computers use the same Apple ID.

May 7, 2012 11:54 AM in response to Philly_Phan

I dont want to confuse the issue any further so I will drop out of the discussion with regards to using computers.


@949brianb ... The obvious solution that has gone over my head is that you can download the same content to both devices as long as you use the same apple ID on both iPads.


You can download your wife's apps in the App Store via the purchased tab and you can download her songs in iTunes via the purchased tab as well.


If you are trying to get content from your computer onto her iPad .... That's a different story.

May 7, 2012 12:36 PM in response to Philly_Phan

Sorry guys.


Philly, that is correct #1 iPad is only connected with #1 Computer and #2 iPad is only connected with #2 Computer and they will both use the same AppleID. They will never cross connect computers. So it sounds like each iPad will be able to share music and/or apps simply by sharing the same AppleID. Is that correct or must I use iCloud?

May 7, 2012 12:43 PM in response to 949brianb

I apologize - I created the confusion with my brain fert.


You are correct. You can share purchased apps and music by simply using the same Apple ID on all devices. Anything that your wife purchases on her iPad with your shared ID, you can download to your iPad as well using the same ID and vice versa.


If you choose to do so, you can go to Settings>Store>Automatic downloads and turn on apps, books and music - or any of the three - and whatever one of you downloads to your iPad will then also download to the other iPad.


My apologies to the guy from the New Jersey Part of Philadelphia as well.

May 7, 2012 12:46 PM in response to 949brianb

No problem. We get confused on a regular basis! 😁


Your belief is correct. However, I expect that everything will work even easier if you use iCloud. Fortunately, you can experiment with it and, if you don't like it, turn it off. (See below.)


In the absence of iCloud, you purchase music on one iPad and, because of syncing, the computer's iTunes library has that music. However, the other iPad and the other computer do not have the music until you manually download it (at no charge because you're using the same ID). With iCloud, everything will be automatically distributed to both iPads and both computers and you can then manually delete from the iPads as desired. BE CAUTIOUS about deleting from the computer's iTunes library as there is only one iCloud backup file.


Computer iTunes info tab:

User uploaded file

May 7, 2012 12:49 PM in response to 949brianb

My mind was in a bit of a haze. Demo's comment makes more sense than iCloud:


"If you choose to do so, you can go to Settings>Store>Automatic downloads and turn on apps, books and music - or any of the three - and whatever one of you downloads to your iPad will then also download to the other iPad."


You will still need to manually delete as desired but this is a much better solution.

I am setting up an iPad for my wife...

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