one iTunes account into two via home share

Question

one iTunes account into two via home share

My wife and I have been sharing one iTunes account for years. We now have two iMac and so I'd like to separate into two accounts by retaining my original account on my imac and creating a new itunes account on her iMac. Her iMac is the one with the original account. Her ipod is tied to that computer and my account but I'd like her ipod tied to the new account so she can start making purchases that do not show up under my account and on my imac/ipad.

I understand that this process is not possible since apps and songs are liscensed under one user. However, I can easily redownload the apps my wife uses (15 or so, most of which are free). It's the iTunes store bought music I am unclear about.

I've done a bit of researching and have come to an idea that may work but I'd like feedback from those more in the know than I.

So, I'd like to run this process by all of you out there and ask if this sounds right.

My imac is all set with my account.

Wifes iMac: (Core i7, 10.6.8, current iTunes)

- Set-up wife's iMac with a new itunes account.

- Turn on that account in iTunes (authorize to computer to this new account)

- Home Sharing is on (purchased music on her computer under my account but not on my computer... I don't listen to Amy Winehouse)

- Connect her ipod (Touch gen 2) to her iMac and update as new account.

-this may delete all songs on her ipod but with home sharing can I just reload the music from the itunes library?
-Will I be able to load the store purchased music that resides on her imac onto her ipod touch with the new account on it?

- Or will she have to "authorize" each and every song as the ipod plays them???

– Redownload wifes previous free apps (downloaded under my name) under her new account.

The end result is I'd like any new purchases of songs or apps to be under her new account but still retain the music she purchased under my account on her ipod. Thus she can purchase on the device and it will update in itunes on iMac.

Does this make sense? Will this work?

Thanks,

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 13, 2013 12:32 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Mar 13, 2013 12:46 PM in response to Arnolfo Santoro

Just to be clear...

iTunes library = (on yoru computer. Contains music, movies, etc.)

iTunes account = (to make purchase with a different AppleID)

You seem to have it correct in yoru post.

A few things...

You only need to authorize a computer with an iTunes account once. It won't ask again if you play another song from that account.

Turn OFF iTunes prefs > Store - Automatic downloads (else you will not be able to redownlaod your own items for 90 days).

Each of you purchase items on your own computer with your own iTunes account. You can add items from the other computer using Home Sharing (this prevents the 90 day lockout above).

I understand that this process is not possible since apps and songs are liscensed under one user. However, I can easily redownload the apps my wife uses (15 or so, most of which are free). It's the iTunes store bought music I am unclear about.

This is where the 90 day lockout is messy. If you redownlaod from her iTunes account, you have to wait 90 days to redownload anything from your account (and vice-versa). You can still purchase but redownlaods are not available for 90 days.

Just use Home Sharing to copy the files from the other library

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Answer 2

Mar 13, 2013 1:59 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris.
Thank you for responding!

So, if I understand you correctly, I will move all "purchased" music on her Library to my iTunes Library. Thus the music purchased under my account will reside on my computer only.

Then, I can "home share" that music back to her computer and not get the 90 day lock out situation.

And I will be able to copy that music to her iPodTouch and iPad?

"Turn OFF iTunes prefs > Store - Automatic downloads (else you will not be able to redownlaod your own items for 90 days)."

....on my computer or hers?

Uhg.. I really need to keep this straight and not get the 90 day lockout..

Thanks again for helping me figure this out.

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Mar 13, 2013 2:24 PM in response to Arnolfo Santoro

Note that the "lockout" is for downloading previous purchases.

As long as you purchase on your own computer with your own account then transfer using Home Sharing, nothing will be locked out.

IMO, it's really kinda messed up

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Answer 4

Mar 13, 2013 6:28 PM in response to Chris CA

Thanks Chris,

I'm gonna dive into this over the next few days. Many people on these forums share the same issue as I is if all goes well then I can present my case as a possible solution.

A

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Answer 5

Mar 14, 2013 2:50 PM in response to Arnolfo Santoro

Just another questions if anyone has a moment.

Home sharing works well but it occurs to me that I should not have to copy music purchased under my account on wife's computer to my computer and then "home share" it back to wifes computer. What is the point?

However, is there anyway to get my wife's computer associated with her new account and not my account?

I tried to select "automatic downloads" in the music store settings in iTunes Prefs while signed in with my wife's the new account & iTunes reported "This coputer is associated with another iTunes account and you will be locked out for 90 days...." I was able to "Cancel"

How can I dissasociate wifes iMac with my account??

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Answer 6

Mar 14, 2013 3:01 PM in response to Arnolfo Santoro

Ah, I found my answer.....

See Removing an associated device or computer from an Apple ID

From Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4627

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Answer 7

tasa

Level 1

87 points

Mar 26, 2013 12:55 PM in response to Chris CA

I just got zapped by this crazy conundrum yesterday. I bought a used ipad1 thru EBay, for my son. He doesn't have home Internet or an up to date Mac so I set it up for him on my computer, unaware of the 90-day lockout rule. He owns a lot of iTunes downloads and I thought input would be faster to do it wired to my computer rather than via wireless direct onto his iPad, so I logged out of my account and into his. When I was done downloading his stuff I logged out of his account and got the 90-day lockout notice when I logged back into my account!

Thanks to all the posters here and other similar threads I learned what had happened, but until I got to this thread I thought I was locked out of ALL downloads, including new purchases. Thanks for the info about it just being for re-downloads. Fortunately, I am obsessive about backing up all new purchases in a master iTunes file. It just seems kinda stupid. What is the point in locking me out of things I already own? Anyway, thanks for the help!

Just tested on my computer and was indeed able to download a new album from iTunes on my account.

As far as sharing between devices is concerned, I have separate iTunes folders for each of 4 iOS devices I use, and simply use the "Add to library" feature in iTunes to copy anything I need to from one device's folder to the other. Works well.

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