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How can I share my iTunes library with my husband on the same PC?

I want to do one very simple thing. I've been trying for 45 minutes to figure it out and it is anything BUT simple.


I want to share my iTunes library with my husband. We have one PC that we both use. We have different user accounts on this single computer. We each have an iTunes account. We are running Windows 7, and whatever the most recent version of iTunes is that goes with it.


How the **** to I access his iTunes library, and how can he access mine? NOTHING IS WORKING AND I HATE ******* ITUNES RIGHT NOW (and I hate it every time I need it to do anything that doesn't fit Apples proprietary model). UGH WHY CAN'T I JUST LIVE IN MY EASY PC WORLD THAT LET'S ME DO WHAT I WANT TO DO??????????????


Sorry for the vent. I hate crap like this. WHY can't it be an easy thing?

Windows 7

Posted on Aug 28, 2015 5:25 PM

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1 reply

Aug 28, 2015 8:24 PM in response to dritta

There are two possible solutions, though neither is "easy" - iTunes is essentially based on a "one computer, one user, one library" paradigm, and it's facilities to share between users (Home Sharing, Family Sharing) are based on shared libraries being on different computers.

Your options are:


  • Share one library between user accounts - typically by having the iTunes library folders in the Public user area, and using SHIFT-start to select that library when running iTunes. In this case both users will have the same library content, playlists, etc.
  • Share one set of media folders but have separate libraries. Each user can then have distinct playlists, ratings, etc. but you need to recognize that if one user adds something to iTunes that content is not immediately accessible to the other - the second user will have to add the same media to his/her library to be able to play it, sync it to iDevices, etc.


In both cases only one user account can be running iTunes at one time.


I agree that this is a unfortunate limitation, but I would not expect any changes to iTunes to make it any easier. The scenario of two or more users sharing one computer is becoming less common ... indeed, I suspect that having more computers than people is now more prevalent.

How can I share my iTunes library with my husband on the same PC?

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