Bastion9999

Q: How to use iTunes library on a different mac stored on external hard drive - on wired network

I recently purchased a new iMac. I used a time machine back up to move all of the files over to my new computer . I still want to use my old iMac as a media server for my network. The main iTunes library is located on an external hard drive connected to my old iMac.  I don't want to move all of those media files over to my new iMac as they are quite large.

 

I am syncing all of my families phones/ipads on this new iMac and obviously having difficulties with them finding their music/songs etc. When I contacted apple support, they had me move over my entire iTunes library to my new iMac. Now the phones are able to sync correctly and pull up all of their media. However I have just duplicated 200 gb of media files. I was able to access the external hard drive to move the media over. Is there a way having my new iMac accessing that external media hard drive in iTunes for playing and syncing media files without storing that library on my new computer?

iMac, iOS 9.2

Posted on Jan 8, 2016 4:04 PM

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Q: How to use iTunes library on a different mac stored on external hard drive - on wired network

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  • by AustinJGibson,

    AustinJGibson AustinJGibson Jan 8, 2016 4:13 PM in response to Bastion9999
    Level 4 (1,023 points)
    Jan 8, 2016 4:13 PM in response to Bastion9999

    Why not just unplug the external hard drive and move it? And I don't believe so. You can use Home Sharing to access the library and iTunes Wi-Fi sync by following the directions in the link.

     

    Share your iTunes library over your home network - Apple Support

     

    Sync your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iTunes - Apple Support

     

    Best regards,

    Austin

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jan 8, 2016 5:03 PM in response to Bastion9999
    Level 8 (38,310 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 8, 2016 5:03 PM in response to Bastion9999

    I use Apple's iTunes Match service ($25 per year) to do what you describe, with additional benefits.  My primary Mac has all of my song files stored locally (on an external drive), and that Mac was used as the starting point for my iCloud Music Library, which iTunes Match provides.  My other Macs access that common iCloud Music Library and stream songs; they do not have locally stored song files (although they could).  I can update my iCloud Music Library from any Mac, and the other Macs immediately see the change.  One of them is quite old (a PowerPC G5) running iTunes 10.6.3 and Leopard (10.5.8), and iTunes Match is supported.  I can also access the same iCloud Music Library from my iPhone and iPod touch, to either stream or download songs (and make updates).

     

    I recommend keeping a local copy of ALL song files on one of the Macs, instead of only having your song files in iCloud Music Library.  And also back up that local copy of song files using Time Machine, along with your OS X system and other user data.  Here's Apple's info on iTunes Match

     

    http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

     

    You can use iTunes Home Sharing, but the "other" Mac cannot make updates to the shared library.  You can probably set up File Sharing between Macs, so that the "other" Mac accesses the same iTunes Media folder (on the external drive connected to the "primary" Mac), but the two Macs have their own separate iTunes libraries; it may be a pain to keep them "in sync" manually (plus the sharing Mac needs to be ON all the time).  With iTunes Match, all associated computer and devices share the same iCloud Music Library.

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Jan 8, 2016 7:30 PM in response to Bastion9999
    Level 9 (53,643 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 8, 2016 7:30 PM in response to Bastion9999

    What exactly do you mean when you say library?  A library is an entire iTunes folder with media files but also all the support files and folders.  You can copy everything except the media to the new Mac, then start iTunes while holding down the option/alt key and when prompted guide it to the iTunes Library.itl file you just moved. It should "point" back to the media on the original drive as long as it mounts on the new computer as a drive.  If there are problems and you get broken tracks ( ! ) you can find one track when asked, then let iTunes try to find others based on the one you find (will take some time).

  • by Bastion9999,

    Bastion9999 Bastion9999 Jan 13, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Limnos

    Thanks for all of your help. I just changed the pathway of where my newer iMac looks for my media.