I successfully use match at home on my main iMac and I also successfully stream it over my iPhone. How do I make another laptop recognize match? Right now that computer has it's own iTunes set up with the same library as I have on match but it plays off of a copy of all my files on a portable hard drive. I would like to add the option of just playing my music on this laptop via match instead of my hard copy library.
iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)
Hello James,
I understand that you would like to use the iTunes Match version of your songs. That is something I can help you out with.
All you need to do is select the songs and delete them. When you do this the songs will show a Download icon 
next to the songs. Once you do this, you can stream the songs instead of playing them from your external drive.
iTunes 12 for Mac: Delete songs, playlists, or other items
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19506
Take care
That makes sense. Thank you. But it also informs me that I can't have it both ways; unless I'm misinterpreting this, that I must stop using the hard drive and the iTunes library directly on the laptop in order to play the same music streamed through Match. That is not an option for me because this entire library is used at my place of work as a music teacher and I must ensure that my music is completely with me and under my control, not subject to glitches in a system of at work computer server all the way to potential loss of service with Match. I'm disappointed but will continue using Match as my server to my iPhone and personal use this way.
Thanks again. Please just reply with a confirmation that I'm interpreting your answer correctly and I'll return with a click on "this solved my question." Thanks again!
Hi,
An option is to create a new blank library on your laptop.
Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one - Apple Support
SIgn into iTunes and go to preferences and check iCloud music library. You will now see all your music in the cloud.
When you want to use the ext drive, use option key to select that library. You can keep itunes Match active so that you can keep it up to date.
Jim
Hi James,
You can keep the iTunes library on the external drive if you choose to. The iTunes Library files can be stored where you want. Keeping the file stored externally and choosing the default iTunes library will be the way to go. Keep in mind that if that drive is not plugged in, then it will want to create a new library that is local to the work computer as it can't find your library to start up.
Also, Jim is giving good advice. If you want to keep your library alone, you can create a new library that won't mess with your current setup.
Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201596
Have a good day.
Thanks Jimzgoldfinch and norm123. This is very helpful. I'm very busy right now and haven't gone yet to apply your advice. As soon as I do and successfully set up a second blank iTunes Library and get this all working for me I'll come back and click the "this solved my question" button to close this out and give the deserved points!
I created a new blank library and this worked well. But when I closed and went back in again holding down option to pull up the menu to chose which library, it asked me to chose the location to open and it totally did not recognize or accept my old iTunes file location. I had to completely rebuild my original library from scratch because its locale and identity refused to be recognized. So this was a failure at this point. I don't know why....
I am confused by your statement, "Sign into iTunes and go to preferences and check iCloud music library. You will now see all your music in the cloud." When I go to Preferences I see a check for iCloud music library as you said. But I do not see all my music in the Cloud as you suggest. The only thing there is a notice saying "Store all of your iTunes Match songs and playlists in iCloud so you can access everything across all of your devices." The trouble is, MATCH isn't working, iCloud isn't working. It's been waiting waiting for 3 days now for songs to get uploaded to iCloud. It's irritating because I'm paying for iCloud and I've got tons of space where these songs could exist......But it's not working. Any advice would sure be appreciated.
CatAZ wrote:
I am confused by your statement, "Sign into iTunes and go to preferences and check iCloud music library. You will now see all your music in the cloud." When I go to Preferences I see a check for iCloud music library as you said. But I do not see all my music in the Cloud as you suggest.
Hi,
If you have successfully added your music to one computer, you should be able to sign into a second computer and activate iCloud music library and see all your music in the cloud.
If this is not your issue, I suggest that you create a new thread, detailing your problems.
Jim
Jim, you are right. I apologize as I misunderstood your statement. I took it as a "list" would pop up with all my matched music. When in fact, it's already there, right in front of me in the iTunes library. And you're correct, all of my music IS there in iTunes on my other computer.
Now my biggest problem is getting iCloud to get out of the "waiting" mode.
how to play on a second computer
