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Sync iTunes to multiple computers.

Is there any way to sync my iTunes library to my desktops and laptop computer?


Thanks

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 2008, 24GB RAM

Posted on Aug 9, 2018 7:13 AM

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Posted on Aug 9, 2018 8:52 AM

You can't really "sync" as such. For individual items on the same network you can look into Home Sharing:

Use Home Sharing to share iTunes content with other devices - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/HT202190 - "Share and stream content from your computer’s iTunes library to other computers, iOS devices, and Apple TVs. Use Home Sharing with up to five computers on your home network"


Share your iTunes library over your home network - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/HT201779 - about Music Sharing and Home Sharing


Home Sharing Support page - http://www.apple.com/support/homesharing/


iTunes 12 for Mac: Use Home Sharing to import items from another iTunes library - https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19614


iTunes: Setting up Home Sharing on your computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4620


Alternatively you can just replace one library with another, or install it alongside one that already exists on a ocmputer (but only use one at a time):

Apple's 6 pages of exhaustively meticulous step-by-step instructions: How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - https://support.apple.com/HT204318 Use this if you suspect any of your media are not in the standard location (iTunes Media folder).


My one-sentence summary if you always use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive, hold down the option/alt key (shift on Windows) while starting iTunes, and when requested to select a library select the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied folder (Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one - https://support.apple.com/HT201596).

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Question marked as Best reply

Aug 9, 2018 8:52 AM in response to James Mol

You can't really "sync" as such. For individual items on the same network you can look into Home Sharing:

Use Home Sharing to share iTunes content with other devices - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/HT202190 - "Share and stream content from your computer’s iTunes library to other computers, iOS devices, and Apple TVs. Use Home Sharing with up to five computers on your home network"


Share your iTunes library over your home network - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/HT201779 - about Music Sharing and Home Sharing


Home Sharing Support page - http://www.apple.com/support/homesharing/


iTunes 12 for Mac: Use Home Sharing to import items from another iTunes library - https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19614


iTunes: Setting up Home Sharing on your computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4620


Alternatively you can just replace one library with another, or install it alongside one that already exists on a ocmputer (but only use one at a time):

Apple's 6 pages of exhaustively meticulous step-by-step instructions: How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - https://support.apple.com/HT204318 Use this if you suspect any of your media are not in the standard location (iTunes Media folder).


My one-sentence summary if you always use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive, hold down the option/alt key (shift on Windows) while starting iTunes, and when requested to select a library select the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied folder (Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one - https://support.apple.com/HT201596).

Aug 15, 2018 12:07 PM in response to James Mol

Sure, but it works best if you your "sync" is one way. Just use rsync on the command line or any of many folder sync products. There many free and paid folder sync products.


It's best to designate one of the libraries as the main library. If you sync from the main to the secondary, whatever changes you make in the main library will sync to the secondary. Any changes in the secondary library are lost.


I sync my iTunes library to my unlimited google drive using Google Back up and Sync. I then use RClone to to occasionally sync it down to my work computer.


Make sure iTunes isn't running on the secondary computer when you sync.

Aug 15, 2018 12:07 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks for the many and sundry suggestions with links - I really appreciate your time as I can only research for so long.

Home sharing works fine for the home and work, but, as it is set up, they do not share across the internet.


It would be helpful if I could load my iphone from the office computer and download it at home. Apple knows which computers my ID is connected to, so I would think there would be a way to allow it and not compromise digital rights.


I do have an extra HD around so I could do the entire copy thing - just seems like a lot of work to keep my playlists the same, but that's the way it is.


Thanks again.

Sync iTunes to multiple computers.

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