Sharing iTunes Libraries on Apple macOS & Microsoft Windows

iTunes, on both Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows, enables you to share your music library across the same local network. An Apple ID is not needed to share the library. You can choose to either share your entire library or select certain playlists on your personal campus-owned machine. Then on another campus machine, like a classroom or meeting room, you can access that library and stream the music from original machine the music is stored on.

Audience

This article is intended for faculty and staff.

Platform

Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS

Contents

• Setting Up Your Shared Library
• Accessing Your Shared Library
• Known Issues

Setting Up Your Shared Library

First you will need to set up your computer on campus to share:

1. Check you are connected to the campus wired network via Ethernet. In order to share, both machines must be on the same local network.
2. Open iTunes and navigate to Preferences
   • On a PC click Edit from the top menu. Preferences will be the last item in the drop down menu.
   • On a Mac click iTunes from the top menu bar at the top of the screen. Preferences will be the second item in the drop down menu.
3. Click General tab and enter what you want to name your library. It defaults to your name or username but feel free to change it.
4. Click Sharing tab and set your settings to share your library
5. Check the box next to Share my library on my local network
6. Choose to either Share entire library or Share selected playlists. If selecting playlists, check off which ones you wish to share.
   • Optional: You can require a password to access the library.
7. Click OK to save settings and go back to iTunes library.
8. Leave iTunes open on your machine for it be accessed remotely

Accessing Your Shared Library

Now you can access your library from any wired network computer on campus

1. Check you are connect to the campus wired network
2. Open iTunes and choose Music from the drop-down menu in the upper left-hand corner
3. In that menu, below the various content sections of your library, will be a list of available libraries to connect to. By default, it checks This Computer as the library to play content from. Click on the library you wish to connect to or click More Libraries... if you do not see your library in the list. Still do not see your library?
4. If there is a lock icon next to the library name, you will receive a prompt to login with a password to gain access.
5. You can then play any songs or playlists the owner of that library gave access to.
   • Songs that were purchased through iTunes Store will require you to authorize the computer to play them. Complete the following steps to Authorize your computer in iTunes.
6. When you are done listening to the library, go back to the original drop-down where you found you library and click the eject button next to the library name.
   • There is a limit to the number of people who can access your library at the same time. Any more than 5 people and you will get an error message that you cannot connect due to too many people connected at once. Remember to disconnect from the library when you are done to ensure there are no issues connecting in the future.

Known Issues

Still Cannot See Your Library?

1. Shared libraries may be hidden from the menu. Go to the drop-down menu and click Edit Menu and make sure that the checkbox next to Shared Libraries is checked.
2. Make sure that your machine does not disconnect from the network once it is asleep. Navigate to System Preferences, then choose Energy Saver. You will see the option Wake for Network Access, make sure that is checked.
3. The computer may be connected to the wrong sub-network. Computers must be on the same network to share iTunes libraries. Contact Service Desk to submit a ticket.