Sharing Your iTunes Library

If you own more than one computer, having two separate iTunes libraries can become frustrating and confusing. Luckily, iTunes has the ability to share your library over your home network.

My home setup consists of a Mac mini and a MacBook Pro. When I purchased my MacBook Pro, I was not interested in managing two separate iTunes libraries. I decided that I would keep all my music on my Mac mini and also sync any iTunes-compatible devices to it. I made this decision because the Mac mini has more of a central feel, being a desktop system. It also has much more storage space, as my MacBook Pro has a smaller-capacity solid-state drive in it.

The best part about sharing my iTunes library is that anyone with iTunes on their computer or an iOS device connected to my home network is able to enjoy it. My roommates can access my library from their computers any time my Mac mini is powered on and iTunes is open.

To share your own iTunes library, just follow these few simple steps: With iTunes open, click on iTunes in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Preferences and click on the Sharing tab of the Preferences window. You should see a checkbox for “Share my library on my local network.” After checking this box, you can fine tune what exactly it is that you would like to share (i.e. music, movies, etc.). You also have the option to password protect your library.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you can test it out by accessing iTunes on another system on your network. You should now see your shared library under the Shared section of the iTunes sidebar. Click on it and you now have access to all your music!