Share Music Between Two Computers with Home Share

Home Sharing is an iTunes supported program that allows you to share music between multiple computers on the same network. It doesn’t cost money or even take up much time. Simply follow these instructions and soon you will be able to share music easily between two or more computers.

Steps

  1. Open your iTunes and click the iTunes tab in the top right corner. Then click the preferences button.
  2. Once the preferences box pops up, click the sharing tab and check the box that says “Look for shared libraries,” “Share my library on my local network,” and “Share entire library”. When you are finished click OK.
    • If you do not want to share all your music, click “Share selected playlists.”
    • To protect the music you share through Home Sharing you can choose the “Require password” option so that the participants of Home Sharing must know the password to gain access. Click OK once you are finished.
  3. Open both of the computers’ iTunes and click on the tab at the top of the screen that says “Advanced” then scroll down and click on “Turn On Home Sharing.”
  4. Type in your user name and password you registered your iTunes store account under onto both of the computers you are Home Sharing between. Press “Create Home Share” when you are finished. iTunes will ask you to confirm your decision.
  5. Under a tab that says “Shared” on the left hand side of your iTunes window, the available libraries should appear. A Shared music icon with a disclosure triangle may appear if several shared library exist. Simply click on this icon to show all libraries in your network.
  6. Drag music from the newly available library into your own library. This may be easier if you use two iTunes windows. You cannot drag entire playlists to your library but you can select a song or multiple songs to share.
  7. To turn Home Sharing off simply go back to the tab that says “Advanced” and chose “Turn Off Home Sharing.”

Tips

  • Make sure both of your computers are close at hand. You can only set up Home Sharing by physically working on each computer involved and by having these computers on the same network. Try to use your own network at home to set up this program since some college networks or coffee shop networks may not allow Home Sharing.
  • Know the password and log in for your iTunes store account
  • Have both computers open and refer back and forth between them to set up Home Sharing.
  • To change what the name your library appears to others as go the preferences tab again and then to the “General” tab and type a new name into the field that says “Library Name.” Click OK.

Warnings

  • You can only Home Share with up to 5 other computers.
  • Make sure that your network allows you to share music.

Things You'll Need

  • Two or more computers to share music between
  • Access to your network; username and password
  • iTunes

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