Understanding How iTunes Music Sharing Works

When iTunes computers can communicate with each other over a network, they can access the Library stored on each computer. This means that you can see music in other iTunes Libraries, and other computers can see the music stored in your Library (both cases assume that sharing is enabled on your computer).

Note

In case you are wondering, you can't share iTunes music over the Internet. You can only share on a local network, such as the one in your home or business.

When music is shared with you, it appears as a network source on your Source Listif more than one source is available, the Shared Music source will appear. When you share your music with others, your music appears as a network source on their Source List. In either case, the person using the computer can select the shared source and listen to it using the same tools used to listen to other sources, such as CDs and playlists.

Note

This chapter assumes that you have a network set up and that the iTunes computers on that network can communicate with each other. Installing and configuring a network is beyond the scope of this book. If you need help, lots of good networking books are available to you.

Even better, Windows and Macintosh users can share music with each other on networks that include both kinds of computers.

To share music with others on your network, you configure iTunes to share its music, which is covered in the next section. To access shared music, you configure iTunes to look for music being shared with you; that is the topic of the "Listening to Music Being Shared with You" section, later in this chapter.