2 iPhones, 1 iTunes library... possible?

[Twill]

Hi,

I know Apple are notorious for not liking people to share, preferring them to buy instead, but surely this can't extend to one household?

My wife and I both have iphones. We each have our own Apple ID on our respective handsets. She has an itunes library on her computer, and I have one on mine.

I'm now getting fed up with the two libraries situation. She might buy a song for our little one, and have it on her phone, and her itunes, but if she's out and I'd like to play him the song, obviously I don't have it. There are lots of other issues like this too.

So here's the question: can I sync 1 itunes library with two different handsets, each carrying its own Apple ID? Or will that one central iTunes library have a fit if I try and connect two differently registered iphones to it?

Failing this, could we each have the same Apple ID on oboth phones, meaning we share the same account? If this is possible, would the content bought through one of the IDs be lost on the handset if it was switched across to the other?

Apologies, I hope this makes some kind of sense. As usual, working out what Apple will and will not let you do, if more than half the battle. I just find it hard to believe my wife and I can't share content we purchase separately, in one central point. After all, if I went out and bought a DVD, everyone would be able to watch it in my house, they wouldn't have to wait for me to be in.

Thoughts and help welcome, thanks.

 

[SpursGator]

This will work just fine. I have an iTunes library that serves two iPhones and (count 'em) FOUR iPads, without any problem.

Apple is quite happy for you to share. Up to five computers/iTunes libraries can exchange content with Home Sharing, and up to 10 (I believe) iOS devices can be assigned to a single Apple account. You will not have any problems.

 

[professorhat]

This will work just fine. I have an iTunes library that serves two iPhones and (count 'em) FOUR iPads, without any problem.

Do you have one iTunes library with several different Apple IDs assigned to it though (as the OP currently needs)? If so, would be good to know how you set that up as I didn't think it was possible.

In my experience, you can have two iPhones sharing the same library, but both iPhones would need to be associated with one Apple ID. You then have the pain of trying to get everything that was purchased with a different Apple ID associated with the other one - from my experience this is also not an easy process and you will have lots of problems! (in the end, I found it easier just to have two different libraries for my wife and I).

However, let's see if option (a) can be done first, as if it can, this solves all these issues.

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

With home sharing allowed, can't you import songs from one library to the other?

I have songs in my iTunes folder that were originally bought by another family member on their account. They no longer live here but because my phone was authorised I can still play it.

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[SpursGator]

Yes, you can have content from multiple iTunes accounts in the same iTunes library (there is a limit; I think it's five).

Let's say you have two iTunes Library, 1 and 2, which are Home Sharing under Apple ID X. I can then, on iTunes library 1, login with Apple ID Y and buy a movie. Then I can go to iTunes Library 2 and import it under Home Sharing. When I try to play the movie, library 2 will tell ask me to authorise it - I then must type in Apple ID Y's username and password. As long as I have not already authorised the movie to more than 5 machines, it will then be added to library 2.

 

[professorhat]

Cool - thanks for the clarification. It may have been the issue I was having was I had two iTunes Libraries on the same Mac (i.e. under two different user accounts). Attempting to consolidate these two just would not work for me. It wasn't crucial and I didn't spend too much time on it in the end as I decided it wasn't worth it and just gave up.

 

[Twill]

Thanks all. Tried registering my wife's iPhone with my ID, but she got all my Podcast preferences and everything as well, so it got a bit messy. Not sure whether to keep 2 different libraries and use Homeshairng to spread content, as suggested above. Might be a compromise option. I wanted to be able to create a playlist or something that she could just go and get from a joint library, without having to transfer things around though. Similarly, if her content would just appear in our library when she syncd, that would be ideal, but I guess ideal is hard to come by. Thanks for suggestions though. I'm always a bit cautious when 'trying' things with Apple, in case a wrong step causes a total content wipe or something. Cheers.

 

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It can be done and...I really don't like the steps of iTunes that seldom times have I used this mandatory application.