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How to Create and Use Multiple iTunes Libraries on a Single Mac Login

How to Create and Use Multiple iTunes Libraries on a Single Mac Login

Sharing a Mac with others can be a headache, especially when it comes to things like separating each user’s iTunes, iPhoto, and other library-based content. Using multiple logins is one way to make short work of putting up some divisions – but that’s not always the ideal solution. Fortunately, there’s another way: You can create and switch between different iTunes libraries on a single Mac login! Here’s how it’s done!

There are a variety of reasons why someone might like to use multiple iTunes libraries. One example might be that you have multiple people with iOS devices that each want their own music and apps, but you don’t feel the need to have separate logins in OS X.

Here’s how it’s done:

  • Make sure iTunes is closed.
  • Hold the option key, and keep holding it while launching iTunes.
  • Select a library you’d like to load, or create a new one.

Switching between various libraries is a simple matter of repeating the process. In my case, I have an 8GB iPod nano that I use to store my meditation music. Keeping the nano on its own library (with only those tracks) makes it easier to separate its special content from my main collection of content that I load onto my iPhone and iPads.

I hope you have found this as useful as I did! Let us know in the comments!

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