How to Use iTunes Sharing

Share your iTunes music library on a local network

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Updated on April 7, 2020

About iTunes Sharing

iTunes sharing is great for offices, dorms, or homes with multiple computers. Designate up to five computers on a local network (such as a home Wi-Fi network) to share the iTunes libraries on those devices.

If a shared computer is turned on and iTunes is open, you can play that computer's shared items on other computers in the network. However, you can't import the shared items into the libraries on other computers. If you want to import items from iTunes libraries on other computers in your home network, turn on Home Sharing.

You can't share QuickTime sound files or programs purchased from Audible.com.

How to Turn On iTunes Sharing

To enable the iTunes sharing feature:

Open the iTunes Preferences by selecting iTunes > Preferences from the menu bar on a Mac or Edit > Preferences on a PC.
In the Preferences window, select the Sharing tab.
Select the Share my library on my local network check box.
Select Share entire library or select Share selected playlists.

To limit who can listen to your iTunes, select the Require password check box and enter a password.
If you only want to share part of your library, select the check boxes for each type of content you want to share.
Select OK when you're done.
You've now shared your iTunes library.

How to Find and Use Shared iTunes Libraries

Any shared iTunes libraries that you can access appear in the left sidebar of your iTunes library along with your music and playlists. Select a shared library to browse it as if it was on your computer.

If the iTunes library sidebar is not visible, select View > Show Sidebar.

Change Firewall Settings to Allow iTunes Sharing

An active firewall may prevent iTunes sharing on your network. Here's how to work around this.

Mac Firewall

If you use the default Mac Firewall, change a setting to allow iTunes sharing:

Go to the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and choose System Preferences.
Select Security & Privacy.
Select the Firewall tab.
If the Firewall is turned off, you don't need to do anything. If the Firewall is turned on, select the lock at the bottom of the window, then enter your admin password.
Select Firewall Options.
Select iTunes in the list and toggle it to Allow incoming connections using the arrows on the right of the line.
Select OK to save the change.
iTunes sharing is now allowed.

Windows Firewall

There are dozens of firewalls available for Windows. Consult the instructions for your firewall software to create an exception for iTunes. If you use the default Windows Defender firewall for Windows 10:

Enter firewall in the Windows search bar and select Windows Defender Firewall.
Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall in the left menu.
Select Change settings.
Scroll down the list of apps and select the iTunes check box, then select the Private and Public check boxes to the right. Select OK to save the change.

If iTunes is not listed, select Allow another app and select iTunes in Windows File Explorer.
iTunes sharing is now allowed.