Archived - iTunes: Finding and listening to shared libraries

With iTunes, you can listen to music that others are sharing. You can also share your library with other iTunes users on your local network.

To find and listen to music others are sharing:

1. Open iTunes.
2. Choose iTunes > Preferences (Mac) or choose Edit > Prefernces (Windows).
3. Click the Sharing tab.
4. Click the checkbox labeled "Look for shared libraries."
5. Click OK. A Shared menu appears on the left side of the iTunes window.
6. Click the Shared disclosure triangle to see a list of iTunes users who are sharing music.
7. Click the name of an iTunes user to see a list of all the music available for sharing, or click the disclosure triangle next to the iTunes user to see their playlists.

Double-click a song to play it, or click a playlist and the Play button to hear an entire playlist.

Tip: You will only see music other iTunes users are sharing under Shared Music. Music you're sharing does not appear there.

What can be shared

You can share video, MP3, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV, and AAC files, audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store, and shared radio station links. To play music purchased from the iTunes Store, you should first authorize your computer.

What can't be shared

Content from Audible.com, QuickTime sound files, and QuickTime movie files (including videos purchased from the iTunes Store) can't be shared. 

Tip: When sharing between a Mac and a Windows compatible computer, certain Unicode characters may not display correctly if Windows does not have the Unicode fonts installed. This may also occur with certain Mac-only characters.