If you’re not keen on using up tons of storage space on your iPad with music but still would love to have access to your full iTunes Music Library on the iPad at times, here’s a quick and easy tip to help you achieve that.
All you need to do is use the Home Sharing feature in iTunes. This will only work when your iPad and computer are on the same WiFi network, but should still be very useful if you don’t store much music locally on your iPad.
Here’s how you get it working:
– In iTunes on your computer, click on Advanced on the menu bar, and choose ‘Turn on Home Sharing’. You’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. Once you enter those details you’ll get a confirmation message letting you know that Home Sharing is on.
– On the iPad, go to Settings > Music.
– As long as your iPad and computer are on the same WiFi network, you’ll see the Home Sharing section down at the bottom of that page. You just need to enter the Apple ID you use for iTunes and your password in the fields provided.
– Go to the Music app on the iPad and tap on the More tab in the bottom nav bar and tap on Shared.
– On the Shared dialog that comes up you’ll see ‘My iPad’ is selected for locally stored music. The second item will be ‘John Smith’s Library’ (with your name of course) that you just shared. Just tap on that entry to have access to the full iTunes music library.
That’s it. Hope this comes in handy.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, I never would have known that!
Hi thanks for all your really useful stuff. Loving my new iPad thanks to you. Anyway, on subject of home sharing music….if it is not too silly a question, does my home computer have to be on to do this?
Thanks
Lisa
Yes it does. The sharing will stay in place all the time once setup, but for the library to be available the PC needs to be on.
Quick question….is it possible to have access to different iTunes libraries via home sharing if I’m not at home?! ie. access my home computer’s library when I’m at my work’s wifi via my ipad2?!
Thanks!
No. For home sharing to work the PC sharing the library and the iPad need to be on the same local WiFi network.
You can look at using a remote access app to connect to your PC when away from home and stream music as an option.
I cant see the option share in more tap
I could configurate my pc with IOS 4.3 but IOS 5 i check all the steps but i can see it
What’s wrong???
Thanks
Ok i can do it
A little problem with my wifi connection
Thanks
Cool, glad you got it worked out.
With home sharing is it possible to read books or pdf’s you have in iTunes?
You don’t need home sharing for that. You can use file sharing or other methods to move your ebooks and PDFs to the iPad.
Under my more tab it only says composer and genre- I cannot find the share option. Help!
Apple’s “Remote” app may be easier and doesn’t tie up your iPad. Use Remote to connect to your home computer’s itunes library and play music from there.
I don’t see a more tab in the music app. Maybe because I don’t have any songs in the yet?
I found out the solution to the missing “Shared” option on the iOS5 Music App:
When you go to iTunes, set up your Home Sharing as usual and at the end. DO NOT CLICK the “DONE” button. If you do that correctly, you should see the “SHARED” section on your side bar. Go back on your Music app in the iOS5 device and check if you can see the “SHARED” option. This also works for the remote. Thanks! :)
Thanks … of all the stuff I found on the web & YouTube your tip was the one that got my Home Sharing working.
This did not work for me.
When I reach the last step, and click on my library, it says unable to share, have checked passwords, upgraded itunes on my computer, my ipad2 stilll doesnt home share? what do i do?