Home> iPod Column > Use multiple iPods with one Mac
How to use multiple iPods with one Mac
Learn a couple of different ways to use multiple iPods with one Mac
When you’re alone with your iPod and your Mac, it’s easy to manage your library and sync your music, videos, audiobooks and data. But with the holidays over, many family members who didn’t have iPods beforehand may now find themselves the proud owners of one of Apple’s music players. And when two or more people share a Mac, it gets a bit confusing. There are several ways you can sync multiple iPods to one Mac.
Method One
If you share your computer with other people, you can maintain separate user accounts for each person who uses the computer. This is useful especially if each user has different tastes in music; users can maintain separate, personalized iTunes music libraries and can customize their iPods accordingly.
Method Two
You may use multiple iPods on a computer without the need to create multiple user accounts. To do this, you can set iTunes to update each iPod with only certain playlists. This method allows you to put all your music on, say, your iPod and keep your iPod shuffle updated with only your workout music. Here's how to do this with iTunes 9:
- Create new iTunes playlists that contain all the music that you want to sync to each iPod.
- Learn how to Sync your iPod.
Method Three
Create a separate iTunes library for each iPod. Note: It is important that you make a new iTunes Library file. Do not just make a copy of your existing iTunes Library file. If iTunes is open, quit it.
- Hold down the Option key while you open iTunes.
- In the dialog that appears, click Create Library.
- Name and save the alternate library file. iTunes opens with your brand new library file.
- Open iTunes Preferences. Choose iTunes > Preferences.
- Click the Advanced tab.
- Deselect the "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" checkbox if it is already selected and click OK. This will prevent iTunes from creating duplicates of your existing media files in the new library folder.
- Add the specific media files you want on your iPod to iTunes either by dragging them into iTunes or choosing File > Add to Library.
- Once you have the iTunes Library just how you want it, connect and sync your iPod.
- Once the sync is complete, quit iTunes.
- Hold down the Option key while you open iTunes.
- Click Choose library.
- Choose your original iTunes Library and click Choose. You can now switch back and forth between the different libraries for different iPods.
If you want to rip DVD or convert video to your iPod, you may download free trial version of iPod Video Converter for Mac
or DVD to iPod Converter for Mac.
