One of the features I really like in iTunes is the option NOT to copy files to the iTunes media folder when adding to library. I have more video files than I could ever fit on my Mac, so I keep them on an external HD on the network. Is there a way to similarly have a video listed on an iOS device that isn’t actually on the device but rather is on an external drive on the network.
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Cameron
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You can absolutely do this. It is a very cool feature.
You have to turn on sharing in iTunes on your Mac or PC. Once you do that, then you can go to theMusic app on an iPhone that is on the same network. Then at the bottom tap "More" and then look for "Shared." You do no see shared, then you don't have sharing turned on in iTunes on your computer, or maybe they aren't on the same network.
Tap Shared and you get access to your entire iTunes music library.
This works with both music and videos.
You can see videos in playlists in the Music app and choose them. But you can see all of your iTunes videos if you use the Videos app. A Shared choice will appear there too.
So even though the iTunes video library has not been copied to the iTunes media folder but is rather on an external drive, the computer on which iTunes is installed still has to be present for iOS to access that video library on the external HD?
Right. Apple TV can't just scan your network and look for files. It needs to know what you have, where it is, and what it has permission to access. iTunes does those things for it.