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How Do I Use Photos Media and Music Media In Different Macs?

I have an iMac set up with one Apple ID and have accumulated photos as well as a music collection on that iMac (purchased and ripped CDs). I have a separate iMac with a different Apple ID that I want to use those collections (libraries?). In effect, I want to be able to do some iMovie editing and have full access to the photos and music media in the first iMac. Can I just make a copy of the photos and iTunes media onto an external drive and use it?
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Mike

Comments: 2 Responses to “How Do I Use Photos Media and Music Media In Different Macs?”

    8 years ago

    The best way to do it is to use the same Apple ID on both and then you can have iCloud Photo Library to sync your photos. Similarly, you can use iTunes Match to sync your music.
    Even if you don't want to do it that way, you should just have one Apple ID. Having multiple Apple IDs is very problematic. Things you purchase with one Apple ID will only be available to that Mac and not the other. An Apple ID is meant for one person to use across all of their devices. You can do it any way you want but you'll be missing out on a lot of features and efficiencies if you use separate Apple IDs.
    That said, you can always use file sharing or AirDrop to send single image or picture files from one Mac to the other. But that requires you to have both Macs within reach if you are working on a project -- or so lots of planning in advance to gather the right things together.

    Mike
    8 years ago

    I know the preferred way of using one Apple ID. I'm not able to do that. Would that I could. As well, I'm not able to use iTunes Match. Hence the query about alternative access to music and photos. The machines will be close enough to use airdrop, so that is a way to send individual images or music. Just more cumbersome to go through the multiple steps. I had the impression a "library" of images as well as music was available to be copied and used in another Mac.

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