How Does iTunes Home Sharing Work? Here's The Answer

The new iTunes Home Sharing option is probably the most fun feature of iOS 4.3. Still, we’ve received lots of requests from readers wanting to know how to use it. Consider this your quick start guide. What is iTunes Home Sharing? Your Mac or PC's iTunes application is what feeds the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. Without it, syncing media across platforms is all but impossible. Unfortunately, because our iDevices have size limits, we have to choose which files to sync to our iPhone or iPad. The iTunes Home Sharing feature eliminates this problem by allowing us to access these files using our Wi-Fi network. Files can include: Music, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, and Audiobooks. Steps In iTunes 10.2.1, select Advanced and click on “Turn On Home Sharing.”

To activate, enter your Apple ID and password, and click “Create Home Share.”

Next, on your iPhone or iPad, go into Settings and select iPod. Towards the bottom of the screen, enter your Apple ID and Password. Finally, within your iPod app, click on the more tab at the bottom. You will then see your computer's Shared Library.

It’s as simple as that! Notes Keep in mind, two important points: For one, this will only work as long as you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network, and not through 3G. Second, closing iTunes on your Mac or PC will terminate the connection. Make sure the application remains open. Once this process is complete, you won't have to do it again. Simply reenter iTunes and your connections will be automatically restored.