Set up iTunes server on NAS - Here's how

To access your audio files with your Apple devices at any time, you can set up an iTunes server on your NAS. We will explain step-by-step how to move your iTunes information to the NAS in this practical tip.

iTunes: Set up media center on the NAS

• iTunes is a multimedia management program from Apple that allows you to easily manage all kinds of media files. In addition, iTunes lets you sync media libraries from your PC or Mac to your Apple devices, so your playlists on mobile devices are always up to date.
• In order to set up a media center for all your mobile devices, you need a so-called NAS. A NAS is a network storage device that allows you to store your own media in a central location so that it can be accessed by multiple computers. Follow the instructions below to set up an iTunes server on the NAS.

Instructions: Set up iTunes on the NAS server

1. In Windows, go to the "Edit" menu in iTunes and select the iTunes settings. First, the location of the "iTunes Media" folder is displayed under the "Advanced" area.
2. You can change the location by clicking the "Change" button and navigating to the location where you want to save your media folder. Select your NAS as the storage location to set up an iTunes server.
3. Click on the menu item "Manage library" under "File" and "Library" to automatically copy your media library to the NAS.
4. A notification window then opens in which you activate the "Merge files" option. To do this, check the checkbox of the same name and confirm your selection with "OK".
5. In a final step, your computer copies the media library to the NAS you have selected. When the process is complete, you can delete the iTunes Media folder. However, you must not remove the iTunes Library files "iTunes Libary.itl" and "iTunes Libary.xml".

Start the iTunes server on the NAS

• Hold the Shift key while starting iTunes and put the library path on your NAS. By repeating steps three to five, you synchronize another library with the NAS library.
• iTunes automatically saves the most recently selected media library. The path on the NAS remains set. However, this only applies to the computers with which you have already accessed your NAS.

It may happen that a song is accidentally transferred twice when copying to the NAS library. In another practical tip, we will therefore show you how to find duplicate songs in the iTunes library.