I frequently have trouble trying to copy music onto my iPod due to iTunes’s draconian binding and synchronising rules. These rules exist to ensure that only “authorised” files can be copied onto any given device. Apple implement this by binding your device to a specific instance of iTunes using a randomly generated Persistent Id that’s registered on your computer and on your device.

I have 3 computers that I use regularly, and I regularly rip CDs in different places and want to put that music on my iPod for travelling imminently. By default, iTunes restricts me from being able to do this.

Tonight I hacked together a little command line app to clone your persistent Id’s across multiple machines.

In order to use it, you need a copy of iTunes bound to your device installed on a machine. Once you have that, you run the program in –extract mode, which will show you the persistent Id for that machine. You can then use the program on other computers to patch any installed iTunes libraries to believe that they have the same persistent Id as the “master” machine. It’s a pretty trivial process.

If it breaks anything, don’t come crying, but “works on my machines”. Happy listening.

Source code / detailed instructions: https://github.com/davidwhitney/itunes-persistent-id-cloner Executable: https://github.com/downloads/davidwhitney/itunes-persistent-id-cloner/4f7dd551998d515108d937d5b39f28a7b2a058ff.zip

The iTunes Persistent Id Cloner!

Small command line app to:

1) Extract the persistent Id from an iTunes library (this is the thing that your device is bound to)
2) Patch up an iTunes library with a persistent Id you supply (I bet you can see where this is going).

Usage:

Compile.

1) Quit iTunes on machine that you want to be considered your "master" persistent Id.
    I'd suggest the one you've already got your iPod / iPhone registered on.

2) Run itunes-persistent-id-cloner.exe -extract
    Write down the Persistent Id it gives you.

3) Install a fresh copy of iTunes on another machine
    Run it once, and quit iTunes.

3) Run itunes-persistent-id-cloner.exe -patch on another machine
    When prompted, enter the persistent Id supplied by the other Id.
    Ensure iTunes isn't running.
    Hit enter.

No friendly error messages or error handling at the moment.
Don't make typos, things might crash. Worse case, you can run / patch a second time.