Ipod Reset Instructions

Martin Brinkmann
Sep 6, 2007
Updated • Jan 4, 2018
Apple, Companies
|
19

Frozen iPods are more common than you might think. Read on before you go out and buy a new iPod just because you can't get your old one fixed. As I said, freezing iPods are common and there are a few steps that you can undertake that will most likely fix the iPod and get it out of it's hung state.

The first thing that you have to check is if the hold slider is in the correct position. I know that this sounds stupid but believe me when I say that many users think that their iPod is broken or frozen because the hold switch is in the position where it locks the iPod completely. You should also make sure that the device has still enough battery to power on, as it won't do so if the battery is completely drained. If that is the case or you are uncertain, charge if for half an hour or so before you try again.

Ipod reset instructions differ depending on the iPod model that you own. If you have an iPod with a click wheel which most users should have you do the following:

  • Toogle the hold switch on and off
  • Hold the Menu and Center button for about 6-10 seconds until an Apple logo appears on the screen. I would suggest you place the iPod on a desk for instance and use two fingers to press both buttons.

If everything worked your iPod should have received the reset instructions and come out of frozen state.

You should not reset an iPod if the following messages are displayed on its screen:

  • Do not disconnect
  • Sync in Progress. Please wait..
  • Connected. Eject before disconnecting.

To reset a 6th or 7th generation iPad Nano do the following instead:

  • Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and Volume down button at the same time until the Apple logo appears. (6th)
  • Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button until the screen goes dark and the Apple logo appears after a couple of seconds.
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Comments

  1. Carol said on July 5, 2011 at 6:15 am
    Reply

    My daughter has an ipod touch older version. It is stuck with the itunes symbol and the cord. The only thing it will do is turn on or off. How can I fix this?

  2. CrysisKz said on May 8, 2010 at 12:59 am
    Reply

    My iPod’s screen is where the photo slideshow is.. I tried everything and nothing is working. I connected it to my laptop and still the screen is frozen.

  3. madeline said on March 20, 2010 at 12:13 am
    Reply

    thank you! you are my new best friend!

  4. Kenny said on November 20, 2009 at 3:38 am
    Reply

    Thanks!!! This proved right help when I desperately needed!!!

  5. cortney said on September 13, 2009 at 3:29 am
    Reply

    i have an i touCh and it stays on the apple screen forever it wont come off WHAT DO I DO?

  6. Munky said on September 6, 2009 at 2:39 pm
    Reply

    Thanks for the useful tip, it’s something that honestly at first not that many people would think of but it works. Thanks for your help :)

  7. Susan said on March 11, 2009 at 4:39 pm
    Reply

    Toggling while hold down the menu and center button did nit reset my ipod. Nor did Toggling while holding down the play pause botton. Do you have any other suggestions? That has worked in the past. It does not work this time. The screen is frozen on Now Playing in pause mode.

  8. mafia said on March 1, 2009 at 11:22 pm
    Reply

    a apple is just staying there man wats going on im oing crazy

    1. cortney said on September 13, 2009 at 3:31 am
      Reply

      i dont think your going crazy…….

  9. mase said on December 25, 2008 at 1:20 pm
    Reply

    //ipod classic Drive Not Formatted
    every time i disconnect my ipod from my pc it reset it self and the reset will take about 7-10min,after the reset there will be no music,pic and video even if the files are still in the ipod harddisk.i cant even use it to store files anymore it say Drive Not Formatted.
    is there any way it can be fixed

  10. Jack D. Williamson said on November 8, 2007 at 6:54 am
    Reply

    30 gig IPOD, model no. MA444LL. Works fine until I take it on an a commercial air flight.
    When I reach acceptable flight altitude and turn it on, it locks up. Sometimes a message comes on the screen automatically (I did not write it down) Nothing I do seems to be able to unlock it. On the ground it resumes normal functioning. It will not shut off either. Seems to be independent of the hold button which I have toggled on and off to no avail. Later when I let the battery run down (I have no choice but to let it) and recharge it, it functions OK on the ground. One of the reasons I bought this IPOD was for in flight learning. I am sadly disappointed. Thank you.

  11. charles blake said on November 5, 2007 at 6:49 am
    Reply

    my son had his ipod in his pocket and it got washed i managed to get it to work again but now it dosent come up on the computer and wont take a charge it did work for a week or so but now i seem to be stuck all i get when i put it on the docking port is a few blinking lights then it gos off and the pc dosent even know that it is there.
    what show i do ?

  12. John said on October 19, 2007 at 6:46 am
    Reply

    You sir, are an absolute genius! In the past I’ve had to wait a day or so until the battery ran flat. Thank you for such an incredibly useful tip!

    J

  13. Sion said on October 18, 2007 at 11:14 pm
    Reply

    Thank you so much, my ipod is now working again.

  14. Erick said on October 9, 2007 at 9:04 pm
    Reply

    this thing dont work….that apple picture wont come off

  15. Julie said on September 29, 2007 at 2:43 am
    Reply

    Thanks! The tip of putting it on a flat surface and pushing both buttons at the SAME TIME helped me. I’m now up and running. Wonderful.

    1. Anonymous said on December 22, 2011 at 9:11 am
      Reply

      Thanks flat surface and holding both button at same time helped me . I no longer have to take IPOD
      to apple store to fix this problem of : (Disk Mode OK to disconnect) I was going crazzzzzzy!!!!

      Happy now :)

  16. Sheesh said on September 24, 2007 at 7:04 am
    Reply

    Thx a bunch..ive been tryin 2 fix it for a couple of hrs..shuda checked ur steps in the 1st place… my ipod is saved!!!

  17. ULI said on September 22, 2007 at 7:15 pm
    Reply

    thank’s so much for this Tipp …..my i pod i ok now

    Regards
    ULI

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