Quick fixes

How to turn off an iPod

Press and hold Play/Pause until the screen goes dark: that turns off every one of these iPods. Pick what you want to do and your iPod for the details.

Quick answer

  • iPod Classic Press and hold Play/Pause for about 2 seconds, until the screen goes dark.
  • iPod Video, iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo, iPod Mini and iPod 3rd Gen Press and hold Play/Pause until the screen goes dark.

Every step, by model

What do you want to do?

Which iPod do you have?

Not sure which one? Identify your iPod

Step by step

  1. iPod ClassicPress and hold Play/Pause for about 2 seconds, until the screen goes dark.
  2. iPod Video, iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo, iPod Mini and iPod 3rd GenPress and hold Play/Pause until the screen goes dark.
  3. iPod 3rd GenPlay/Pause is one of the four buttons above the wheel.
  4. To keep it from turning on in a bag, slide the Hold switch to HOLD (orange shows next to it).
  5. iPod Classic, iPod Video, iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo, iPod Mini 2nd Gen and iPod 3rd GenTo turn it on again, slide the Hold switch back and press any button.
  6. iPod Mini 1st GenTo turn it on again, slide the Hold switch back and press the Center button.

Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.

Won't turn off

Also searched as will not turn off · won't shut off · frozen won't turn off

Check the Hold switch first: with Hold on, the buttons do nothing. If the iPod is frozen, reset it; once it restarts you can turn it off.

  1. Slide the Hold switch to HOLD and back again, so that no orange shows next to it.
  2. Click wheel iPodsPress and hold Menu and the Center button together until the Apple logo appears (about 6 to 8 seconds), then let go.
  3. iPod 3rd GenPress and hold Menu and Play/Pause together until the Apple logo appears (about 5 seconds), then let go. They are two of the four buttons above the wheel.
  4. Once it restarts, press and hold Play/Pause to turn it off.

Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.

How to reset an iPod

Turn off repeat on iPod

Also searched as turn off repeat · turn off repeat song

  1. Choose Settings from the main menu, then choose Repeat until it shows Off.

Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.

Keeps turning off

Also searched as keeps turning on and off · keeps turning off by itself · turn off randomly

If it turns itself off after a set time, check the sleep timer. If it shuts off at random, see the likely causes for your model.

  1. iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo, iPod Mini and iPod 3rd GenTurns off after a set time? Check the sleep timer: Extras > Clock > Sleep Timer, set to Off.
  2. iPod VideoTurns off after a set time? Check the sleep timer: Extras > Clock, choose the clock, then Sleep Timer, set to Off.
  3. iPod ClassicTurns off after a set time? Check the sleep timer: Extras > Alarms > Sleep Timer, set to Off.

Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.

See iPod keeps turning off

Still not working — free diagnostic

Mail us your iPod and we test it and send you a free repair quote. If you don't like the price, we ship it back at our expense.

Free diagnostic for the iPod 3rd GenFree diagnostic for the iPod 4th GenFree diagnostic for the iPod PhotoFree diagnostic for the iPod Video 5th GenFree diagnostic for the iPod Classic 6th GenFree diagnostic for the iPod Classic 7th GenFree diagnostic for the iPod Mini 1st GenFree diagnostic for the iPod Mini 2nd GenFree diagnostic

Free

Questions

Does an iPod have a power button?

No. You turn these iPods off by holding Play/Pause, and on by pressing any button (iPod Mini 1st Gen: the Center button).