Quick fixes
How to turn on an iPod
Press any button to turn on these iPods (iPod Mini 1st Gen: the Center button). Nothing happens? Check the Hold switch, then charge it. Pick what you want to do and your iPod for the details.
Quick answer
- Slide the Hold switch off, so that no orange shows next to it: with Hold on, the buttons do nothing.
- iPod Classic, iPod Video, iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo, iPod Mini 2nd Gen and iPod 3rd Gen Press any button. The main menu appears.
- iPod Mini 1st Gen Press the Center button. The main menu appears.
What do you want to do?
Which iPod do you have?
Step by step
- Slide the Hold switch off, so that no orange shows next to it: with Hold on, the buttons do nothing.
- iPod Classic, iPod Video, iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo, iPod Mini 2nd Gen and iPod 3rd GenPress any button. The main menu appears.
- iPod Mini 1st GenPress the Center button. The main menu appears.
- iPod 4th Gen, iPod Photo and iPod Mini 1st GenNothing happens? The battery may be empty: connect it to its wall charger (the iPod Power Adapter).
- iPod 3rd GenNothing happens? The battery may be empty: connect it to its FireWire wall charger. Its USB cable doesn't charge it.
- iPod Video and iPod Mini 2nd GenNothing happens? The battery may be empty: connect it to your computer.
- iPod ClassicNothing happens? The battery may be empty: connect it to your computer or a USB wall charger and look for the lightning bolt on the screen, which shows it is charging.
- iPod Classic, iPod Video, iPod Photo and iPod Mini 2nd GenA very empty battery can need up to 30 minutes of charging before it turns on.
- Not used for a while? Leave it on the charger while it starts up.From our repair bench
- Still nothing? Reset it: hold Menu and the Center button until the Apple logo appears (3rd Gen: Menu and Play/Pause).
- The first time it starts, and after a restore, it asks for your language: turn the wheel to your language and press the Center button.
Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.
Turn iPod on and off
- To turn it on, press any button (iPod Mini 1st Gen: the Center button). To turn it off, press and hold Play/Pause until the screen goes dark.
Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.
Turn on a dead iPod
If it shows no sign of life after charging and a reset, see what can cause it on your model.
- Slide the Hold switch off, so that no orange shows next to it: with Hold on, the buttons do nothing.
- Not used for a while? Leave it on the charger while it starts up.From our repair bench
- Still nothing? Reset it: hold Menu and the Center button until the Apple logo appears (3rd Gen: Menu and Play/Pause).
Steps from Apple's own iPod guides and support pages.
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
Questions
Why won't my iPod turn on when I press a button?
Most often the Hold switch is on or the battery is empty. Slide the Hold switch off, charge it, then reset it. If it still shows no sign of life, see iPod won't turn on.