iPod won't hold a charge

Most likely

Swollen battery

A battery that swells is worn out and no longer safe. On the 6th and 7th Gen the battery sits behind the screen: swelling can leave dark pressure marks or spots on the screen or make it lift or bow, and the case can bulge, usually at the top. In some cases the front and back panel separate at the seam, and light from the backlight can sometimes be seen shining through it. An open seam on its own is often bent metal tabs or railing inside the inner back panel. Stop charging it and replace the battery.

Free check first Unplug it first. If it is extremely hot or smells, don't try to remove the battery. Open the iPod and look at the battery: if it is swollen, stop charging it and replace it. Never press on, bend or pierce a swollen battery; tape the old battery's terminals or bag it and take it to a battery drop-off, never the trash or a recycling bin.

Most likely

Swollen battery

A battery that swells is worn out and no longer safe. On the iPod Video the battery sits behind the screen: swelling can leave dark pressure marks or spots on the screen, make it lift or bow or even crack it, and the case can bulge, usually at the top. In some cases the front and back panel separate at the seam, and light from the backlight can sometimes be seen shining through it. An open seam on its own is often bent metal tabs or railing inside the inner back panel. Stop charging it and replace the battery.

Free check first Unplug it first. If it is extremely hot or smells, don't try to remove the battery. Open the iPod and look at the battery: if it is swollen, stop charging it and replace it. Never press on, bend or pierce a swollen battery; tape the old battery's terminals or bag it and take it to a battery drop-off, never the trash or a recycling bin.

Most likely

Swollen battery

A battery that swells is worn out and no longer safe, and the case almost never bulges, so a flat case doesn't rule it out. On the 4th Gen and Photo it pushes up under the click wheel, so the center button stops working, and the wheel can scroll by itself or stop responding. Stop charging it and replace the battery.

Free check first Unplug it first. If it is extremely hot or smells, don't try to remove the battery. Open the iPod and look at the battery: if it is swollen, stop charging it and replace it. Never press on, bend or pierce a swollen battery; tape the old battery's terminals or bag it and take it to a battery drop-off, never the trash or a recycling bin.

Most likely

Swollen battery

A battery that swells is worn out and no longer safe, and the case almost never bulges, so a flat case doesn't rule it out. On the Mini it can press on the screen and leave pressure spots, which usually fade after a new battery. Stop charging it and replace the battery.

Free check first Unplug it first. If it is extremely hot or smells, don't try to remove the battery. Open the iPod and look at the battery: if it is swollen, stop charging it and replace it. Never press on, bend or pierce a swollen battery; tape the old battery's terminals or bag it and take it to a battery drop-off, never the trash or a recycling bin.

Most likely

Swollen battery

A battery that swells is worn out and no longer safe, and the case almost never bulges, so a flat case doesn't rule it out. Stop charging it and replace the battery.

Free check first Unplug it first. If it is extremely hot or smells, don't try to remove the battery. Open the iPod and look at the battery: if it is swollen, stop charging it and replace it. Never press on, bend or pierce a swollen battery; tape the old battery's terminals or bag it and take it to a battery drop-off, never the trash or a recycling bin.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully from a FireWire charger or a 6-pin FireWire port on a computer that is on and awake: its USB cable syncs but never charges it. Then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully, then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.

Most likely

Worn-out battery

An old battery wears out: it no longer takes or holds a full charge, empties fast, or dies as soon as you unplug it. A new battery is the usual fix.

Free check first Charge it fully from a FireWire charger or a 6-pin FireWire port on a computer that is on and awake: its USB cable syncs but never charges it. Then unplug it: if it empties much faster than it used to, or dies as soon as it is unplugged, the battery is most likely worn out.

Next most likely

Logic board draining the battery

If even a new battery empties while the iPod sits unused, or drains fast, check the new battery first (a new one can be faulty), then the logic board; if the problem existed before the replacement, check for odd smells or heat. We fix it by replacing the logic board.