Replacement rechargeable battery for iPod 4G Monochrome. Use it for poor runtime, swelling, or power loss after cable and power-source checks, while remembering that bad storage or board faults can imitate battery trouble.
Product Overview
This battery listing covers Replacement Battery (All Capacities) and its own connector path on the iPod 4th Generation (Monochrome).
Use Part Details for the confirmed part-number reference. Use the Compatible Variants table below to confirm capacity, color, case, or order-number fitment.
Choose this part when your iPod shows Won't Charge, Won't Turn On, Battery Drain, or Shuts Down Randomly; the checks below help confirm the right part before you order.
If a known-good battery, cable, and power source still do not restore stable power, the problem might be the dock connector, battery connector, or something on the board, not just the battery.
- USB may not be able to charge a deeply discharged battery
- A USB port may not supply enough amperage to charge a deeply discharged battery, and if the battery charge is too low, iTunes will not recognize the iPod.
- While USB charging is possible, any restore operation requires FireWire.
- A USB AC adapter will not work for completing the restore
- Both USB wall chargers and FireWire wall chargers work for completing the restore process
What Is Included
Quick Buying Check
Buy this when
- Won't Charge: Verify the charger, cable, dock connector, and storage spin-up load first; use the battery check when runtime, no-charge, shutdown, or swelling behavior still follows the pack.
Diagnose first when
- Test with a direct USB connection to a computer before assuming the battery is dead. Some docks and wall chargers only supply FireWire power.
- Confirm thin or thick case thickness before ordering battery, hard drive, cable, or rear case parts.
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1059 |
| EMC | EMC 1995 |
| Condition | New replacement battery |
| Capacity (Original) | 630 mAh |
| Capacity (Extended) | 630 mAh |
| Chemistry | Li-Ion |
| Voltage (Nominal) | 3.7V |
| Connector | Wired plug-in |
| Soldering Required | No |
| OEM Part | 616-0206 |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M9787LL/A | 20GB | Black/Red (U2) | thin | Yes | — |
| M9282LL/A | 20GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| PE435A | 20GB | White (HP) | thin | Yes | — |
| M9268LL/A | 40GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| PE436A | 40GB | White (HP) | thick | Yes | — |
Diagnostic Failure Cards
Use these model-specific failure cards to decide whether this battery is the right part, a nearby part needs checking first, or escalation makes more sense after simpler checks.
Advanced or board-level cases
Dock, USB, sync, or charging connection trouble
What you may notice
- People describe charging, USB recognition, sync, or dock-connector behavior that is intermittent or missing.
- Charging, USB recognition, sync, or dock behavior is intermittent or missing.
Diagnose first when
- Try a known-good cable, charger, and computer port before opening the iPod.
- Inspect the dock connector for debris, bent pins, corrosion, or looseness.
- Separate charging-only failure from computer-recognition or sync failure when choosing a part.
- Test with a direct USB connection to a computer before assuming the battery is dead. Some docks and wall chargers only supply FireWire power.
- Test with a known-good charger and cable, then note whether the iPod only works while plugged in or fails again under load.
Similar issues to separate
- The battery can be involved, but cable condition, port contamination, battery state, storage behavior, or board damage can create overlapping symptoms.
- This model can charge via USB, but some older docks and wall chargers use FireWire-only power. If it charges from computer USB but not from a dock or wall adapter, the charger may be the issue rather than the battery.
- Check dock / usb / sync route, connector seating, and board-side damage before ordering.
- Choose this battery only when charging, sync, or dock behavior is tied to this part or its connector path.
When this battery fits
- If the symptom appeared after opening the iPod or replacing a part, inspect and reseat nearby ribbon cables and connectors before assuming the replacement part is bad.
Where this battery does not fit
Check another part first
- Check cable, charger, battery, storage restore state, and board condition when the dock path is not clearly isolated.
Repair or replacement paths
- Replace the battery when inspection points to this part's role in the dock, USB, sync, or charging path.
- Continue battery, storage, or board diagnosis when the port looks healthy but power or sync still fails.
Ribbon, connector, or ground-path checks
What you may notice
- A symptom starts after opening the iPod or disturbing an internal flex cable.
Diagnose first when
- Inspect for liquid, corrosion, residue, torn flex material, or connector damage.
Similar issues to separate
- Connector seating, ribbon damage, or ground-path issues can involve this part, a nearby connector, or a board path.
Check another part first
- Check the Replacement Hard Drive (20GB) when storage symptoms such as clicking, sad ipod, folder icons, or restore failure are the main problem.
- Check the 30-Pin Dock Connector / Charging Port when charging, sync, usb, firewire, or dock-connection behavior is the main problem.
Fitment and post-repair traps
Fitment or model-variant mismatch
What you may notice
- People ask whether a similar-looking part from another capacity, case thickness, or generation will work.
Diagnose first when
- Confirm thin or thick case thickness before ordering battery, hard drive, cable, or rear case parts.
- Match the exact model, generation, capacity, and case style shown for the product.
- Do not use a symptom to override fitment: a wrong-variant part can create new symptoms after installation.
Similar issues to separate
- This battery may help only when it matches the model and variant being repaired.
Check another part first
- Check fitment before replacing nearby parts or ordering another copy of the same wrong variant.
Repair or replacement paths
- Use the battery variant matched to the exact iPod.
- Recheck fitment before diagnosing a newly installed part as defective.
Power, charging, or runtime symptoms
What you may notice
- People describe short runtime, charging trouble, sudden shutoff, or an iPod that will not reliably power on.
- Short runtime, charging trouble, sudden shutoff, or a device that will not reliably power on.
Diagnose first when
- Test with a known-good charger and cable before opening the iPod.
- Note whether the iPod shows charging, briefly powers on, shuts down under load, or never wakes at all.
- If the symptom began after service, inspect the battery connector and nearby flex paths before replacing another part.
Similar issues to separate
- The 4G comes in thin 20GB and thick 40GB case variants. Battery, hard drive, and backplate fitment can differ by case thickness.
- The battery can be the cause, but charging, dock, storage, or board paths can create similar power behavior.
- Check power / charge / runtime route, connector seating, and board-side damage before ordering.
- Choose this battery only when the power, charging, or runtime pattern is tied to this part or its connector path.
- Choose this battery when the symptom remains isolated to this assembly, its ribbon, or its connector path after first checks.
Check another part first
- Check charger/cable behavior, dock connector condition, storage startup clues, and board damage when the symptom is not isolated to battery performance.
Repair or replacement paths
- Replace the battery when inspection or repeat testing points to this part as the failing path.
- Keep dock connector, storage, and board diagnosis in scope when charging behavior is inconsistent or no power path is confirmed.
Symptoms changed after repair or reassembly
What you may notice
- People describe a new problem appearing immediately after battery, storage, display, audio, or control work.
- A new symptom appeared after battery, storage, audio, display, or control work.
Diagnose first when
- Reopen only as far as needed to inspect the areas touched during the repair.
- Compare the new symptom with what worked before the repair.
- Check cable seating, latch position, and part variant before replacing a second part.
Similar issues to separate
- A post-repair symptom can involve the battery, but disturbed ribbons, latches, grounding, connector seating, or the wrong variant part are common checks before ordering again.
- Check post-repair regression, connector seating, and board-side damage before ordering.
- Choose this battery only when the part itself was torn, creased, or damaged during service.
Check another part first
- Check the exact connector or assembly disturbed during the repair before treating the new part as failed.
Repair or replacement paths
- Correct seating, latch, or variant problems first.
- Replace the battery when the repair damaged that assembly or its flex path.
Fitment and inspection notes
Symptom remains after basic checks
What you may see: The iPod still points back to Replacement Battery (All Capacities) after cable seating, battery stability, and nearby connector checks.
Check first: Retest with known-good cables or adjacent parts where practical before ordering.
Check next: A nearby cable, connector, battery, storage device, display path, audio path, or board path can mimic a bad battery.
Symptom changes when touched or reseated
What you may see: The symptom changes after moving the part, reseating a cable, or applying light pressure near the connector path.
Check first: Inspect the connector, latch, flex, solder joints, and nearby board area for damage or corrosion.
Check next: This can still be a connection issue rather than a failed battery alone.
Problem began after another repair
What you may see: The issue started immediately after opening the iPod, replacing another part, or disturbing an internal cable.
Check first: Reopen only as far as needed and inspect the exact area touched during the previous repair.
Check next: Post-repair symptoms often trace to seating, latch, screw, or cable issues before Replacement Battery (All Capacities) itself is confirmed bad.
Repair considerations
Repair specialists who work on this model consistently flag these checks before replacing the battery — they help confirm the battery is the right fix and not a nearby fault:
- Swollen or damaged batteries require safety framing
- Try known-good cable, charger, USB port, or computer
- Replace battery
Do Not Buy / Problems This Battery Does Not Fix
| Situation | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| Variant or capacity does not match this listing | This is a different model — check your order number and generation before ordering. |
| You see a folder icon, clicking noise, or restore failure | Follow the remaining storage, display, audio, port, or board clue instead of replacing another battery. |
| Only the screen is affected and everything else works | Start with the screen, display ribbon, backlight path, and battery-swelling inspection. |
| Charging, swelling, runtime, or power is the primary problem | Check the charger, cable, port condition, and battery connector before replacing the battery. |
| Recent service or connector disturbance is the main clue | Inspect the disturbed connector, latch, ribbon, flex path, and corrosion signs before ordering another battery. |
| A symptom points to a different part | iPod Photo / 4th Gen Color — may share battery but verify connector orientation. |
- The 4th generation iPod will not complete a restore process without a FireWire connection
- Need a FireWire-to-30-pin dock connector cable
Install Overview
Before You Start
Turn Hold off, use the reset sequence for this generation, and confirm the model and variant before opening the iPod.
Treat case opening as the highest handling risk. Work around the seams gently and stop if the shell, clips, or internal stack resist.
Do not pull the halves apart or side-load board sockets. Reseat nearby ribbons and connectors before blaming a replacement battery.
Stop charging and avoid puncturing, bending, or compressing the cell if the battery is swollen, hot, leaking, or visibly damaged.
Repair Guide
Repair guide summary: iPod 4th Generation or Photo Battery Replacement.
Show all 8 installation steps
Before you open the iPod, confirm that the hold switch is in the locked setting. The orange bar should be showing, indicating hold is active.
Move an opening pick as far as possible into the gap between the plastic front and the metal back panel, on the right edge of the iPod. You may have to rock the pick back and forth to move it in farther. With the opening pick, lever up against the plastic front panel and release 5 retaining tabs. Slide the pick along the iPod edge and keep levering gently until the remaining retaining tabs release. In this step, after all five tabs along the right edge are free, the case should easily open.
The iPod case is now open, but do not separate the two halves yet. An orange ribbon cable still connects the headphone jack to the logic board. With the dock connector edge at the top, open the case like a book and set the rear panel beside the iPod front half.
With a plastic tool or your fingernails, carefully detach the orange headphone jack cable. Make sure to draw straight up on the connector, not the cable itself. This fragile ribbon cable can stay connected for a battery replacement. Prop and tape the rear case against a box so the headphone jack remains connected to the motherboard without straining its cable while you work.
Carefully detach the white battery connector from the logic board. Pull only on the connector housing, not the cables.
Take out the 2 black T6 Torx screws from the left edge of the logic board.
Use one hand to raise the hard drive up in order to access the battery beneath. Carefully thread the battery cable around the logic board end. While freeing the cable, avoid pulling upward too far on the logic board.
Raise the battery out of the front housing by pulling it up by the battery leads. If necessary, grip the battery and pull it off the adhesive securing it to the front case. It may be helpful to with a spudger, lever the battery up off its adhesive. Raise the battery up and out of the front case.
After This Repair
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Charge and calibrate | Charge fully, let it stay on the charger a little longer, then use it through a normal discharge and charge cycle so the meter can settle. |
| Watch the internal stack | If the display shows pressure marks, dark spots, or case bowing after reassembly, reopen and check battery thickness and cable routing. |
| Still not working? | Check the dock connector, battery connector, storage load, and board power path before replacing another battery. |
Battery Safety & Shipping
⚠️ Lithium-Ion / Li-Po Battery Safety. This product contains (or is) a rechargeable lithium-ion/lithium-polymer battery. Charge only with a compatible charger; don't leave it charging unattended or overnight, and unplug once fully charged. Avoid charging or storing in direct sunlight or other high-heat environments. Stop using and stop charging immediately if the battery swells, bulges, gets unusually hot, hisses, smokes, or leaks. Do not puncture, crush, bend, short-circuit, or try to "deflate" a swollen cell, and never press a lifted screen or case back down — it can rupture the cell. If electrolyte contacts your eyes, flush with clean water for 15 minutes without rubbing and seek medical care; on skin, wash with water and soap. Battery service should be done by a trained technician. Recycle through an electronics or universal-waste recycler, not household trash.
Shipping. A refurbished iPod shipped with its battery installed ships as UN3481 (lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment); a loose replacement cell shipped on its own ships as UN3480 (lithium-ion batteries). Cells have passed UN Manual of Tests and Criteria 38.3 testing.
Worth Knowing
- Same 630 mAh battery fits both thin (20GB) and thick (40GB) case variants.
- Battery sits BEHIND the click wheel — a swollen battery can press on the click wheel causing phantom input or complete input failure. This layout is unique to the 4G/Photo platform.
- First fullsize iPod with USB charging — battery charges via both FireWire and USB.
- Replace the battery first as it is the least expensive and easiest diagnostic starting point
- If the issue persists after battery replacement, the hard drive is likely defective
Frequently Asked Questions
Use these questions to narrow the part path before ordering. They keep each answer focused on a different diagnostic or fitment decision.
What iPod 4th Generation (Monochrome) models does this fit?
This Replacement Battery (All Capacities) fits: M9282LL/A (20GB White), M9268LL/A (40GB White), M9787LL/A (20GB Black/Red (U2)), PE435A (20GB White (HP)), PE436A (40GB White (HP)).
Do I need to solder?
No, this installation does not require soldering.
How do I know if this battery needs replacement?
Symptoms that can point to this battery include: Won't Charge, Won't Turn On, Battery Drain, Shuts Down Randomly, Swollen Battery. Check fitment, connectors, and nearby parts before treating symptoms as proof.
Can storage trouble look like a bad battery?
Listen for repeated drive clicking and compare whether the symptom changes in disk mode or during restore. Reseat the hard-drive ribbon before replacing the battery again when power symptoms began after service. Confirm thin or thick case thickness before ordering battery, hard drive, cable, or rear case parts. Listen for repeat clicking or repeated spin-up attempts before replacing storage parts. Check whether the iPod enters disk mode, restores cleanly, and is recognized by the computer. If a drive or flash adapter was just installed, recheck cable seating, adapter orientation, and formatting before buying another part. This battery may still help when runtime is poor after storage symptoms are ruled out. Choose this battery only when clicking, restore failure, or disk errors follow this part or its connection path. Check the storage path first when sad iPod, clicking, or restore failure is the main event. Check the storage cable, adapter setup, battery power stability, and board connector when the symptom changes after reseating or swapping storage.
What should I check before replacing this battery?
Inspect the battery connector and nearby ribbon paths before ordering another battery. Look for corrosion, torn flex material, or a connector that no longer clamps the battery lead cleanly. This battery helps only when the battery itself remains the isolated failure after seating checks. Check disturbed connectors first when the symptom appeared immediately after service.
Why people land on this part
Also searched as: replaced battery, not charge, order battery, dead battery, low battery, battery black, battery bought, battery won't charge, won't charge completely, battery dies, battery life, not charging, doesn't charge, battery drained, battery has been, expanded battery, battery affecting middle, battery drain now, issues with battery, swollen battery affecting, iPod 4th Generation Monochrome Battery, iPod 4 generation battery replacement, replace battery on iPod 4th generation, iPod fourth generation battery replacement, iPod 4 generation charger, charging iPod 4th generation, Won't Turn On, Shuts Down Randomly, new battery, battery replacement.
You May Also Want
Flash mods reduce power draw — pair with a new battery for maximum life.
Related: Hard Drive IDE Ribbon CableThe IDE ribbon cable runs near the battery — inspect during replacement.
Related: Replacement Click Wheel AssemblySwollen battery can damage the click wheel — inspect during battery replacement.
