Representative photo. You receive the part named above.
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For the iPod Classic 7th GenModel A1238
Also for the iPod Classic 7th Gen: White (Used Apple original) $24.95 · Custom color (New) $30.95 · See all
Doing it yourself?
iPod Classic 6th/7th Gen click wheel and center button replacement guide ›iPod Classic 7G — Used Apple Original Click Wheel (Black)
For the iPod Classic 7th Gen
Used (Apple Original) · Model A1238
$24.95
Also for the iPod Classic 7th Gen: White (Used Apple original) $24.95 · Custom color (New) $30.95 · See all
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We are not selling this part at the moment.
- Used (Apple Original). Tested: installed in a working iPod and checked before it ships.
- 1-year limited warranty · 30-day returns from delivery
- Free pry tool in the box
- Completed repairs aren't refundable. If a part we fitted fails within a year, we repair it again.
Questions about this part? Chat with us or email sales@imods.com.
Not sure what's wrong? Get your free repair quotePart details
About this part
Overview
Replacement click wheel for the iPod Classic 7G. Use it when the wheel or its Menu, Play/Pause, Next and Previous buttons are physically damaged, or still fail after Hold, a reset and the connector seating are checked. If only the center button fails, a new click wheel typically does not fix it.
Fitment snapshot
What Is Included
What this part might fix
Help pages, step by step, for problems this part might fix:
Fit and specs
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1238 |
| EMC | EMC 2173 |
| Condition | Used (Apple Original) click wheel |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MB147LL/A | 80GB | thin | Yes— compatible | Thin-Classic cosmetics/framework interchange; unit is the 2007 thin 80GB Classic — sold under the iPod Classic 6th Generation pages |
| MB565LL/A | 120GB | thin | Yes— compatible | Thin-Classic cosmetics/framework interchange; unit is the Late-2008 thin 120GB Classic — sold under the iPod Classic 6th Generation pages |
| MB150LL/A | 160GB | thick | Yes— compatible | Fits (click wheel interchangeable across the 6th/7th Gen (not the iPod Video)); unit is the 2007 thick 160GB Classic — sold under the iPod Classic 6th Generation pages |
| MB145LL/A | 160GB | thick | Yes— compatible | Fits (click wheel interchangeable across the 6th/7th Gen); unit is the 2007 thick 160GB Classic — sold under the iPod Classic 6th Generation pages |
| MC297LL/A | 160GB | thin | Yes | — |
| MC293LL/A | 160GB | thin | Yes— compatible | Color swap — physically fits, different color from original |
Not compatible with
- Center button cap only - use the center button page or the add-on
- iPod Video 5G / 5.5G (A1136) click wheel, part 821-0372-A (sold under the iPod Video pages) — wrong part for this model; the 6th/7th Gen wheel is 821-0545-A
Install and repair
Step-by-step guide
iPod Classic 6th/7th Gen click wheel and center button replacement
Tools: Plastic opening picks (two or three), Thin metal opening tool, Phillips #00 screwdriver, Plastic spudger and tweezers, Anti-static wrist strap or mat, Small dish or marked paper, Soft, clean cloth and an air blower, Charger and headphones you know work
- Open the caseUnplug any cable. Switch the iPod off (hold Play/Pause until the screen goes dark) and slide Hold to locked. Open it as our opening guide shows: plastic picks keep the seam open along one long side while the tip of a thin metal tool pushes each clip in toward the front panel, rocking on the steel back's rim. Free both long sides, then the one clip in the middle of the top edge, between the Hold switch and the headphone jack. Leave the bottom edge clipped: it is the hinge.
- Unplug the battery firstPart the top ends a little, no further: the battery ribbon and the headphone ribbon still join the two halves. Now and then the drive comes away stuck to the back half, or the battery plug pops out as the case opens, so check for both, and ease a stuck drive back down into the front half.
Install Overview
Rather not open it? Choose We Fix It above: mail your iPod in and we fit it. Turnaround is typically 3 to 5 business days. 1-year limited warranty.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What Replacement Click Wheel (Black) models does this fit?
This click wheel fits MC293LL/A and MC297LL/A (any front color) and the 6th Gen units in the table.
Do I need to solder?
No, this installation does not require soldering. Difficulty: Very Difficult. Estimated time: 30 minutes - 1 hour.
How do I know if this click wheel needs replacement?
Symptoms that can point to this click wheel include: Click Wheel Not Working.
What if only the center or Select button fails?
If only the center button fails, a new click wheel or its cable typically does not fix it on the 5th, 6th and 7th Gen. Reset first (hold Menu + Center a few seconds); if that does not bring it back, it is most likely the logic board. Buy this wheel when the wheel, the buttons and the center fail together, or when the wheel is physically damaged.
Is this an iPod Classic?
Apple sold this model as iPod classic (Late 2009). '7th Generation' is common repair-market shorthand for the thin 160GB A1238 model, not an official Apple product name.
The built-in diagnostics stopped on a test that never finishes — what now?
If the built-in diagnostics stop at a FireWire test that reads as waiting, treat that as an unresolved result — it does not by itself identify a bad port or drive; run the cable and computer checks and read the drive tests instead. To leave the diagnostic screens, hold Menu + Center until the Apple logo — the same reset that got you in. A diagnostic screen that will not complete is not a verdict on the click wheel.
Free diagnostic
Broken iPod? We can help.
Mail us your iPod and we will test it and send you a free repair quote. If you don't like our price, we will ship your iPod back at our expense.
How mail-in repair works
Order the free diagnostic
Choose your iPod. Add our shipping box and prepaid label if you need one.
Mail us your iPod
Pack it with your work order. No printer? Put a note in the box with your name, return address, email, order number and what is wrong.
Approve your quote
We test it and email your free repair quote. Most repairs are finished within 3 to 5 business days after you approve the quote.