Replacement rechargeable battery for iPod Photo (4th Generation). 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 and its own connector path on the iPod Photo (4th Generation).
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.
- A USB AC adapter will not complete the restore process
- USB may not supply enough amperage to charge a deeply discharged battery
- In a deeply discharged state, the iPod cannot communicate with the computer via USB
- The iPod 4th Gen requires FireWire to complete the restore process; USB alone will not work
- Low-power USB ports and 4-pin FireWire ports can trigger this icon during updates or restores
What Is Included
Quick Diagnosis: Is It The Replacement Battery?
Start here before ordering. Work through the checks in order; a symptom alone does not prove this battery is bad until nearby parts, cables, fitment, or install issues are separated.
Before you order this battery
- Try a force restart first. Toggle Hold on and off, then hold Menu + Select/Center for 6 to 10 seconds.
- Check for liquid or connector damage. Inspect for liquid, corrosion, residue, torn flex material, or connector damage.
- Check battery and power stability. Try a known-good charger and cable.
- Check battery and power stability. Test with a known-good charger and cable, then note whether the iPod only works while plugged in or fails again under load.
- Use this listing only after the checks still point here. If the symptom still points here after those checks, compare Compatible Variants before ordering this battery.
Other Symptoms That May Involve This Part
| Commonly described as | What to check before ordering |
|---|---|
| drive spin-up causes shutdown or reboot, storage diagnosis changes after charging the battery | Use this as a battery clue only after the iPod matches this listing's battery fitment. |
Specifications & Fitment
Also known as iPod with color display (Apple's official name after June 2005).
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1099 |
| EMC | EMC 2022 |
| Condition | New replacement battery |
| Capacity (Original) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA127LL/A | 20GB | Black/Red (U2) | thin | Yes— compatible | Compatible 20GB U2 Special Edition / black-red thin variant |
| MA079LL/A | 20GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| MA215LL/A | 20GB | White (Harry Potter Collector's Edition) | thin | Yes | — |
| M9829LL/A | 30GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| PS492AA | 30GB | White (HP) | thin | Yes— compatible | Stock match |
| M9585LL/A | 40GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| M9586LL/A | 60GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| M9830LL/A | 60GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| PS493AA | 60GB | White (HP) | thick | Yes— compatible | Stock match |
Failure Signs
Use these checks to decide whether this battery is the right part, whether a nearby part should be checked first, or whether the symptom needs more diagnosis.
Ribbon, connector, or ground-path checks
What you may see: A symptom starts after opening the iPod or disturbing an internal flex cable.
Most likely cause: Connector seating, ribbon damage, or ground-path issues can involve this part, a nearby connector, or a board path.
Fitment or model-variant mismatch
What you may see: People ask whether a similar-looking part from another model, capacity, or generation will work.
Check first: Confirm the model and capacity 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.
Most likely cause: This battery may help only when it matches the model and variant being repaired.
- Use the battery variant matched to the exact iPod.
- Recheck fitment before diagnosing a newly installed part as defective.
Look elsewhere when: Check fitment before replacing nearby parts or ordering another copy of the same wrong variant.
Power, charging, or runtime symptoms
What you may see: 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.
- Short runtime after a full charge.
- iPod shuts off suddenly under load.
- iPod only works while plugged in.
- Battery is swollen, bulging, or pushing on the case.
Check first: 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.
Most likely cause: The iPod Photo has thin 20GB/30GB and thick 40GB/60GB case variants. Battery, hard drive, and rear-case fitment can differ by 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.
- 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.
Look elsewhere when: Check power-source behavior, dock connector condition, storage startup clues, and board damage when the symptom is not isolated to battery performance.
Symptoms changed after repair or reassembly
What you may see: 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.
Check first: 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.
Most likely cause: 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.
- Correct seating, latch, or variant problems first.
- Replace the battery when the repair damaged that assembly or its flex path.
Look elsewhere when: Check the exact connector or assembly disturbed during the repair before treating the new part as failed.
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 This Battery Yet If...
| Situation | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| Variant or capacity does not match this listing | Use the correct capacity or case-depth listing instead. |
| 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. |
| A symptom points to a different part | Inspect the disturbed connector, latch, ribbon, flex path, and corrosion signs before ordering another battery. |
| Recent service or connector disturbance is the main clue | Inspect and reseat the cable, latch, or connector path disturbed during service before buying another part. |
| Charging, swelling, runtime, or power is the primary problem | Confirm the exact model, capacity, and battery connector before ordering. |
- A FireWire-to-30-pin dock connector cable is needed
Install Overview
Before You Start
For pre-open diagnosis, unlock Hold and use this generation's reset sequence if needed. Before opening, lock the Hold switch so the orange bar is visible, then confirm the model and variant.
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
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. Use a spudger to lever the battery up off its adhesive, 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. |
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 Replacement Battery models does this fit?
This Replacement Battery fits: M9585LL/A (40GB White), M9586LL/A (60GB White), M9829LL/A (30GB White), MA079LL/A (20GB White), M9830LL/A (60GB White), MA127LL/A (20GB Black/Red (U2)), MA215LL/A (20GB White).
Do I need to solder?
No, this installation does not require soldering. Difficulty: Moderate. Estimated time: 15 minutes - 1 hour.
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 the model and capacity 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
Use the checks above to separate this battery from nearby parts before ordering.
Some buyers search for "sad ipod, clicking, or restore failure appears while power is unstable"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Some buyers search for "charging behavior is intermittent", "charging, usb recognition, sync, or dock behavior is intermittent or missing", "computer recognition changes when battery charge level changes", or "ipod does not appear to charge from a known-good cable"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
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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
- Wired plug-in battery connector for iPod Photo color-display models.
- Replacement capacity varies by SKU; confirm the battery label and physical dimensions before ordering.
- Cross-reference supplier listings against the Photo battery family reference; do not rely on alternate cross-listed battery IDs without model-specific confirmation.
- A single shared battery fits both the thin and thick models.
You May Also Want
Flash storage can replace the original mechanical drive; check adapter compatibility.
Related: Hard Drive IDE Ribbon CableInspect the IDE cable during battery replacement.
Related: Replacement Hard Drive (60GB)Use a hard drive only when restoring original-style storage; use the model's flash-storage path when a compatible adapter path is available.
