This is the iPod Video 5th Generation battery replacement page for thin 30GB models. Part number 616-0229, 3.7V Li-polymer, 580 mAh. is not compatible with 60GB or 80GB thick models; those use the thicker 616-0232 battery.
Product Overview
This is the 0.43-inch case path for MA002LL/A, MA146LL/A, MA452LL/A, MA444LL/A, MA446LL/A, and MA664LL/A.
Do not use this battery in 60GB or 80GB thick-case iPod Video models. Those use the thicker 616-0232 battery path and a 0.55-inch rear case.
This iPod charges from FireWire and syncs and charges over USB. If it charges from a FireWire dock but not over USB, check the dock connector or USB-side pins before blaming the battery.
- The LTC4066 IC handles USB power management and Li-Ion battery charging
- Back up all data before formatting or restoring
- No, the 850mAh battery (from the 60/80GB model) cannot be used in the 30GB model.
- A completely discharged battery may not charge via USB
- USB ports may not provide enough power to charge a completely drained battery
- Drive recognized externally = logic board issue; drive not recognized = drive failure
- Use a wall charger instead of USB if the iPod is deeply discharged
- This erases all data and reinstalls factory firmware
- A computer USB port supplies only 500mA, which may not be sufficient to charge a completely discharged battery.
- For iFlash conversions: reformat SD card to FAT32 with all partitions deleted
- Use a wall charger (up to 5V) to wake a deeply discharged battery
- Use an AC wall charger for deeply discharged batteries -- USB may be insufficient
- A FireWire charger can revive a deeply discharged battery below USB threshold
- The 60/80GB model requires a specific battery size
Choose Your Option
This part comes in multiple variants. Confirm your iPod's capacity, case depth, and order number before ordering.
The iPod 5th Generation Video comes in thin (30GB, 0.43") and thick (60/80GB, 0.55") cases. This battery fits the thin case only. Both 5G original and 5.5G Enhanced 30GB models use the same battery.
You're viewing this optionUse this linked battery option only for 60GB/80GB thick-case iPods and the order numbers shown here.
View this option → 3000mAh / Custom Thin New Custom Thin 3000mAh BatteryUse this linked battery option only for 3000mAh custom thin-case iPods and the order numbers shown here.
View this option →What Is Included
Quick Diagnosis
Buy this battery when
- Runtime drops from hours to minutes on a full charge.
- The Please Wait - Very Low Battery screen does not clear after extended USB charging.
- The battery is visibly swollen and is pushing the front bezel away from the chassis.
- The iPod loses date and time settings between charges because the battery cannot hold retention current.
Diagnose first when
- The iPod charges from a FireWire dock but not from USB; that points to dock connector or USB-side pin damage, not the battery.
- Sad iPod icon, folder icon, clicking drive, or restore loop appears; check the storage path first.
- Display, audio, or Hold symptoms appear; check the ribbon and connector path before the battery.
- Reboot loops on the Apple logo can be storage or battery, so compare both routes before ordering.
Do not buy this battery if
- Your iPod is a 60GB or 80GB model with the 0.55-inch thick case; it needs the 616-0232 thick battery.
- The iPod has no signs of life at all; check the dock connector, cable, charger, and logic board first.
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1136 |
| EMC | EMC 2065 |
| Condition | New replacement battery |
| Capacity | 580 mAh (repair guide Parts catalog) |
| Chemistry | Li-Ion |
| Voltage (Nominal) | 3.7V |
| Connector | Brown slide-up FPC latch |
| Soldering Required | No |
| OEM Part | 616-0229 |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA146LL/A | 30GB | Black | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA446LL/A | 30GB | Black | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA452LL/A | 30GB | U2 Special | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA664LL/A | 30GB | U2 Special | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA002LL/A | 30GB | White | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA444LL/A | 30GB | White | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA147LL/A | 60GB | Black | thick |
No— Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
| MA003LL/A | 60GB | White | thick |
No— Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
| MA450LL/A | 80GB | Black | thick |
No— Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
| MA448LL/A | 80GB | White | thick |
No— Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
Thick case 0.55 in — needs 616-0232 thick battery |
Failure Signs / When This Battery Helps
Overheating during charge can signal a failing battery or a charger/cable fault; check the cable and adapter first.
Won't Charge
Check first: Check cable, wall adapter, dock connector, and USB port first. FireWire charge-only behavior is normal for this model.
Battery path when: Use the battery path when a known-good cable, charger, and dock path still will not charge the iPod.
Battery Drain
Check first: Short runtime or a fast battery-percentage drop can be a worn cell, but calibrate and compare load behavior first.
Battery path when: Use the battery path when calibration does not help and runtime is far below the expected 580 mAh thin-battery behavior.
Won't Turn On
Check first: Force restart first with Menu + Select, then check charger, cable, dock connector, and a long charge attempt.
Battery path when: Use the battery path when the iPod shows Please Wait - Very Low Battery or stays unresponsive after extended charging.
Shuts Down Randomly
Check first: Look for shutdowns during playback, scrolling, or other load changes, then separate storage spin-up from battery sag.
Battery path when: Use the battery path when the shutdown pattern is consistent regardless of storage or display state.
Swollen Battery
Check first: Visible bulge, front-bezel separation, heat, leaking, or puncture risk is a safety problem before it is a parts choice.
Battery path when: Stop charging, do not puncture the cell, fully discharge before opening when practical, use plastic tools only, and recycle through Call2Recycle or e-waste.
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
Check first: Match the battery to thin 30GB or thick 60GB/80GB case thickness before ordering
- 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
Battery ribbon, connector, or contact path
What you may see: People describe symptoms that change after opening the iPod, reseating parts, or disturbing nearby flex cables
Check first: Inspect the relevant ribbon and board connector before replacing the part
- Look for lifted latches, bent contacts, debris, corrosion, creases, or torn flex material
- Check whether the symptom changes after careful reseating
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
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
Liquid, corrosion, or residue near this part
What you may see: People describe symptoms after liquid exposure, dirty contacts, corrosion, or residue around internal parts
Check first: Look for corrosion, residue, lifted contacts, or darkened connector areas
- Check whether damage is on the replaceable part or on the board-side connector
Fitment or model-variant mismatch
What you may see: People ask whether a similar-looking part from another capacity, case thickness, or generation will work
Check first: Match the battery to thin 30GB or thick 60GB/80GB case thickness before ordering
- 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
Other Symptoms That May Involve This Part
| Commonly described as | What to check before ordering |
|---|---|
| boot loop, will not turn on | Charge from a known-good source long enough to separate deep discharge from a failed cell, then confirm the case-depth battery path. |
| battery life, broken, short battery life, not turn on | Use this as a battery clue only after the iPod matches this listing's thin-case battery fitment. |
| only works when plugged in, battery dies fast | Check the USB cable, charger, dock connector, and storage spin-up load before ordering a replacement battery. |
Related checks
- Factory Original LCD Screen (5G): check this part first when the nearby screen check matches the symptom better.
- Flash Storage Mod (iFlash Adapter + SD Card): check this part first when the nearby flash storage check matches the symptom better.
- 30-Pin Dock Connector / Charging Port: check this part first when the nearby dock connector check matches the symptom better.
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:
- Let alcohol or liquid cleaning dry before power-up
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Your iPod is a 60GB or 80GB thick-case model | Use the 616-0232 thick battery path. This thin battery will not fit that case. |
| The iPod charges from a FireWire dock but not USB | The dock connector or USB-side pins are damaged. A new battery will not fix this. |
| Sad iPod icon, folder icon, clicking, or restore loop appears | Check the hard drive, ZIF cable, flash adapter, and formatting before the battery. |
| The display is blank, white, or lined | Check the LCD panel and display ribbon before the battery. |
| Hold switch is stuck or controls are dead | Check the headphone-jack/Hold-switch assembly ribbon and connector. |
| The iPod has no signs of life at all | Check dock connector, cable, charger, and logic board before buying a battery. If you searched for an ipod video charger, use the charger/accessory route instead of this internal battery page. |
- Measure battery voltage with a multimeter as the first diagnostic step
- Identify model variant before ordering replacement battery
Install Overview
Brown latch fragility
The battery ribbon connects to the logic board through a brown slide-up FPC latch. Lift it straight up 1-2 mm only; never pry sideways. If the latch shears off, the iPod needs either a microsoldered connector or a replacement logic board.
Hold-switch ribbon under battery
A thin orange ribbon runs under the battery. Lift the battery from the top edge only. Peeling adhesive sideways routinely tears this ribbon, locking the iPod into Hold permanently. A severed ribbon requires headphone-jack/Hold-switch assembly replacement.
Swollen battery safety
If the battery is swollen, hot, leaking, or punctured, stop charging immediately. Fully discharge first when practical. Use only plastic prying tools and recycle through Call2Recycle or e-waste collection.
Case opening
Point tool tips toward the metal rear case, not the display. The display is fragile. Two ribbons still connect the halves when opened, so do not fully separate the case until the ribbons are released.
After-repair calibration
Charge to 100%, continue charging for at least 2 more hours, use until shutdown from low battery, then charge uninterrupted to 100%.
Repair Guide
Repair guide summary: iPod 5th Generation (Video) Battery Replacement.
Show all 11 installation steps
Before opening the iPod, confirm that the hold switch is locked. With the iPod screen-side down and facing you, the slider should sit all the way to the right.
Do not get discouraged if the iPod takes several opening attempts; work slowly until the case releases. Release the first bottom retainer clip with the plastic opening tool. Point the tool edge toward the metal rear case to avoid scratching the plastic front.
Use these retaining clip locations: four along each side, one on top, and two along the bottom. This helps avoid frustration and reduces the chance of scratching the plastic cover.
Each side of the iPod has four retaining clips. Use a plastic opening tool to separate the plastic front from the metal rear case. Slide the plastic opening tool into the iPod's left side with the tool edge pointed toward the metal rear case. A small guitar pick can help with opening. Place it in the seam and slide it around the case to release the clips more smoothly. Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the plastic opening tool and moving it to the left. Keep working this way until the entire side of the iPod is loose. Then slide a plastic opening tool to the right of the Hold button. Work very carefully while inserting the tool because the display is fragile.
Gently glide the plastic opening tool on the top of the display, making sure to release the retaining clips. The other sides of the iPod should now release easily. If they do not, work plastic opening tools along the right side the same way you did on the left side. In this step, separate the front of the device from the back about an inch (or a couple of centimeters). The iPod casing is now open, but do not fully separate the two halves yet. Two ribbon cables still connect the back panel to the remaining iPod assembly.
With angled tweezers or a plastic opening tool, slide the brown connector latch upward where it secures the orange battery ribbon cable. Pull from both sides of the latch. Lift it only about 1-2 mm to release the cable; do not lift farther or remove it, or the white connector may come with it. Do not raise the assembly very far; lifting too high could pull the battery connector out of the logic board. Move the brown connector straight upward. It is fragile and can break if shifted to the side. Hooks at the bottom hold the cable in place. If an arm breaks, reinstalling the battery cable becomes difficult; put the cable in the slot and press the brown holder into place to stop the cable from slipping out. Take the cable out of the connector.
At this stage there should be one orange ribbon cable still attaching the front housing to the back. At this stage you are able to take out and replace the blue rubber bumpers, or keep going with separating the case. You can replace the battery without separating the case, but opening it farther can make the work easier. Doing so requires one extra cable removal and adds some damage risk.
Raise the hard drive so the headphone jack ribbon connector is exposed. If the hard drive bumpers come loose, put them back with the notch seated in its original orientation.
With the plastic opening tool, gently raise the brown tab of the headphone ribbon cable connector. The tab can rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable. With your fingers, draw out the headphone jack ribbon cable.
The front and rear case halves should now be fully separated.
During this step, take care not to damage any headphone or battery ribbon cables. Slide a plastic opening tool between the metal case and the battery. Gently wiggle the tool while pressing it farther between the battery and back case. The battery adhesive should give so the battery can be removed from the rear panel.
Common Questions
Will this battery fit my 60GB or 80GB iPod?
No. The 60GB and 80GB models use the thicker 616-0232 battery. Installing a thick battery in a 30GB thin case will not close correctly and can press against the LCD. Use the thick battery page.
Does this iPod charge via FireWire?
Yes, charge-only. USB handles both sync and charge. If the iPod charges from a FireWire-equipped dock but will not charge or sync over USB, the 30-pin dock connector or USB-side pins are damaged. A new battery will not fix that.
How do I tell 5G from 5.5G Enhanced?
Both use A1136 / EMC 2065 and the same 616-0229 thin battery, so it does not affect battery selection. To distinguish them, check the Music menu for Search or match the order number: MA002, MA146, and MA452 are 5G original; MA444, MA446, and MA664 are 5.5G Enhanced.
Are high-capacity thin aftermarket batteries safe?
Be skeptical of thin-form-factor listings that advertise thick-battery capacity. Authentic thin cells are normally around 580-650 mAh at the thin case height. Overstated or mislabeled cells can keep the case from closing or swell early.
Can Apple replace the battery in an iPod Video?
Apple no longer offers hardware service for this iPod Video model because it is obsolete worldwide. Battery replacement now requires self-service or third-party repair.
What if Hold is stuck after my battery swap?
The Hold-switch ribbon runs under the battery. If it was torn during removal, the iPod can lock into Hold and ignore input. That requires a replacement headphone-jack/Hold-switch assembly, not 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
- Battery part number: 616-0229 (thin 30GB). The thick 60/80GB battery is 616-0232.
- Battery connector: brown slide-up FPC latch on the logic board. Lift 1-2 mm only; never pry sideways. Breaking the latch requires microsoldered connector or logic board replacement.
- A thin orange Hold-switch ribbon runs under the battery. Lift battery from top edge only; peeling adhesive sideways tears the ribbon and locks the iPod into Hold permanently.
- iPod 5G supports FireWire charge-only and USB sync+charge. If the iPod charges via FireWire but not USB, the dock connector or USB-side pins are damaged — not a battery fault.
- Owner-verified failure mode: installing a thick-case part in a thin 30GB case compresses the LCD panel against the internals — dark pressure marks or permanent panel damage. Thin and thick batteries, headphone jacks, backplates, and side bumpers are NOT interchangeable between case variants.
- Audio loss after battery replacement is likely caused by headphone jack flex cable damage
- Replace the battery first as the least expensive diagnostic step
- The LTC4066 datasheet provides pinout and electrical specifications
- If battery replacement fails, the logic board is likely damaged beyond repair
- Clean the logic board with isopropyl alcohol to remove water-induced corrosion
- The LTC4066 is located on the top side of the logic board, opposite the battery connector
Swollen Battery: What Owners Actually Run Into
A swollen lithium battery is the most common reason a stored iPod Video comes back to life with case problems. Owners describe it as a "bloated" or "puffed up" battery — repair communities call it a "spicy pillow." Here is what it looks like in practice on the 5th generation, drawn from real owner reports.
What owners describe: - An owner revived a 30GB iPod Video that had sat in a drawer for years: the battery had bloated enough that it needed replacing before anything else, and the case would not sit flush until the swollen pack came out. - Another owner charged an old unit overnight on a high-wattage iPad charger and noticed the rear panel starting to lift — a depleted pack fed by an oversized charger is a classic swelling trigger on these units. - A third replaced a bloated battery, then found the click wheel had stopped working afterward. On the 5G that is almost never the swelling itself — the battery sits behind the rear panel, not the wheel — it is usually the Hold-switch ribbon or wheel flex cable disturbed during the repair. Lift the battery from the top edge only and recheck both ribbons before blaming the new part.
How it usually progresses: - It usually announces itself in stages: runtime drops from hours to minutes, then the rear panel starts to feel tight or sits proud at the seam, and in advanced cases the swelling presses the LCD from behind — dark pressure marks on the screen are the late warning.
What typically causes it: - The common triggers we see: years of storage with a fully drained pack, and charging a deeply discharged unit unattended on a high-wattage charger. If a stored iPod is coming back to life, charge it supervised on a standard USB port the first time.
Handle it safely: - A swollen, hot, or discolored pack is a fire hazard first and a repair question second: stop charging immediately, never puncture or press the pack flat, and never reuse a cell that has swelled or been deformed — replacement is the only safe path. - Keep sharp and conductive metal tools away from the battery and its board connector during removal — the colored wrapping on the pouch is structural, not packaging, and piercing it can short the cell.
Owners searching for this describe it as: ipod video swollen battery, ipod 5th gen bloated battery, ipod battery puffed up, ipod back cover bulging, spicy pillow ipod, ipod video back panel lifting.
Why people land on this part
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You May Also Want
Replaces the mechanical hard drive with solid-state storage; check thin-case clearance for 30GB builds.
Related: Dock Connector / Charging PortIf the iPod charges via FireWire but not USB, the dock connector or USB-side pins are damaged — not the battery.
Related: Headphone Jack / Hold Switch AssemblyThe Hold-switch ribbon runs under the battery; if Hold is stuck after a battery swap, this assembly is the fix.
Some buyers search for "iPod Video 30gb battery", "iPod 5g battery", "A1136 battery", "iPod 5.5 battery", "My iPod makes clicking noises after a battery swap", or "The old battery is stuck — how do I remove it safely"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Some buyers search for "5th generation ipod video battery replacement"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
