Plastic center button cap for iPod Video 5th Generation and 5.5G. Buy when the cap is missing, cracked, scratched, stuck, sunken, or for a color swap. This is the cap only — it has no electronics and will not fix a center button that clicks but does not register.
Product Overview
The iPod Video 5th Generation center button, also called the Select button, Center Select Button, middle button, or center cap, is the plastic press-fit cap in the middle of the front control disc.
This listing is for the visible cap only. It is not the internal input assembly, contact hardware, board switch, faceplate, or adhesive. The cap has no electronics or solder joints.
Most iPod Video center-button complaints do not come from the cap. When the button clicks but does not select, use the internal input diagnostic route before replacing the visible cap.
Also called the
center button, select button, centre button, middle button, center select button, Center Select Button, center cap, iPod Video center button, iPod Video 5G center button, iPod Video 5th Generation center button, or iPod Video 5.5 center button.
- This erases all data and reinstalls factory firmware
- Back up all data before formatting or restoring
- For iFlash conversions: reformat SD card to FAT32 with all partitions deleted
What Is Included
Quick Diagnosis
Buy this when
- The center button cap is missing, broken, cracked, scratched, worn, loose, not flush, or color-mismatched.
- The cap itself is stuck, binding, sunken, or physically damaged.
Diagnose first when
- The center button clicks physically but nothing selects on screen.
- Force restart with Menu + Center/Select for about 8 seconds.
- If the cap moves normally but Center/Select still does not register, use the internal input diagnostic route before buying a cosmetic cap.
- The cap will not fix electronic non-response.
Not this part when
- All front controls are dead or the scroll ring is dead — start with the internal input assembly route.
- The lock slider is stuck or the lock indicator is wrong — start with the headphone jack / lock-switch assembly.
- Red X, folder icon, clicking drive, or restore trouble points to storage.
- Won't charge or dead battery points to the battery or dock connector path.
What Brings People Here
Custom color
Use a different visible cap as part of a deliberate custom build.
Color swap
Match a changed faceplate or visible control color when the original center cap no longer fits the look.
Cosmetic refresh
Replace a scratched, worn, not-flush, or color-mismatched cap without treating it as an electronics repair.
Restomod
Finish a restored or upgraded iPod Video build with a clean center cap.
U2 styling
Use the black/red visual route when the rest of the front assembly is built for that look.
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1136 |
| EMC | EMC 2065 |
| Condition | Used — factory original Apple part. Normal cosmetic wear expected. |
Customization Options
This can also be a customization choice. Control assemblies and center buttons may be offered in custom non-OEM finishes, so buyers may replace working controls for a coordinated custom build as long as the control fitment matches the model.
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 | Black/Red | thin (0.43 in) | Yes | — |
| MA664LL/A | 30GB | Black/Red | 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 | Yes | — |
| MA003LL/A | 60GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| MA450LL/A | 80GB | Black | thick | Yes | — |
| MA448LL/A | 80GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
When This Part Helps
- Missing center button cap.
- Broken, cracked, scratched, worn, or cosmetically damaged cap.
- Stuck, binding, sunken, loose, or not-flush cap.
- Color mismatch after a prior repair or custom build.
Do Not Buy This Center Button Yet If...
| Situation | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| Center clicks but does not register | Use the internal input diagnostic route; this cap has no electronics. |
| All controls are dead or the scroll ring is dead | Internal input assembly route. |
| Lock slider is stuck | Headphone jack / lock-switch assembly. |
| Red X, folder icon, clicking drive, or restore trouble | Hard drive, hard-drive cable, or flash-storage path. |
| Won't charge or dead battery | Battery or dock connector. |
| iPod Classic 6th or 7th Generation | Use the Classic center-button page; this iPod Video cap is a different size. |
Related Mechanisms (Not Included)
This SKU may sit near or press against rubber dome, rubber pad, tactile membrane, or microswitch, but those mechanisms are separate from this listing. Use them as diagnose-first language, not as included parts.
board-side tactile switch or logic-board switch points to logic-board or professional board-level service; the Replacement Center Button alone will not repair that mechanism.
Install Overview
Full front-panel teardown required
The center cap is trapped in the front-panel stack. You must open the iPod and separate the front assembly to reach it.
Very careful opening
The 5G Video case is easier than a metal Classic, but clips and faceplate tabs can still be damaged if forced.
No soldering required
The cap is a press-fit plastic part. It has no solder joints, screws, or electronics.
Protect internal connectors
Handle nearby connectors gently; disturbed internal input parts can mimic a failed button.
Test before closing
After the cap is seated, test Center/Select, Menu, Play/Pause, forward/back, scroll ring, and the lock slider before snapping the case shut.
Repair Guide
Repair guide summary: iPod 5th Generation (Video) Center Button Replacement.
Show all 15 installation steps
Before opening the iPod, confirm the device is powered down and the model is correct.
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 along the top-right edge. 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 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 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 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 cable 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 cable connector. The tab can rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the cable. With your fingers, draw out the headphone jack cable.
The front and rear case halves should now be fully separated.
With a small plastic opening tool, release the black hinge clamping the hard drive cable. Rotate the tab upward 90 degrees toward the logic board to free the cable. With your forefinger, hold the cable in place; detach the drive from the cable. Confirm that the hard drive rubber side bumpers are installed on the drive. Use the side bumper installation guide for placement. If needed, transfer the blue foam padding from the hard drive to the replacement drive.
Take out the 3 black Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework. Turn the iPod laterally 180 degrees and take out the three black Phillips screws that secure the front panel to the metal framework on the opposite side.
You may meet some resistance near the center of the device as you will find a mild adhesive used to help hold the two parts together. Carefully work along the iPod edge to separate the front panel from the metal framework. Lift the full framework away from the front panel; it carries the display, logic board, and control assembly. Confirm the center button cap is seated before reinstalling the framework in the front panel.
The front panel should now be released from the remaining iPod assembly.
Gently turn the device over to the other edge. The center button cap can now be removed from the remaining iPod assembly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the iPod Video Center Select Button?
Yes. This part is also called the center button, Select button, Center Select Button, middle button, or center cap. This listing is for the visible plastic cap in the middle of the front control disc.
Is this the whole front input assembly?
No. This is the center button cap only. It does not include internal input hardware, contact parts, logic board, faceplate, or adhesive pads.
Will this fix a center button that clicks but does not select?
Probably not. On the 5G Video, that symptom belongs on the internal input diagnostic route before ordering a replacement cap.
Does the color have to match?
Only for appearance. Match the cap to the faceplate for a stock look, or choose another color for a custom build.
Is this a genuine Apple part?
It depends on the listing. Stock Apple color pulls from donor iPods are genuine parts. Custom or aftermarket colors are not OEM Apple parts — check the listing details.
Do I need to solder?
No. The cap itself is a press-fit plastic piece. Accessing it still requires opening the iPod and removing the front-panel assembly.
Why people land on this part
Also searched as: center button stuck, A1136 center button, Action button, Central button, iPod 5th Generation Video Center Button, iPod Video 5G center button, Center Select Button, centre button.
You May Also Want
Use the matching faceplate page when the front panel is cracked, scratched, or color-mismatched around the cap.
Related: Replacement Backplate (30GB)Use the matching backplate page when the rear shell also needs cosmetic restoration.
Related: Replacement Battery (Thin — 30GB)A battery is commonly checked while the iPod Video is open for a front-panel cosmetic teardown.
Some buyers search for "missing button after repair"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
