Refurbished iPod Photo (4th Generation) — 60GB White

Confirm the capacity, color and Apple model number against Exact Model Identification (the order number is on the box or receipt, not on the iPod). Then test charging, sync/restore, controls, audio, hold switch, display, and several full tracks before loading your library. Two sequences are worth knowing before you need them: to reset, hold Menu + Select until the Apple logo appears; for Disk Mode, reset and then hold Select + Play/Pause. This iPod has no Volume Limit setting in its menus — Apple added that to later models — so there is no volume lock to hunt for. This listing is for 60GB, White, M9586LL/A.

On a Windows PC use iTunes for Windows — often the simplest way to restore it. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later sync in the Finder (iTunes on older Macs); if a current Mac will not see the iPod, fall back to an older Mac or a Windows PC.

Runtime depends on battery age, capacity, storage type, and backlight use. For scale, Apple rated this iPod at up to 15 hours of music and up to 5 hours of photo slideshows without video out from a full charge, and put a full charge at about 5 hours. A new replacement cell in the 616-0206 family is fitted before the iPod ships, unless the listing says otherwise. It is the standard new 750 mAh pack, or the new extended-life 1,200 mAh pack if you pick it under Battery above. A flash build draws less power than the original hard drive, so it plays longer on a charge.

This is the October 26, 2004 launch 60GB iPod Photo at US$599, on the earlier logic-board and screen family, sold at the time with the full launch accessory set. The other 60GB white page on this site is M9830LL/A, the February 2005 replacement at US$449 with a slimmer box, the later board and screen family, and Camera Connector support. Identify this one by capacity 60GB, color White, and the order number M9586LL/A (from the box or Apple's records — it is not engraved on the case).

Choose stock if you want the original hard-drive experience and the lowest complexity. Choose a flash build if you want solid-state storage, lower power draw and no spinning drive. On this generation the flash build uses a single-card IDE-to-SD adapter in place of the 1.8-inch hard drive; our ready-built flash iPods name the installed capacity you are choosing, and our flash mod service fits one in an iPod you already own (installed by mail).

Sometimes, and it is the car that decides. Owners report modern car USB ports answering "unsupported version", or doing nothing at all, with this iPod — one names an iPod photo on software 1.2.1 refused by a 2009 car. This iPod syncs and charges over USB with a computer, so a car port that refuses it is an accessory-support limit in the car, not a fault in the iPod, and there is no software update that bridges it: this model's software ended at 1.2.1. What does work: the car's aux input with a headphone cable, or a dock/line-out cable into aux, and a USB wall adapter or the car's 12V socket for charging. If you are buying for a specific car, check that car's iPod support before you plan on the USB port.