The New User's Guide for iPod

1. Install iTunes

Before you connect your iPod to your Mac or PC computer or use it, you must install the latest iTunes software.

• The New User's Guide for iTunes

2. Connect and Set Up your iPod

Charge your battery by connecting it to an Apple iPod Power Adapter or connect your iPod to a high-power USB port —one that's located directly on your computer—to ensure that your computer charges your iPod battery. (If your computer doesn't seem to recognize your connected iPod, wait about 30 minutes to allow the iPod battery to charge before going further.)

• Charging your iPod battery through a computer or optional power adapter

3. Fill your iPod and iTunes with Music

Once you finish the set up, iTunes will open. It will then either:

• Automatically start filling your iPod with music from your iTunes library (if you set iTunes to automatically update your iPod)

      OR

• Allow you to pick and choose what music, videos (Fifth Generation iPod or later), audiobooks, and podcasts to add, if you opted to manually manage music on your iPod.

To manually add content, simply drag any file from your iTunes library or playlist to your iPod icon in the iTunes Source list. If you're using iTunes for the very first time, you'll need to add some music to iTunes first, such as songs from your own CDs or music already on your hard drive.

• Adding my music to iTunes
• Adding my iTunes music to my iPod
• Using your iPod as a disk drive for music and other files. Note: Syncing music to iPod is a one way street. You cannot copy music from an iPod to a computer unless you enable your iPod as a hard disk first and then copy music files to its disk volume.
• Sync and view videos (for Fifth Generation and later iPod models)

4. Disconnect your iPod

Once you've got your music, audiobooks, videos, and other files on your iPod, you're ready to enjoy it.

• If you see an “OK to Disconnect” message on your iPod, simply disconnect it from your computer.
• If you see a “Do Not Disconnect” message, click the eject icon that appears next to your iPod icon in the iTunes Source list and then disconnect your iPod from your computer when you see the “OK to Disconnect” message.
• Safely disconnect iPod

5. Play your iPod

Now you’re ready to enjoy your iPod.

• Playing my iPod

6. Learn more

Whether you're a Mac or Windows user, the information below will help you enjoy your iPod to its fullest.

• Get the latest iPod Manual
  
• iPod step-by-step video tutorials
• iPod Higher Learning: Advanced iPod and iTunes uses

7. Troubleshooting

The following are typical issues you may encounter.

General

• Trouble adding music to iTunes
• Trouble syncing music to my iPod
• iPod not responding—it appears to be frozen
• Exclamation point folder or sad iPod icon on the screen

Mac

• Trouble installing iTunes for Mac OS X
• Mac doesn't recognize connected iPod
• iPod shows up in Mac OS X but not in iTunes

Windows

• Trouble installing iTunes for Windows
• Windows PC doesn't recognize connected iPod
• iPod shows up in Windows but not in iTunes