Putting iPod into Disk Mode

Summary

When troubleshooting an issue with your iPod*, it's sometimes helpful to manually put it into Disk Mode. Learn how to manually put iPod into Disk Mode.

Products Affected

iPod, iPod classic, iPod nano, iPod nano (2nd generation), iPod nano (3rd generation), iPod nano (4th generation), iPod nano (5th generation), iPod nano (6th generation)

Putting iPod devices with a Click Wheel into Disk Mode

  1. If necessary, verify that your iPod has a Click Wheel.
  2. Before placing the iPod into Disk Mode, verify that it is charged.
  3. Toggle the Hold switch on and off (set it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
  4. Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons for at least six seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
  5. When the Apple logo appears, release the Menu and Select buttons and immediately press and hold the Select and the Play/Pause buttons until the Disk Mode screen appears.
    Illustration of disk mode
  6. Connect the iPod to your computer; the screen on the iPod will should say "Do not disconnect".

If you are having difficulty putting your iPod into Disk Mode, set it on a flat surface. Make sure that the finger pressing the Select button is not touching the Click Wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Play/Pause button toward the outside of the Click Wheel and not near the center. If you are still unable to put your iPod into Disk Mode, use one finger from one hand to press the Select button, and one finger from the other hand to press the Play/Pause button.

If you have an older iPod model, without a Click Wheel

  1. Before placing the iPod into Disk Mode, verify that it has a charge.
  2. Toggle the Hold switch on and off (set it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
  3. Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears, then release them. This resets iPod. When you reset iPod, all your music and data files are saved, but some customized settings may be lost.
  4. When the Apple logo appears, immediately press and hold the Previous and Next buttons until the Disk Mode screen appears.
  5. Connect the iPod to your computer; the screen on the iPod should say "Do not disconnect".

If you have an iPod nano (6th generation)

  1. Before placing the iPod into Disk Mode, verify that it has a charge.
  2. Reset the device by pressing the Sleep and Volume Down buttons simultaneously until the display turns black. This should take about eight seconds.
  3. When the display turns black, hold down the Volume Down and Volume Up buttons simultaneously until the device enters Disk mode.

Additional Information

To return iPod to its normal operating state, reset it.

 

* This article applies only to iPod models with a Click Wheel or scroll wheel and to iPod nano (6th generation).

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