Fix Your iPod's Frozen Screen

Scared out of your mind because your iPod has a frozen screen? Don't worry, this is fairly commonplace and very easy to fix. Here's exactly how to do it.

Steps

iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad

  1. Connect the iPod Touch or iPhone to your computer that it normally syncs to. It will need to be able to access iTunes in order for this method to work.
  2. Hold the "Home" button and the "Sleep" button at the same time. The Apple icon should be there starting off, should turn off, and then reappear, all within about 10 seconds of holding the two buttons together. Then turn it back on.
  3. Continue holding the Home and Sleep buttons until the iPod screen prompts you to connect to iTunes. This may take 30 seconds of holding both buttons. A message from iTunes will come pop up on your computer. Click "OK."
  4. Click the "Recover" button on the iTunes screen.
  5. Click "Update and Recover" next.
  6. Click "OK" when iTunes asks you to keep your iPod connected to iTunes. Don't do anything to your iPod; allow it to be recognized by iTunes.
  7. Sync your iPod with iTunes again. This master reset will unfortunately delete all your music, photos, and videos, meaning that you'll need to sync the iPod again to retrieve all of your media.

Click-Wheel iPod

  1. Set the iPod on a flat surface for easier button-pressing.
  2. Attach the iPod to a power source. The source of power can be a normal socket/power adapter, a powered FireWire port (for 3G and earlier iPods), or your computer's high-powered USB 2.0 port.[1]
    • You can try to fix the iPod without power first, if wished, but if the fix doesn't work, it's an indicator that your iPod also needs a recharge.
  3. Slide the iPod's "Hold" switch into the hold position. Then, turn it off again.
  4. Hold down the "Menu" button and the "center" button (middle button) together for approximately 6-7 seconds. Do this until the screen resets itself. Then release the buttons.
  5. Wait for a few minutes or much longer and the Apple logo should come up on your screen. Your iPod is now rebooting and in a short while will return to the main menu screen. Your iPod is now reset!

Tips

  • If these tips fail to fix it, take it into an Apple store for servicing.

Warnings

  • If your computer is sleeping, it won't recharge the iPod. Check this before giving up on a recharge.
  • Don't do this if you don't have access to a charger right away. It drains the battery.

Things You'll Need

  • iPod
  • Charger cord and power source

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Christopher Breen, The iPod & iTunes Pocket Guide, Fifth Edition, p. 262, (2010), ISBN 978-0-321-64909-6
Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Fix_Your_iPod%27s_Frozen_Screen&oldid=267211"