Restore an iPod Touch
If your iPod touch won't play certain songs, continually freezes, or your apps are always crashing unexpectedly, try restoring it to its factory settings. Doing so will completely erase all the data and settings from your iPod and essentially give it a new chance at a less problematic life. If only certain aspects of your iPod are giving you trouble such as the applications, there are several options you can choose from when you restore your iPod that can help you troubleshoot the issue. Follow the steps below to restore your iPod to its factory settings or reload data onto your iPod after a reboot.
Contents
Steps
Preparing Your Electronics
- Make sure your computer has a USB 2.0 port and the latest version of iTunes. If you do not have the latest version of iTunes, download it by running a software update check on your computer and following the installation instructions.
- You can also download the latest version of iTunes by visiting the Apple website and clicking on the "Download Now" button under the "iTunes" tab.
- Make sure your Mac is running on Mac OS X version 10.6 or later. If you have a PC, make sure you are running Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later.
- If you have an earlier version of any of these operating systems, you will need to update the system before you are able to restore your iPod touch. Learn how to Upgrade Mac System Software and update your PC before continuing.
Connecting Your iPod Touch
- Open up iTunes on your computer. Do so before connecting your iPod in order to avoid recognition problems.
- Plug the USB cable into a port that is built into the computer. Make sure that you are not accidentally using a USB port that is not part of the computer such as a keyboard USB port or an external USB hub.
- Be sure that no other USB devices are occupying any of the other ports.
- Connect your iPod touch to the Dock Connector on the USB cable. Be sure you are using the Apple Dock Connector to USB port cable that came with your iPod touch.
- If your computer has USB ports on the front and back, connect to a port on the back of the computer.
- If iTunes does not recognize your iPod when you connect it, try closing and re-opening iTunes.
- If it still does not recognize your iPod, restart your computer entirely and start over.
- Back up your iPod touch. Sync it to your computer so that you have a copy of all of your iPod touch data and settings saved on your computer.
- Right click on your iPod name in iTunes and select "Back up." iTunes will automatically back up your iPod.
Restoring Your iPod Touch to Factory Settings
- Click the "Restore" button on the iPod management screen on iTunes. It is located in the Version box in the middle of the screen. When you click "Restore," iTunes will automatically prompt you to restore your iPod to its factory settings.
- Alternately, find the "Settings" app on the iPod touch screen. Tap on the screen and find the "General" menu.
- Tap "General" and scroll to the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the "Reset" menu. This will open up six different options:
- Reset All Settings: This allows you to erase all of your pre-set preferences and restore factory settings without deleting your data or applications.
- Erase All Content and Settings: Choose this option to erase everything - including content and applications - on your iPod touch. Make sure that you have backed up the content on your iPod before choosing this option.
- Reset Network Settings: This will only reset Internet connection settings to their default settings.
- Reset Keyboard Dictionary: This will only reset your keyboard to its original settings, meaning that any words or phrases that you have saved to your spellcheck will be deleted.
- Reset Home Screen Layout: This will reset the home screen format back to its original settings, erasing all organizational operations you have performed. This includes app organization and any folders you have created.
- Reset Location Warnings: If you want to reset whether or not your apps can access your location, choose this option. Doing so will prompt each app using location preferences to ask you whether or not you want to share your location when you open the app back up for the first time.
- Tap on the option with the desired effect. A screen will pop up asking you to confirm or cancel your selection.
- Choose "Erase iPod" to reset your iPod touch. Your iPod will restart. When it turns back on, your iPod touch should be restored to the factory settings you chose.
Restoring Backup Data
- Load data back onto your iPod touch. If you want to reload new data on to your iPod touch instead of erasing all of your data, you can do so by syncing your device to your iTunes account.
- Open iTunes on your computer. Again, make sure to do so before connecting your iPod touch.
- Plug in the USB cord to your computer.
- Connect your restored iPod touch to the Dock Connector on the USB cord. The iPod management screen should appear in your iTunes. A screen will pop up saying that an iPod has previously been synced with your computer. It will ask you to either set up your iPod as a new device or restore from a backup.
- Choose "Restore from a backup of" and select your iPod from the drop-down menu. Your iPod will automatically restore and restart. Leave the iPod plugged in to your computer the entire time.
- Check your iPod for lost settings. If you are missing apps, click on the "Apps" tab at the top of your iTunes iPod management screen and check the "Sync" box in the upper right-hand corner.
Tips
- If possible, temporarily disable your security, firewall, or proxy settings during the restoration process.
- After the Reset you will need to reconnect to any Wi-Fi connections when you want to use online apps.
- Verify your security or firewall software is up to date if you encounter issues.
- If you cannot get your iPod touch to restore, take it in to an Apple store.
- Configure your security or firewall software to connect to iTunes if it isn't already before you begin the restoration process.
