How to Put an iPod Into Disk Mode

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Put any type of iPod into Disk Mode with these tips

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Last Updated: April 4, 2025

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• Using iPods With a Click Wheel
|
• Using iPods Without a Click Wheel
|
• Tips

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

How to Put Your iPod Into Disk Mode

Make sure your iPod is charged, then toggle the Hold switch on and off. Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo shows up, then release the buttons and immediately press and hold the Select and Play/Pause buttons. After a few seconds, the Disk Mode screen will appear.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using iPods With a Click Wheel

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1. 
   1
   Before placing the iPod into disk mode, you should verify that it is charged.
2. 
   2
   Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
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3. 
   3
   Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons for at least 6 seconds until the Apple logo appears.
4. 
   4
   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.
5. 
   5
   Connect the iPod to your computer; the screen on the iPod will change and say "Do not disconnect".
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using iPods Without a Click Wheel

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1. 
   1
   Before placing the iPod into disk mode you should verify that it has a charge.
2. 
   2
   Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
3. 
   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. 
   4
   When the Apple logo appears, immediately press and hold the Previous and Next buttons until the Disk Mode screen appears.
5. 
   5
   Connect the iPod to your computer; the screen on the iPod will change and say "Do not disconnect".
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Tips

• If you are having difficulty putting the iPod model 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.
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• If you are still unable to put your iPod with a Click Wheel 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.
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Warning

• To return it to its normal operating state, you will have to reset iPod.