2 iPod Classics (160 GB) with iMac Sonoma 14 4 1, won't communicate

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Level 1

8 points

2 iPod Classics (160 GB) with iMac Sonoma 14 4 1, won't communicate

I'm in UK.

Two iPod Classics, neither are functional.

Encouraged to read on here that all is not lost and people are finding solutions involving recent iTunes versions. I've read several threads but all are closed and none directly address my issue as far as I can see. Also I've going around in circles on Apple Support to no avail.

I have the Music app of course, and can't find iTunes in the App Store.

Serials - 1) 8K2****ZU and 2) 8K2****ZU

I "bricked" number (1) iPod a few years ago by trying to synch on the 2011 iMac after a software update. It will charge but is unresponsive beyond tantalisingly displaying:-

"Use iTunes to Restore"

Since then number (2) iPod has never been connected to a computer and has been happily playing music in the car via an FM transmitter, until it ceased to operate properly a few months ago.

On both, pressing MENU and the centre button gives a grey screen with light grey apple logo central.

On no. (1) it shows the "Use iTunes..." message then blanks after 15 seconds.

On no. (2) I DON'T get the "Use iTunes..." message, and it blanks after a minute or so.

Neither are recognised in Finder or Music when connected to the 2023 iMac.

Both, when connected to the iMac, show:-

"Do Not Disconnect" with a flashing circle/diagonal symbol, battery charge indication at top right.

No change even after charging overnight, and immediately after disconnecting, show:-

"OK to Disconnect" with a tick mark (or check mark in American parlance).

With both I can hear sounds that I assume are the disc drive/reader.

Any advice would be welcomed. I'd describe my tech literacy as "mid range" so go easy!

Many Thanks - Doug

[Edited by Moderator]

iMac 24″

Posted on May 13, 2025 3:01 AM

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Answer 1

the fiend

Level 7

23,274 points

May 13, 2025 10:04 AM in response to epal77

First of all, iTunes:

There is no iTunes in the App Store and never has been. iPods do not use "iTunes" (yes, I know, there is an "iTunes" icon on a 2nd generation iPod Touch. What that indicates is the iTunes Store, not iTunes the programme. Again, there is no "iTunes app"
As you have a Mac (with OS Catalina or later I assume), there is no iTunes. Instead, use Finder to manage the iPod. However, if the iPod is not seen by Finder;

1. go to the Finder menu and select General, and make sure that CDs, DVDs and iPods is ticked (or checked). Yes, I'm in the UK too
2. having completed the above step, also look in the Sidebar and make sure that CDs, DVDs and iOS Devices is ticked. (No, I don't know why it takes two separate steps to achieve this, but note the difference in wording of the second step)

Now the iPod should appear in Finder

Use the following page for steps for using Finder to manage the iPod. Use the Finder to sync your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with your Mac – Apple Support (UK) However, if the only place that has your music is the iPod and the iPods have not been associated with this computer before, if you attempt to Sync between the iPod and Finder you will lose all the content on the iPod. If you do not have your music backed up and playable on the Mac, let us know before trying to Sync with the iPod.

I think you must be using OS Catalina or later, in which case ignore any reference to iTunes in any support articles you read. iTunes is used by a Mac with OS Mojave (10:14) or earlier and by Windows PC users, but not (and I must stress this) not by Mac OS Catalina (10:15) or later.

Now, it's possible that the hard drives in the iPod Classics have failed. If you can hear a constant ticking/clicking noise whenever you power on the iPod, that's a bad sign. But try the steps above first.

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Answer 2

epal77 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 14, 2025 2:37 PM in response to the fiend

Thank You, the fiend, for that comprehensive set of instructions, which I'll implement soon.

I'm wondering whether the USB leads are the issue. I'm confident the two I've tried are the ones which came with the iPods, but I'm using an adapter to plug into the USB C port on the iMac. I'll try different leads and ports.

I'll report back.

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Answer 3

epal77 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 24, 2025 7:29 AM in response to epal77

Hello All, and the fiend. Finally getting to look at this.

iPod no. 1 above when connected to the iMac (via a hub, as it doesn't seem to tolerate the USB C adapter) gave me a split second tantalising glimpse of the iPod's menu screen, i.e. a list of settings on the left half and an image of some sort on the right. Then it went to "Connected, Eject before disconnecting", with the connector symbol in the orange circle.

The battery symbol showed fully charged throughout.

Also a finder window opened, encouragingly with "iPod" in the list of Locations, and a panel stating:-

"Your Mac has detected an iPod which appears to be corrupted. You may need to restore this iPod before it can be used with your Mac etc etc."

Finder stated the software version is 2.0.4 and offered the option to restore the iPod.

Encouraging, but I'd seen this before. I initiated the restore.

It went into recovery mode, the disc drive in the iPod made (irregular) sounds, it alternately showed "Synchronising" and "Connected" (and "Eject before disconnecting" in each case), and the Finder window said

"Software: iPod Recovery Mode

Your iMac is restoring the software on this iPod".

Its shown this for over an hour now, and there's no longer any sound from the iPod's drive.

The previous time I did this process a message came up along the lines of "An unknown error has occurred" with an error code. Not this time, so we'd gone a step further.

I didn't know whether its finished or hung up and next morning the finder window was the same i.e.

"Software: iPod Recovery Mode

Your iMac is restoring the software on this iPod"

and a small pane reading:-

"The disc you attached was not readable by this computer"

with options:-

"Eject', "Ignore" and "Initialise"

Nothing to lose so I chose "Initialise", and got:-

"Your Mac has detected an iPod in recovery mode. You must restore this iPod before it can be used"

Accepting that option, it was back to the page showing version 2.0.4. but this time with a scrolling "barbers pole" at the bottom edge.

Also a window showing "AMP Devices Agent wants to make changes" which I enabled.

I then left the building for a couple of days and now the iPod is responsive. Pressing the Play button I get the screen with the basic menu options at left and on the right, in "About" mode, I see the apple logo and "148 GB free" below.

The menus appear to be fully selectable and the only content is 3 games which I presume were preloaded because I didn't.

So progress has been made.

My music is on an external drive connected to the iMac. The iMac recognised the iPod in Finder. Next I would appreciate steps to transfer the music to the iPod, because the iPod was originally linked to the 2011 iMac.

By way of a reminder, this iPod was number (1) above, which I think I disabled by trying to synch with the 2011 iMac after an OS update which wasn't iPod-compatible.

Thanks again for your patience. I have got this far in resuscitating the iPod thanks to your help.

iPod number (2) is now connected to the iMac, same cable, same port, and after a couple of hours shows full battery charge, "Do Not Disconnect" against a pale background with the flashing circle/diagonal symbol. Pressing centre + MENU, it transitions to the feint apple logo against a grey background and no other button presses do anything, including centre + Left.

Reminder - number (2) just stopped responding after years of successfully playing via an FM transmitter, so the failure mode was different. Its still not recognised in Finder.

Thanks again - Doug

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Answer 4

epal77 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 25, 2025 8:06 AM in response to epal77

Further update -

The iPod was recognised in Finder (but not in Music app), and I tried drag/dropping some tracks from Music app. This appeared to work and I could play them when accessed through the iPod contents. However with the iPod unplugged, it still showed No content on board so the playback was presumably happening via the storage on the iMac.

I then had an hour's chat with Apple support today, who could not provide a solution but did point out that I could update the OS to Sequoia. After this, the iPod is seen in "Devices" in the Music app, which is a first. Having ticked the synch options, synching is now in progress. Unfortunately I have to leave home for a week so I'll have to just leave it to finish.

I'm full of optimism though!

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