DIY Fix Broken iPod!

 by bryceronie
If you have a broken ipod , with a business card and five minutes it will be fixed!

I enjoy instructionables that are easy to do , short to complete, and will work for anyone!

!!Please VOTE for me so I can win a prize!!

This is a common problem among many, many people that have a warranty that has expired.

Now you could just send it back to apple to get a new one, but if your warranty expired, like mine did, they wont give you a new one. You need to fix this pretty 350$ piece of apple!!

Instead of having a nice paperweight ( hopefully you didnt throw yours out) , you will need these with three things before starting:

1. a flathead screwdriver
2. a broken ipod and 5 minutes
3. a new and or old, but crisp, business card

p.s. No memory loss either, all songs, data, ect will still be on the iPod.

 
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Step 1: Easy does it

The first thing is to take the iPod apart.

This is not a big deal, there are little plastic holds around the iPod, and the flat head screwdriver will allow you to pry it open at the plastic parts.
(see pic)
Once completed, you can just snap the ipod back together so it looks exactly the same, just dont get too frustrated if it takes a few minutes to get the first clip.


Use a MICRO flat head screw driver. Go in from the side as shown in the demo, but to get it started angle the screwdriver down so that it slides in between the plastic and metal, then take a bigger sized micro screw driver to open it the rest of the way.
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cjury says: Feb 12, 2013. 2:04 PM
Genius!!
I had given up all hope on my iPod but I thought what the heck it sounds crazy but it might work.....and damn me it did work. 5 minutes and my iPod lives! Thanks guys.
picosoaaron says: Jul 2, 2012. 8:59 PM
thank it worked but the button doesnt anymore
turbosnail 1 says: Apr 30, 2012. 11:22 AM
just accidentally come across this site,ipod hasnt worked for5 years was looking to repair it,cant believeit actually worked .brilliant!! thanks. only prob i have now is my screen is blank,lights up but nothing shows. any ideas?
tommoho says: Mar 19, 2012. 3:01 AM
Fantastic Fix! worked first time for ipod classic otherwise going towards the dustbin.
peetar_webster says: Feb 20, 2012. 2:54 PM
i cant find the "blue sponge" on my ipod mini
xinav says: Dec 17, 2011. 4:34 PM
After fighting with my grandson about my broken IPOD being fixed like this, (he thought I would break it) He finally took it apart, slipped in the card, snapped it back in place and when I plugged it in it went straight to my playlist, You are a genius!! Thx so much!! He said to be sure to tell you I cackled like a witch when it turned on.
fiddle-fart says: Mar 27, 2009. 4:37 PM
whats an i-pod
Dekubaba94 in reply to fiddle-fartNov 11, 2011. 11:13 AM
Go to apple.com and click the iPod button. Voila! Info galore.
Also, try a google search
cody777 in reply to fiddle-fartFeb 19, 2011. 11:45 PM
its a vegetable, like a p-pod
fartnocker in reply to fiddle-fartApr 5, 2010. 5:55 AM
 really... as small device you can put music and videos on and listen to everywhere. its also pocket sized

geekazoid in reply to fiddle-fartSep 13, 2009. 11:18 AM
srry but wow..
cdousley in reply to fiddle-fartJul 29, 2009. 8:18 AM
do you live in a cave with your eyes shut and ears plugged
coolrobot in reply to fiddle-fartJul 8, 2009. 4:49 AM
it's a small device (different types like iPod nano,shuffle,iPod touch...) that allows you to put music on it and listen to it anywhere...
ReCreate in reply to fiddle-fartJun 18, 2009. 5:49 PM
its this race of alien from mars
psyoper22 in reply to ReCreateOct 8, 2010. 2:13 PM
lol
ggardner7 says: Oct 21, 2011. 9:09 AM
any one know how to fix ipod nano ?
Oi23 says: Sep 17, 2011. 6:00 PM
Is this for fixing the Clicker Wheel? The circular thing on the front.
mearahrose says: Sep 9, 2011. 11:21 AM
will this work on a new IPod that literally hit a hardwood floor and stopped working?
smurtagh3 says: Jul 7, 2011. 2:57 PM
This didn't work for me :(
shar shar in reply to smurtagh3Jul 20, 2011. 11:00 PM
Try centering the card.
shar shar says: Jul 20, 2011. 10:59 PM
It worked! Apple wanted 160.00 to fix it and the repair shop wanted 90.00.
The business card was FREE!!

Thank you.
ejdugan says: Jul 17, 2011. 8:41 AM
What was the original issue with your ipod?
schurchyard says: Jul 13, 2011. 3:02 AM
I am literally over the moon with happiness - this worked!!!! my old, much beloved ipod has sat in a draw for years and my current ipod has just died and I thought 'what the hell I'll give it a go' THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!
slively says: Jun 13, 2011. 9:53 PM
Hi, I did this, and now my ipods wont store any charge, they get stuck in charging please wait, but when i unplug, they die. WHAT HAVE I DONE!?
matstermind in reply to slivelyJul 2, 2011. 12:38 PM
you may have accidentally unplugged or only partially unplugged the battery, try reopening it and checking all connections, especially the battery plug.
npeters2 says: May 5, 2011. 3:34 AM
This actually works! im over the moon now :) thanks for putting this up dont know what i would of done otherwise.
sbutler says: Apr 4, 2011. 6:23 AM
this has actually worked for me too, i used small bits of blu tac to apply even pressue all over the HDD. thanks!
argee500 says: Feb 14, 2011. 10:37 AM
The Phoenix is risen! Thanks a ton, you fixed my 6 year old ipod!
mtsunurse2 says: Jan 27, 2011. 9:05 PM
Holy Cow, this is great.....I love my ipod...i am always listening to books or podcast while driving....i have the same one you have in your picture, got it when i graduated from nursing school and loved it! if i have a pt that is in my Neuro ICU for more than a couple of days i would always "lend it" to my unit so the patient at least can watch movies, listen to music/books while in critical care and when this one broke it sucked.........i have kept it for the last couple of years at my house just in case....YEAH FOR ME AND MY PATIENTS! you are great, i am now listening to the soundtrack from The Godfather (which is usually one of the patients favorites for some reason)...again thanks so much....
how do i vote for you?
vincent7520 says: Jan 24, 2011. 2:31 PM
Aaaaaaaaaaah ! Dead parrot !…
"This parrot is no more ! … It's pushing up the daisies ! … "
FMF91WARRIOR says: Jan 4, 2011. 11:50 AM
on my ipod it worked but my battery is shot and the screen is broke before it wouldnt even turn on now after this trick which worked great it turns on but always say battery is low if anyone has a solution to the battery problem without buying a new one or just recover the music that was on it that would me great
tuftythessinger says: Jan 4, 2011. 10:51 AM
Well shut my mouth and paint me red - this worked! Thanks.
memyselfand1 says: Dec 12, 2010. 2:54 AM
I laughed so hard at that picture...
undulator says: Jan 5, 2010. 10:48 AM
Brought mine into TekServe, local NYC Mac specialists and I was assured that I had a bad zone on my HD, any ideas on how to get around this DIY-wise?

I will try this trick as well and report back!
sqeeek in reply to undulatorNov 11, 2010. 4:22 PM
If your HDD is bad, you need to find a new one and replace it... If you get stuck, PM me.
mbott says: Nov 11, 2010. 11:26 AM
thanks! i revived my very first ipod with this! some pretty great playlists on there
szyshnshn says: Nov 25, 2008. 2:51 PM
will this work even if it "broke" because my kid dropped it into a glass of SODA POP????? My fingers are SO crossed!
dragonsniper in reply to szyshnshnSep 23, 2010. 3:33 PM
no
kegeen says: Sep 14, 2010. 9:40 AM
If the above fix doesn't work, you might be able to sell your ipod on Salvage-it.com.
tranoxx says: Aug 4, 2010. 7:21 AM
what are you fixing?
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