What to Do When ITunes Does Not Recognize Your IPod.

So you received your new iPod and you are so excited to use it. You plug the USB cord in the computer and plug the other end into your iPod. Now you encounter a problem. For some reason iTunes is not detecting your iPod. You might think this is a problem with your iPod. The reality is that it is most likely just iTunes. This step by step guide details what you will need to do in order to correct this problem.

Step 1: Finding My Computer.

The easiest way to find out if the problem is the iPod or your iTunes is to look in My Computer. To get to My Computer click on start. Then click on My Computer on the right hand side as shown to the left.

Step 2: Finding the IPod in My Computer

Once you are in My Computer look to see if your iPod was recognized by the computer. The letter will vary from computer to computer; it all depends on how many physical drives you have and on what other drives are connected. Usually it will appear as shown in the picture.

Step 3: Checking the IPod

Once you have found the iPod in My Computer right click it. If there is no delay and it pops up a menu similar to the menu shown in the picture, then it is most likely just iTunes.

Step 4: Opening Task Manager

In order to correct this problem press ctrl, alt, and delete. This will bring up the Windows Task Manager. Go to the processes tab as shown.

Step 5: Ending Processes

When you are in the processes tab look to see if any of the following processes are shown. End all of these processes. Once you have done this wait for a couple of minutes. Now start up iTunes again. This should have corrected the problem. If it is still not showing up continue on to step 6.

Step 6: Going Back to My Computer

If it still did not show in iTunes go back to My Computer. Find the iPod and right click it again. This time select format.

Step 7: Formating the IPod

7.This will bring up a menu as shown in the picture.

A. This should show an accurate capacity. If it reads something like 1 terrabyte then the hard drive/flash drive is bad.
B. You have to be able to select FAT32 as the file system. If you can't then again the hard drive/flash drive is bad.
C. Allocation size should automatically be set to default. If you can't select an allocation size then the hard drive/flash drive is bad.
D. Now select quick format, and click start.

Once this has been done it should show up in iTunes as a corrupt iPod. Restore the iPod at this time and this should finally resolve the problem. If you are still encountering a problem visit http://www.irepairsquad.com/ and have us diagnose the iPod for free.

Comments

[SyedK31]

hi , my ipod is probably shown by my pc but its not turning on ! plz give a solution and plz dont tell me that my display is ruined !

[chrisdoesitmatter]

Worked! had to do last step and format. after that itunes recognized..Super duper!

[sally230]

my ipod 6th jen dose not sync to my computer any more it just says ipod conected and can not be detected is there any thing i can do to get it working

[ademers30]

Hi there! I tried the iTunes route and deleted the processed and restarted iTunes. Unfortunately, that didn't work for me. I'm also not able to right click on the iPod and see a format option. Most of the options you show don't show up when I right click. LOL! Not sure what the problem is. I updated software yesterday on iPod. It shows as up to date. I'm working with a 5th Gen and my PC is Windows 10. Any help is appreciated!! :)

[Chitaracainz]

Yeah, mine's not showing up in My Computer either.

I've heard they have a ridiculously short lifespan for the money they cost, just a few years before they stop charging etc. I think that's what's happened to mine. :(

There's no apple stores in my country yet, they expect you to courier them overseas. I'm not sure it's worth it anymore.

[patrick_mooney]

What if the iPod doesn't show up at all under My Computer, genius?

[DavidT150]

Wow thank you step 5 worked great thanks heaps been trying to fix it for ages

[mama39]

[LibertyRoseS]

Tried this with a 7th generation iPod Nano that I have been using since November. When I set up iTunes on my laptop, finally, I was unable to connect my iPod to iTunes. I tried a bunch of stuff that Apple suggested but nothing worked. Tried this. All it did was erase everything on my iPod and make it completely useless. iTunes doesn't recognize it still, even as a corrupt iPod, and now it just displays a lit screen that says "DO NOT DISCONNECT." I am currently living in Russia and haven't seen any apple stores where I'm at to take it to. Please help! I am so upset I use my iPod all the time, I just wanted to update playlists and music :((

[JanhviA]

Ok, i have an ipod nano 6th generation and i followed all of these steps but after the last step i get a message that says Windows was unable to complete the format.

What do I do now??? Please help....

[EllieMac]

You have no idea how grateful I am for this amazing solution to a problem that I thought was (maybe) unsolvable. After two days, a bit of crying, extreme frustration and cursing apple numerous times, I finally finally can sync my iPod to iTunes. Bless you for actually helping me instead of confusing me or messing up my computer even more. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You were my last hope.

[KerstinDavies]

Finally a solution that worked, so simple in its execution, one site quoted £250 to help me, I refused... Lucky for me! Smiling again, my 80.5 GB music files are mine again. This finally worked, did follow Apple's advice, no luck at all even after several attempts and other things too, must have re-installed i-tunes eight times at least. Thank you! :)

[anony-mate]

My dad cleared my laptop a few months ago, so iTunes has been deleted along with it. And then I re installed a new one and added only videos and music. Of course, my iPod has not been recognized. A lot of things are saved in my iPod is not available in iTunes. What do I do? Please help. Thanks in advance. ( I don't want to clear anything in my iPod, a lot of things are saved in there which I don't want to delete)

[sianacaine]

hi, iv tried literally everything and nothing is working! when I get to this screen and I right click, im not given the option of format? I only have open, open in new window, import pictures and videos, create shortcut and properties. Any ideas what else I can do? I have windows 7 if that helps. thanks

[tito_023]

hi i am getting so frustrated with my ipod. it is an oldish 80 gb video ipod that came out in '07. i have done everything in this tutorial but when i get to the last step, it does not let me chose "FAT32" or "default allocation size" there are only blanks there. Please help, i am running itunes 9 on a PC

[iRepairSquad]

If it leaves those blank then you have one of 3 problems. They will go in order of most likely.

Hard drive has gone bad. When you power up the ipod put your ear to the back and listen for a clicking noise. If you hear nothing you might be lucky, and it could be the cable. If you hear a clicking noise the read arm is jammed and the drive is bad.

If no sound is heard the hard drive cable could be bad or need to be reset. Only open and do this if you have some electronics experience. Try popping the connecters and replugging them back in this might fix it.

Sometimes very rarely the board will just stop recognizing a hard drive. Again very rarely does this happen. Only way to prove this is to test the hard drive in another ipod.

Wish I could help you further but doubt i can unless you find yourself near Peoria Illinois.

[R0MA]

I also have an older model 80gb. So, if the iPod clicks it's the hard drive? Is there a way to restore it or will I need to buy a new one.

[jyoung33]

what do i do if i cannot select "FAT32"?

[monkeemel]

Dear Instructable Irepair chap or chappette
THANK YOU. I've been in tears of frustration trying to fix this problem after downloading itunes version 10.something.something today. Thought I would lose everything.
You have made my life better. I love you all. You deserve chocolate immediately.
THANKS MILLIONS
monkee mel xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[begert]

ok so i have 2 laptops and 2 ipods. one ipod is synced to one laptop and i just bought a new ipod for the other laptop. when i plug in either ipod to the 2nd laptop they dont give me those options there is just the options to explore and open. what do i do then????