How to Restore Settings on an iPod

by Morgan O'Connor
Restoring your iPod will erase all your music, so back up first.

Restoring your iPod will erase all your music, so back up first.

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Restoring an iPod wipes any music, movies, games and other files off your iPod and restores its settings to factory condition. If you restore an iPod shuffle, the process will also optionally update its software. This can be useful if you wish to give away or sell an iPod or need to completely clean yours for another reason. Be very careful when doing this, however; if you do not have a backup of your files, you will lose them permanently.

Step 1

Open iTunes, then plug your iPod into your computer. Find your iPod listed under "Devices" in the left panel in iTunes, then click on your iPod to select it.

Step 2

Find and click on the "Restore" button in the list of information that appears. The screen will include information about your iPod and its capacity, software version and serial number. Below this information you will see the "Restore" button.

Step 3

Click "Restore" on the window that appears asking you if you are sure that you wish to restore your iPod. The restoration process occurs in two stages. During the first, you must leave your iPod plugged into your computer. During the second, you may be able to leave the iPod plugged into the computer or you may need to plug it into its power adapter instead. After the first portion of the process is over, iTunes will give you a message telling you which way to proceed.

Step 4

Leave your iPod plugged in to either the computer or the power adapter until the restoration process is complete. At this point, your iPod will be completely clean and behave as new; you will need to rename it and set it up as if you had just purchased it.

Tip

  • Follow the same steps to restore an iPod shuffle. After you click the "Restore" button, however, the process will change slightly. Your iTunes program may ask you how you wish to restore your iPod shuffle. Your choices may include simply restoring the iPod shuffle with its current software even if a newer version is available, restoring the iPod shuffle with updated software or downloading the updated software then restoring your iPod shuffle. Select the appropriate option, then proceed as normal.

About the Author

Morgan O'Connor has been writing professionally since 2005. Her experience includes articles on various aspects of the health-insurance industry for health-care newsletters distributed to hospitals as well as articles on both international and domestic travel.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images