How do I fix my iPod if it will not turn on, turn off, or wake up?

“Your iPod Won’t Turn On” from the Apple Support Site provides in-depth instructions for troubleshooting an iPod that won’t turn on. Apple recommends that you:

1. Make sure the Hold switch is off

2. Make sure the battery is charged

3. Reset iPod

4. Let iPod’s battery drain

5. Update iPod’s software

6. Make sure iPod is the only device in your FireWire or USB chain. Disconnect everything but the mouse, keyboard, and your iPod, then see if it will turn on.

7. Make sure you are using the FireWire or USB cable that came with your iPod, and that the cable is in good condition.

8. Try connecting iPod to the built-in port of a different computer to see if that works.

“iPod Stops Responding or Won’t Wake From Sleep” from the Apple Support Sitenotes that you need to “charge your iPod, then reset your iPod” if it won’t turn off or wake up.

Also see: How do I reboot or restart a “frozen” or “hung” iPod?

How do I fix my iPod if it is “hung” on the Apple logo?

“iPod Only Shows an Apple Logo and Doesn’t Start Up” from the Apple Support Sitenotes that “you may need to restore or update iPod by placing it in Disk Mode if only an Apple logo appears when you turn it on.”

For the iPod touch models, which do not have a Disk Mode, “press and hold the sleep/wake button and the home button at the same time for at least ten seconds until the Apple logo appears” again. For more information, please refer to “Turning on/off and resetting iPod touch and iPhone” from the Apple Support Site and to page 72 of the iPod touch manual.

For more information, you may find “Using Your iPod as a Storage Device“, “Updating iPod Software” and “Restoring iPod to Factory Settings“, to be helpful. Please note that restoring an iPod will erase all songs and files on your iPod.

Also see: What is the difference between “update” and “restore”?

How do I fix my iPod if it shows a folder with a “!” icon or “sad” iPod?

If you start up your iPod and it shows a folder with an exclamation mark, a “sad” iPod icon, or anything else, you may first be interested in referring to “iPod Iconology” on the Apple Support Site.

Apple notes that the folder with an exclamation mark “can happen for a number of reasons” and advises one to read “iPod Shows a Folder Icon with an Exclamation Point”. This document recommends that you try the following:

1. Charge the battery.

2. Reset iPod.

3. Restore the iPod.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to have the iPod serviced. You may also find “Updating iPod Software” and “Restoring iPod to Factory Settings“, to be helpful. Please note that restoring an iPod will erase all songs and files on your iPod.

Apple notes that the “sad” iPod icon “means that the disk scan was not able to recover the data” and recommends reading “An Exclamation Point or Sad iPod Icon Appears Onscreen” which notes that you may need to “restore your iPod” as well. Again, restoring an iPod will erase all songs and files on your iPod. If restoring the iPod doesn’t work, likewise, you may need to have the iPod serviced.

For solutions to other specific problems, please refer to the iPod Troubleshooting & Repair Q&A on EveryiPod.com.

If after going through all of the above, the issue appears to be a hardware problem, site sponsor Mission Repair offers free hardware diagnosis and an affordable 24 hour repair service by mail for all iPod models.

How do I fix my iPod if it won’t show up on my computer?

Apple provides several support documents related to this issue, depending on the symptoms and the platform used.

Mac users may find these iPod documents useful:

Not on Desktop or iTunes
Not on Desktop or iTunes & “!” Icon Onscreen
On Desktop, Not in iTunes
On Desktop, Not in iTunes, or iPod Updater

Windows users may find these helpful:

Isn’t Recognized
Isn’t Recognized on Laptop Over USB
Software Not Installed Message When iPod Connected
Computer Won’t Start When iPod Connected

How do I send in my iPod for service?

If you have read everything on techlimbo.com and the Apple Support Site to try and solve the problem on your own, asked your friends for help, and contacted Apple technical support (assuming you still are within the support period), but are still unable to resolve the issue, your iPod may need service.

If the iPod is still covered by the one-year warranty, please refer to the Apple iPod Service Request page for more information on how to send your iPod to Apple for service. Particularly if your iPod is no longer under warranty (and often even if it is under warranty), a third-party diagnosis and repair service is likely to be more affordable.