iFixit - Answers With Device "iPod 3rd Generation"

iPod 3rd Generation: Is there a Hack for Charging from USB instead of Firewire?

Thu, 22 May 2025 12:29:55 -0700

Is there a way that the charging components inside a 3rd-gen iPod can be changed from Firewire to USB ?

With so many USB car chargers available that make it easy to carry USB-charge-able devices, carrying a 3rd-gen iPod that solely charges via Firewire is truly a pain in the neck.

I have 2 car charge ports in our vehicle, one is usually occupied by the GPS, the other one rotates between when my wife wants to charge her iPhone with the 2-port USB charger, and when I want to charge the iPod 3rd-gen with the Firewire charger. Even though the iPod 3rd-gen charges solely through Firewire, it would be much more convenient if both devices could both share the USB charger with 2 ports.

I found a hack on the Instructables site that someone posted to modify a USB charger to charge a 3rd-gen iPad Nano, (http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-a...), though I suspect it would work the same way for a regular 3rd-gen iPod. This however, doesn't completely solve my question, it only keeps a dedicated charger for the iPod and doesn't make it flexible enough to use a "regular" USB car charger that might have 2 ports.

Everyone I've spoken to doesn't have any suggestions since it requires a Firewire charge, so they suggest ditching a perfectly good working 40GB iPod for something newer. I refuse to give up a functioning device I paid close to $400 many years ago. What can I do to make this device work with a USB charger ?

⟐ Commented May 22, 2025 at 12:29 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Anyone tried SSD in 3rd Gen iPod?

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 20:42:34 -0700

Just curious - has anyone tried to replace the hard drive with a newer, higher capacity solid state drive? I like my old bomber a lot, but I wonder if it could be more energy efficient and hold way more music by hot-rodding with SSD?

I'm going to get some specs and see whether the size and connections and so forth even allow it. If anyone has blazed this trail ahead of me, give a shout. If it works, I'll post the results on iFixit.

⟐ Answer accepted March 25, 2020 at 20:42 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: New Battery will not charge

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:48:22 -0700

Changed battery and iPod started normally with low charge, everything works. Went to charge it and noted that hard drive starts up when cable plugged in, also keys do not work. Unplug cable and drive stops and keys work. Tried two different cables and same result. Now battery is dead so I get an Apple icon and then display goes dead.

⟐ Answered March 19, 2026 at 4:48 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Why won't the iPod turn on?

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:11:20 -0700

Hello All Hopeful Helpers,

My 3rd gen. iPod 10 GB with the 4 buttons above with touch wheel won't start up at all. I've tried to hit the play button then the center wheel button alternately but it just won't turn on. (The Hold switch is not on.)

Can anyone help? I miss my music!

⟐ Answered August 28, 2020 at 18:11 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Gen 3 firewire iPod not recognized anymore?

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:23:21 -0700

So, I pulled the old Gen 3 Ipod out the other day. Used the docking station to charge it up. Works fine, but when I plug it into my Macbook running the latest version of Itunes, it doesn't come up anymore. I tried my GF's old MBP with 10.4 and itunes didn't see it there either... Has Apple stopped support for these devices?

⟐ Answer deleted October 28, 2013 at 15:23 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Replaced battery but iPod still doesn't charge

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 04:23:20 -0700

I recently replaced the battery in my 3rd Generation iPod (A1040 20GB). It briefly powered up, worked and played music but the battery was low on charge and it quickly died. However, when I connected it to a wall charger it wouldn't charge. I have the same result when I connect it USB to a computer. I've tried several different kinds of wall chargers with the same results. When I plug it in it will briefly flash the Apple logo then go to a battery icon with a triangle with an exclamation point in it. I appreciate any help.

Thanks.

⟐ Commented March 15, 2021 at 4:23 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Does a new iPod hard drive need to be formatted? If so, how?

Sun, 30 Mar 2014 20:58:08 -0700

I bought a hard drive for my iPod 3rd gen, but I think it needs to be formatted first. How do I go about it?

⟐ Answered March 30, 2014 at 20:58 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: iPod won't play the end of any song

Mon, 07 Mar 2016 20:50:05 -0700

My 3rd gen iPod has got following problem: if I listen to my music via headphones the end (about 12 seconds) of each song are muted. When it is connected to my car or my speaker system via the Dock Connector the problem does not exist. In this case everything works fine as it should.

I hope someone can help me with that problem.

Cheers,

Tommy.

⟐ Answered March 07, 2016 at 20:50 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: iPod 3rd Generation won't turn on and question on charging

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 02:29:35 -0700

I have a old 3rd gen iPod. The battery is most likely dead and it won't turn on even if I have it plugged in via USB cable. Is it still worth trying to replace the battery?

⟐ Answered February 17, 2024 at 2:29 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: My iPod won't start up, just displays apple symbol. Fixable?

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 13:56:38 -0700

Hi there,

My ipod has a problem where it will turn on, but does not boot up past the apple "loading" screen. It retains this display and makes a noise as though it is processing until the battery dies. When connected to the computer with USB, the computer does not recognise the device.

I took it to an apple repair centre and they thought it might be a problem with the dock, but that didn't sound right to me. But they wanted 85 euros just to take a look at it.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Heather

⟐ Commented March 19, 2023 at 13:56 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: I replaced the battery and it will not charge.

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 12:27:50 -0700

I replaced the battery on my ipod 3rd gen and the battery wil not charge from the firewire wall or firewire computer. Im not using usb. I also changed it to use a SD card. When i first installed the battery the blinking folder showed up as expected but after 5 minutes it died and will not charge.

⟐ Commented September 28, 2017 at 12:27 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Folder with exclamation icon

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:28:35 -0700

Hello folks!

I am stuck between the folder icon with exclamation and the disk mode. I have plugged it in to iTunes and it says I need to connect it to FireWire to complete the restore. Using iTunes I have tried and failed to get it fully restored. I have a FireWire cable and charger does anyone know what to do to get it to work? Please help thanks!

⟐ Answer accepted November 28, 2016 at 5:28 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: iPod dies immediatley after full charge

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 22:20:09 -0700

I have a 20 GB iPod A1040.

It charges fine and the battery was perfect until one day it just cut out! It charges fine on the dock and with the Mac but as soon as I unplug it and use it it dies! is it just a case of a new battery or something more?

Thanks for any help you can give.

⟐ Answer accepted September 11, 2013 at 22:20 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Hold button is broken? How to fix?

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:07:50 -0700

Ok, well I bought an iPod 3rd generation on ebay and the hold button was not working. Well I opened it up, and it turns out the little black switch thing that sticks up out of the little silver box bascially fell off when I touched it. So now there is nothing for the hold button to catch on to in order for the switch to work. How would I replace something like this? Would I have to replace the whole green flat part that it is sottered to? How hard is this? I mean I guess its not a real big deal, but because the buttons are so sensitive, it is realy hard to not have a hold switch because everytime my hand comes near it, it changes the song. Are there any cases that could help with out fixing the hold switch? Advice please???

⟐ Commented February 16, 2018 at 17:07 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Is my iPod 3rd Generation compatible with Firewire 800 cable?

Sun, 21 Dec 2014 18:18:57 -0700

I recently replaced my battery in my old iPod 3G and I figured that my USB cable could only sync it with iTunes and couldn't charge it. My MacBook Pro only has a FireWire 800 port.

Will a Firewire 800 cable charge my iPod 3G ?

If not, can I use a Firewire 400 cable for iPod in combination with a Firewire adaptator 400/800 to charge it ?

⟐ Answered December 21, 2014 at 18:18 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Hold slider no longer working

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:56:34 -0700

I replaced my old battery and thought I put everything back as I found it. Turns out, I messed something up with my hold switch. It's now completely loose and has lost it's functionality. I looked at some of the breakdown pictures and it looks fine, but it feels completely loose. Any ideas?

Thanks!

⟐ Answered December 02, 2010 at 20:56 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: getting a weird logo on my iPod

Fri, 20 May 2022 13:07:18 -0700

i gt a new battery for my iPod 3rd gen it started to charge a bit on USB but then a strange logo came up

on the screen can someone help me I would love to get this iPod working again

⟐ Answered May 20, 2022 at 13:07 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Replacement battery is too large?

Thu, 20 May 2021 11:28:43 -0700

Hi everyone, I just bought the 3rd gen battery replacement kit, and the battery seems to be way too long. It won’t fit into the original space unless it is resting on top of the motherboard. Is this normal, because if so, this doesn’t seem safe.

Thanks!

⟐ Answered May 20, 2021 at 11:28 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: iPod freezes at Apple symbol and I can't restore it.

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 06:52:51 -0700

I have a 30GB 3rd Generation iPod (A1040) that is having trouble. My iPod starts up, but stops at the apple logo and does not go any further. I have tried the iPod diagnostic drive scan (<<, Menu, Select, >>) and it stops with the error symbol. I have also tried the diagnostic tools and the HD test comes back saying the HD is bad.

However, when I set it into disk mode and connect it to my iMac, it shows up and I can see the disk in "Disk Utilities" and iTunes. I have scanned it with TechTools' surface scan, and it tested ~58k blocks and came back with no errors. I formatted it in Disk Utilities with the zero out all data option. Still no luck.

When I try to restore the iPod, the installer runs and says its finished and that the iPod is restarting... but the iPod just sits there with the 'OK to disconnect' check symbol and never restarts. When I reset it (Menu, Play/Pause), it starts up with the apple logo with a loading bar underneath which fills up and disappears. Then the apple logo comes back up and it freezes there. (Seems like it does not load the firmware restore properly to me...)

The battery is decent and I am doing all of this with a firewire dock cable... It seems to charge fine.

What is going on? Has the logic board gone bad, is is the firmware on the hard drive corrupted and not reinstalling?

⟐ Commented November 20, 2019 at 6:52 MST

iPod 3rd Generation: Replaced damaged display but nothing shows up

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:01:44 -0700

I replaced the damaged LCD display with one from iFIxit but when I turn on the iPod it shows nothing on the display. The backlight works; I can hear the drive spinning; and I can play songs but no menu or song info shows on the display. I'm going to try retracing my steps and making sure that all connectors are on solid. Any suggestions?

⟐ Answer accepted March 18, 2014 at 8:01 MST