iFixit - Answers With Device "iPod Nano 5th Generation"

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Why doesn't my ipod nano want to turn on?

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:19:45 -0700

I charged my ipod nano and it was working fine until now it doesn't seem to be wanting to turn on. The hold switch isn't on and I am trying to turn it on by pressing any keys but it doesn't turn on. What can I do. :(

⟐ Commented March 07, 2026 at 8:19 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Its screen is dark but I have no idea what to do..

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:48:00 -0700

Its screen is really dark and I need to point it up to my light to see it, its not horrible but id like to not need to always have a light near me to use it. I put the brightness to max but its still hard to see.

⟐ Answered January 10, 2026 at 11:48 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Are these safe to use if visually the battery hasn’t swelled up?

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 01:50:19 -0700

I recently bought a used nano 5, the battery lasts about 3-4 hours on a charge, visually there’s no dark spot or any sort of sign of expansion. I’m currently looking for a place that will handle the replacement of the battery preemptively but I’m wondering if in the meantime I can still use the device.

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Why does my screen look whitewashed?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:28:26 -0700

Bought a secondhand iPod nano 5 and somehow it have a screen that displays whitewashed images. I thought it was because the battery has totally died and wasn't delivering enough power, so I took it apart and replaced it. However, after I replaced the battery and cleaned the screen press connector contacts, the screen still look white. The same problem occurred when I booted it with and without the casing. Here's the funny thing. I found no signs of water ingress, not deforming, no corrosion, nothing out of ordinary at all when I was replacing the battery. The motherboard is almost pristine with no signs of any damage. the screen is also as perfect as it can be. I tried resetting it using windows, Mac, even wiping the disk completely clean and reinstalling the system, nothing worked. The only improvement after a whole afternoon of cleaning and formatting is that the display returns to normal randomly but flashes white after a period of time.

here's a nano 4 for comparison.

I'm at a total loss right now. Is this a software issue or a hardware one? Does anyone have the same problem or have any idea what's going on?

iPod Nano 5th Generation: What do I do if screen is white?

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 20:20:29 -0700

after charging i pod screen went white and will not turn off or on

⟐ Commented August 02, 2025 at 20:20 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: iPod Nano charges but won't connect to USB on any computer

Mon, 19 May 2025 11:38:35 -0700

My iPod nano suddenly stopped connecting to any computer.

When I plug it in it will charge, but not connect, it doesn't show up in iTunes, explorer, disk manager or device manager. The iPod is otherwise fully functional.

Things I've tried:

Hard Reset (both when connected and not)

Disk Mode

Original Apple cable, and aftermarket cables (charges on all, won't connect)

Uninstalling iTunes

Restarting computer with iPod attached

Uninstalling all USB drivers and restarting

Plugged into Windows 7/10 and OSX, no change.

I even tried connecting it to an android phone with an adapter .

Reset iPod settings

I am pulling (what little is left) of my hair out with this! I have come to the end of the internet and I've run out of options, the only thing left to assume is that it's a hardware issue but it was literally working, then sat on a desk for a bit, then stopped working, nothing happened in between and it never had any issues before.

Any insight is appreciated, even solidarity if you are experiencing the same thing. It's just so frustrating, at least if it showed some sign of connectivity I would have a glimmer of hope, but I have nothing to go on if I can't even try to access the device.

SIGH.

Thanks,

⟐ Commented May 19, 2025 at 11:38 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: How to connect the battery to a charging PCB?

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:59:20 -0700

I bought a new battery for my iPod Nano 5th gen. Unfortunately, the connecter with 3 holes on the new battery was damaged during installation. I now must use a battery pcb from my old battery. But.... Questions: The battery's positive (+) must be connected to which terminal on the pcb as it was not clearly marked (please see attached picture)? Please help and thanks.

⟐ Answered April 07, 2025 at 15:59 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Where I can find LCD Display of this device

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:34:09 -0700

I have an iPod Nano 5th Generation, and the LCD display is broken. I'm looking to buy a replacement screen or a place where I can find one. Does anyone know a reliable website, online store, or physical shop where I can get a compatible LCD display for this device?

Thank you!

⟐ Answer accepted April 06, 2025 at 9:34 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: How do I know if my iPod is fully charged?

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:14:15 -0700

The battery indicator doesn't show it and it dies every time i take it out of the charger

⟐ Answered January 28, 2025 at 3:14 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: How to fix the touch wheel?

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:46:10 -0700

The bottom randomly pulled out, mom tried to fix it by pushing it back in. Turns on but now can't use the touch wheel. Would I have to get this professionally fixed?

⟐ Answer edited December 26, 2024 at 10:46 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Headphone insertion detection doesn't work

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:21:59 -0700

I have a pair of verifiably working earphones. I have cleaned the iPod Nano 5th gen's headphone jack with a small ball of cotton dabbed with 99.7% isopropyl alcohol. When I plug in the 3.5mm jack and leave the iPod and earphones on a stable surface, it can play audio through the earphones for hours without issue.

When I attempt to move around (i.e. with the iPod in my hand), it frequently pauses music, as if the earphones are no longer connected and it pauses automatically. Then, when I press the play button (while keeping the earphones plugged in as it has been), one of the following scenarios happens. I don't know what triggers which, and it appears to be random:

It plays for a flash of a second before pausing again as if the earphones are immediately unplugged after pressing play;
It plays out of the internal speakers and no sound is heard through the earphones, as if the earphones aren't at all connected;
It plays extremely loud and distorted audio through my earphone and the internal speaker at the same time. This volume exceeds volume limiter set in the settings menu. When I decrease the volume controls, both earphone and speaker volume decreases.
It plays extremely loud and distorted audio, but only through the earphones and not through the internal speaker. The volume control now works backwards, with the empty volume bar being at the loudest and the filled volume bar being inaudible.

I'd appreciate any idea to what could have been wrong and what I can do to fix this. I was not able to source a combined ribbon-jack part as of 2024, so I want to look at any other idea that doesn't involve simply replacing the problematic part.

I particularly suspect a fault in the headphone detection circuitry. Could one of those small SMD resistors on the jack fpc itself being burnt or shorted?

I have read the long post from 2010 for solutions but none worked. I doubt there's been significant water damage, since it had been sitting in my collection drawer for pretty much all its sleeping life and I have never exposed it close to water while actively using it.

Additionally, I have tried to connect it to my laptop's line in port with an AUX cable in an hope to capture a radio program. It worked but the audio frequently clipped only for this iPod. I could use my nano 6th gen in the same aux-PC mic config with no clipping for FM radio.

⟐ Edited by author November 01, 2024 at 18:21 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Click wheel not staying in?

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 19:33:42 -0700

Hi - I'm trying to replace the click wheel on an iPod nano 5th generation, but it doesn't want to stay in. I've compared the click wheel with another one I have and none of the tabs are cracked, but when I put the click wheel in it wants to fall out again. It's not snapping in, are they usually glued in? Or what am I doing wrong? Thanks!

⟐ Answered June 02, 2024 at 19:33 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: reset iPod to factory settings

Mon, 20 May 2024 16:21:13 -0700

My ipod is locked and wont unlock ,any ideas

⟐ Answered May 20, 2024 at 16:21 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: What should I do!?

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:07:05 -0700

I just bought a iPod nano off eBay and it wont work! It just has the padlock in the top left even when the hold switch is off!

⟐ Commented April 29, 2024 at 20:07 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: New iPod but battery fully discharged.

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:52:23 -0700

Almost a new iPod , but it was not used for a long time and the battery, most likely, was completely discharged. Now it doesn't work. Can something be done? Thanks. Now it works only from cabel. When charging disconnect iPod shut down.

⟐ Answered April 22, 2024 at 13:52 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: Mail you my iPod

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:38:28 -0700

Can you replace the battery for me? Not for free of course.

⟐ Commented November 03, 2023 at 11:38 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: My iPod shows the apple logo briefly but then doesnt turn on?

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:07:18 -0700

So it shows in the finder of my mac and says its restoring software but nothing happens.

⟐ Answered August 03, 2023 at 11:07 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: screen locked on a iPod nano 5th generation

Wed, 31 May 2023 21:36:13 -0700

I went to the screen lock and clicked it and put in a combination and now I can't get out. HELP!!!!

⟐ Commented May 31, 2023 at 21:36 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: The backlight is not turning on when I use it.

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:05:57 -0700

My friend found a green one of these and when we tried to use it the backlight is not turning on. I dont know if it is because the screen light is burnt out, or the fact that it has been sitting in a kitchen drawer for 6 years.

⟐ Answer accepted November 02, 2022 at 18:05 MST

iPod Nano 5th Generation: model A1320 has the screen locked

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 09:22:24 -0700

Can i do a master reset

⟐ Commented October 16, 2022 at 9:22 MST