Restoring an iPod can be a tricky process if you want to avoid losing your music library in the process. While restoring will wipe the iPod back to factory settings, there are a few key steps you can take to safely back up your music first. This will allow you to later transfer your music back onto the iPod once it has been restored.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that you need to create a backup of your iPod’s music library before restoring. This can be done by syncing your iPod with iTunes on a computer, which will create a copy of your music library. You can then restore the iPod to factory settings, re-sync the music backup from iTunes afterwards, and not lose any songs in the process.
What Does Restoring an iPod Do?
Restoring an iPod essentially wipes it clean and resets it back to factory default settings. This can be useful if your iPod is experiencing technical issues, software problems, or you simply want to start fresh with a clean device.
The restore process erases all of the media and data on your iPod and reinstalls the latest software version. This includes your music library, photos, contacts, calendars, settings and any other files stored on the device. Unless you have a backup, all of this content would be deleted.
Why Would I Need to Restore My iPod?
There are a few common reasons you may need to restore your iPod:
- Your iPod is experiencing technical problems or glitches that are not resolved through standard troubleshooting.
- Your iPod has become slow or unresponsive, and you want to wipe it clean for a fresh start.
- You are selling your iPod or passing it to someone else, and want to completely reset it beforehand.
- There is an error with the latest iOS software update that is fixed by fully restoring and reinstalling the OS.
- You simply want to totally reset your iPod to factory conditions and start your music library over.
How to Backup Your iPod Music Before Restoring
Before initiating a restore, it is absolutely essential to create a backup of your iPod’s music library first. This is the only way to later transfer the music back after the restore is complete. Here are the steps to properly back up your music:
- Connect your iPod to your computer using the USB cable. Be sure you are using a computer that you have previously synced the iPod with before.
- Open iTunes on your computer. Your iPod should appear under the “Devices” section on the left menu.
- Select your iPod icon. On the main iTunes screen, check under “Summary” to confirm your latest backup date and time.
- If the backup is not current, click “Back Up Now” to sync your iPod and create an up-to-date backup file.
- You can also check the box that says “Automatically sync when this iPod is connected” to enable automatic backups whenever you plug in.
Where Does iTunes Store iPod Backups?
By default, iTunes will save backup files of your iPod to the following location on your computer:
PC: \Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Backups
Mac: /Users/[username]/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Mobile Backups
Backups are stored with the file extension .IPD and organized in folders for each device synced with that iTunes library.
How to Restore Your iPod
Once you have confirmed there is a current backup of your iPod’s music library in iTunes, follow these steps to restore your iPod:
- Connect your iPod to your computer using the USB cable and open iTunes.
- Select your iPod under “Devices” in the iTunes sidebar. Click the “Summary” tab.
- Under “Options” in the Summary screen, click “Restore iPod”. This will launch the iPod restore process.
- An iTunes popup will appear warning you that restoring will erase all data and content from your iPod. Click “Restore” to confirm.
- iTunes will download the latest iOS software file and initiate the restore. Your iPod screen will be blank during this process.
- When finished, iTunes will say “The iPod software has been restored.” Your iPod will reboot into a clean, reset state.
That’s all there is to it! With your iPod now restored, continue below to learn how to re-add your music without losing your playlists and library.
How to Add Music Back After Restoring iPod
After restoring your iPod to factory settings, simply re-syncing it with the same iTunes library will transfer all of your music back from the backup you created. Here is the process:
- With your iPod still connected to computer, open iTunes if it not already open.
- Select your iPod under “Devices”. Click the “Summary” tab.
- Under “Options”, check the box that says “Automatically sync songs and videos”.
- Click the “Music” tab. Make sure “Sync Music” and “Sync playlists” are checked.
- Click the “Apply” button at the bottom right. iTunes will sync all music and playlists from your backup to your iPod.
That’s all there is to it! By syncing your restored iPod with the same iTunes library that contains your backup, you will add back your full music collection without losing anything. Just leave your iPod connected after the sync to allow ample time for all your songs and playlists to transfer from the backup to your device.
Other iPod Backup Options
While iTunes provides the simplest way to backup and restore your iPod, here are a couple other options for creating backups:
iPod File Transfer
You can manually transfer music files on your iPod to a computer as a backup using the file explorer on windows or finder on Mac. This allows you to copy your iPod’s music library as files to store independently from iTunes.
iCloud Backup
If you have an active iCloud account, your iPod can be backed up automatically to iCloud. This provides a way to restore your iPod from the cloud. Enable iCloud backups in your iPod settings.
Third Party Apps
There are various third party apps available to backup and manage iPod libraries independently of iTunes, such as iMazing, iExplorer or Syncios. These can provide alternative ways to restore your music after wiping an iPod.
Tips for Restoring iPods Without Losing Music
Follow these tips to make sure you never lose your music library when having to restore an iPod:
- Always sync your iPod to iTunes before restoring to create a current backup.
- Check your iTunes Media folder to confirm the .IPD backup file exists before restoring.
- Make sure to re-sync your music after the iPod has been restored to transfer from the backup.
- Enable automatic syncing in iTunes settings for convenience.
- Use iCloud backups for added redundancy.
- Never restore without a backup if you want to keep your music library.
- Be prepared to wait awhile for your full music collection to transfer back to your iPod after restoring.
What If I Don’t Have a Backup?
Without a backup, restoring your iPod will result in permanent loss of all your music and other media. If you don’t have an iTunes or iCloud backup, your only option is third party iPod file transfer software to try to export the media files before restoring. However, this is an incomplete solution. The best practice is always to have an up-to-date iTunes backup as your restore point for the iPod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restoring delete all my music?
Restoring will erase all content on your iPod, including your music library, unless you have a backup you can restore from afterwards. Be sure to sync to iTunes before restoring to backup your songs.
Can I choose what gets deleted when restoring?
No, restoring will completely wipe your iPod back to factory default settings without the option to selectively keep any media or data.
How long does an iPod restore take?
The restore process itself generally only takes a few minutes. However, transferring your music library back to the iPod from a backup afterwards can take an hour or longer depending on how much music you have.
Will restoring fix my iPod issues?
Restoring can fix many common software-related issues by completely reinstalling the iPod operating system. However, if your iPod has actual physical hardware damage, restoring may not resolve those more serious issues.
Can I restore without a computer?
No, you must connect your iPod to a computer with iTunes installed in order to restore. There is no way to do a factory reset without a PC or Mac.
Will my playlists sync back after restoring?
Yes, playlists you have created will transfer back after restoring as long as you sync with the same iTunes library containing your backup with those playlists.
Conclusion
Restoring your iPod can give you a fresh start and fix many issues, as long as you take steps to properly backup your music first. Syncing your iPod with iTunes before restoring provides the most straightforward way to later transfer your music library back. Follow the backup process before restoring, then re-sync your music from the backup, and you will maintain all your songs, playlists and settings.