Like any other piece of equipment, the iPod Touch may show some quirks of its own. Occasionally, it may lock up, or freeze up, leaving you tapping it frantically trying to wake it up. You soon find out that neither of the iPod Touch’s two physical buttons will do anything. The home button won’t take you to the home menu. The power button will not turn off the iPod Touch. You can’t pull the battery to force it to shut down. So, what do you do?
(This very thing happened to me not too long ago. The steps below are how I got my iPod Touch back to life.)
- Hold both of the iPod Touch’s physical buttons together (the power button and the home button)
- After about 10-15 seconds, the iPod Touch will power off
- Release the buttons and wait an additional 10-15 seconds
- Press the power button and you should see a silver Apple logo appear for a short time (it may be there a minute or two, so be patient with it)
After the Apple logo goes away, you should be back to your normal home menu and ready to continue enjoying your iPod Touch.
Get fed!
Wow, thanks that fixed my ipod touch
thanks!!!! dude!!!!
Cheers – half hour of fustration just about ready to throw through the window
Well lets see it doesn’t work. Now Im on my 4th Ipod touch, 1st was the 8 gig and it froze up and locked up. So I upgraded to the 16 gig ,thought that would be better when I got home and the screen was cracked. So i got that replaced, with another 16gig sure enough I have the same problem,but this time only worse it wont shut down its been about 24 hrs, so now im going to see If I can get my money back. If not ,a fourth Ipod touch. Yeahhhhhhhh i can’t wait Im so excited.
Worked for me as well… Thanks!
Bill,
You might just leave the iPod on and let the battery lose its charge. That would force it to shut down. Then, plug it in to a USB port on your computer (or a wall adapter) and it should re-boot or go to the charging screen. That might fix your lock-up problem.
Thanks a ton! Mine locked up like 15 min ago and this helped allot!
thanks man mine was frozen for like 5min googled it and this came up thanks
Thanks! Was getting worried that my new touch had bitten the dust-your tip did the trick and I it is now functioning perfectly. Brilliant!
thanks dude. i used to have to let the battery die
hello guys a have a huge problem with my ipod touch. 2 days ago it stopped working. i couldn’t use it and it stayed like this for about 30 minutes, than the apple logo appeared, but it couldn’t turn it on , just it was staying with the apple logo until the battery died. I plugged it for charge it and the logo appeared again but without any result. It was staying like this. I tried the method with holding both buttons, the logo appears and after couple of minutes something strange happens – on the apple logo appears this little loading circle and stays like this. Please help me , is there a way i can restart it , i don’ t care about the data i just want to turn it on
Thank you
Simeon,
It sounds like you have a bit of a problem with your iPod Touch. Well, my first suggestion would be to plug it in to your computer via USB cable. Dos the charging screen appear? Does your computer recognize that you have plugged in your iPod? Does iTunes automatically open when you plug in your iPod? If you answer “no” to all of these questions, you may have a dead iPod. If your iPod is less than 1 year old, you may still get it repaired/replaced with the 1-year warranty. There’s really not much else you can test with an iPod acting like yours. The only other option is to take it to an Apple Store, if you have the convenience of being near one.
IT REALLY WORKED! thanks for the tip! i thought i won’t be able to use my ipod for a long time! hahaha =) thanksssss…
Thank goodness there are generous people like you willing to share your expertise with us nerds. I was panicking after my one-week old iPod Touch locked up. I need it this afternoon for a class I’m teaching, so I was really stressed out and frustrated.
Thank you again.
Stan
Stan,
You are most welcome. I’m glad you got your iPod Touch working for your class.
Very helpful! This happened to my ipod touch (2nd gen) and after I forced it to shut down it seemed to freeze on the apple logo, I plugged it into my computer and it was suddenly all fine!
Thanks, much appreciated
hey guys i need some help….. my ipod when i turn it on it says connect to itunes but when i connec it to itunes it say i have to take the ipod off the computer and put in the passcode so when i take it off the computer it says connect to itunes…..?
tray,
Is this a new iPod you’re having trouble with?
Hi,
Ive used your tip before and re set my i pod, but my wifes is doing something really strange! It just wants to stay on the menu screen. With a little messing I can get it to move to other screens but it jumps right back to the menu very quickly, like in a seconds. I let it power down and then charged it on a usb. But it does the same thing. Is it haunted?
Paul
Oh, by the way. The keys dont do anything but the scroll wheel works?
Cheers
Paul
I got a lock up on the second time I ever used my new Ipod Touch 2g. Hope this is not a bad sign. But thanks for the easy to Google tip!
Paul,
Your iPod just might be haunted. Hahaha. You might try doing a restore of your iPod. To do that, simply plug your iPod into your computer, and iTunes will open. When in iTunes, click on your iPod in the device list, if it isn’t selected already. Then, click the “Restore” button. This will restore its original settings. If that doesn’t work, you may have to take it to an Apple Store or send it to Apple for repairs, if it is still under warranty.
Andy,
I hope that’s not a bad sign too. Now, if you’re installing applications on your iPod Touch, they can cause lock-ups. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with your iPod. I’ve had my iPod Touch lock up many times because of application failures.
I restored my ipod touch because it wasn’t upgrading to the 2.2 version. I used the ipod to restore itself (in the settings menu of the ipod) and when it had finished i tried to turn it on but it froze on the infamous apple logo. I did a master reset using the home and sleep buttons but again when i turned it on it froze at the apple logo. I’ve tried to charge it and plug it in to the computer but its not working. Is there anything i can do because I think my warranty has ended?
Sebrina,
There is one other thing you can try. Have you tried restoring your iPod Touch from iTunes? If not, open iTunes on your computer and follow the steps that I gave to Paul a few comments up from this one.
Unfortunately that is the problem, my itunes can’t pick up my ipod so that is also impossible. I’m afraid i may have to take it to my local apple store and see what they can do. Anyway thanks for your help.
Sebrina,
Yeah, that’s definitely a problem. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance. Good luck and I hope you get it working.
[...] was sitting at a Bible study fixing to read my notes when, all of a sudden, my iPod locked up. Well, the time came for me to begin reading and my iPod was ever so stubborn. The group was [...]
ok so i had my ipod touch 2g for about a week and at first i noticed it would flicker white and then it would turn the screen white completely. After a couple of days of that doing that, it finally just stayed a white screen. I tried the power/home buttons together thing to restart but it stays white and i never see the apple sign to power it off or anything. Now when i got it into my itunes, i had it restored and it still stayed white, but my itunes does recognize my ipod touch and all my apps/songs are still fine. I dont know why it stays white, should i just let the battery die completely to connect it and start it over again?
Leo,
My first suggestion is to try and let the battery die, just to see what happens. However, that may not fix the problem. You may actually have a bad screen or bad display hardware. You might need to take it to an Apple Store.
wow thanks so much.
Thanks so much!!!!! Ive been earching how to get if fixed thank!!!!!!!!!
Hi…hope someone can help. My IPOD seems to work fine but the screen wont react to my touch. I have a password on mine and after I use the buttons to reset it, it still wont allow me to put my password in? What should I do?
Mario,
Chances are, you may have to restore your iPod through iTunes. Just keep in mind that you will probably lose any data stored on your iPod.
new ipod touch 8g. Son bought it tonight. All it is showing is the usb arrow to itunes. Have an Imac with Leopard and also running XP, both with new Itunes which doesn’t recognize the Ipod. Tried the sleep and home key, but to no avail.
Any ideas greatly appreciated. May just return it tomorrow to Costco for a replacement.
Thanks
Tom
Tom,
I’m not sure I understand what you mean by, “…the USB arrow to iTunes.” Would you mind clarifying?
It was showing the hookup to itunes. Finally got to the point of being able to restore, but after doing a restore twice and getting another error message I will be returning it today.
I believe we got a faulty Ipod Touch.
Thanks advise worked a treat
My Touch was showing the hookup to itunes. ITunes tells me to restore and update, I do that and it runs in a churn for hours with no change.
I’ve tried the reset tip several times, but it always ends up back at the same hookup to itunes screen, and have tried 3 times to restore, but the churn always happens, so any help would be great. Thank you.
Lee,
If you have a slow Internet connection, the updates may take a very long time. However, they shouldn’t take hours.
If you cannot connect your iPod Touch to iTunes or reset your iPod Touch from the Settings on your iPod, then you might need to visit an Apple Store. If your iPod is still under warranty, you also have the ability to call phone support.
WOW! I downloaded this app where you could make your own music, and I started to put notes everywhere. I pressed play and it just kept playing. I tryed to put the home button but it wouldn’t let me. I freaked out and then went and Googled it. This site was the first one so I clicked on it and let me tell you. I worked! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi All, I have a bogus 16 gig touch and it keeps trying to boot from the apple logo to the next screen; but instead it shuts itself down and shows the apple logo again. This keeps repeating itself over and over again. Unfortunately I’ve tried connecting it to Itunes and it’s not even reconizing it and keeps showing the logo off and on. Plus I’ve tried to hard start it with the home button and the top power button over and over again. Still nothing. Any suggestions????
I just downloaded two albums last nite and unfortunately I might have to buy them again.
sillig,
I would take your iPod Touch to an Apple Store and have a technician look at it and possibly give you a replacement. If your iPod is not booting at all, there’s a real problem and your iPod is probably defective.
If you downloaded the albums with iTunes, you will not have to buy them again. They will be stored in your iTunes library. When you get your iPod fixed/replaced the albums should transfer from your iTunes library to your iPod.
iPod Touch problem
My son has a second hand iPod Touch which worked fine for a few weeks. Then he did the jailbreak thing. Shortly after, he got a few error codes and it wouldn’t connect to iTunes but we managed to solve that through trial and error.
However, we are left with the problem that it won’t turn off properly. The apple logo flashes on and off until the battery runs out. We have restored it several times in the course of trying to solve the other problems but it still won’t turn off properly. Otherwise, it is working fine.
Help!!
I have never gone through the process of jailbreaking an iPhone or iPod Touch. From what I understand of it, you do it in an “at your own risk” fashion. The issue you are having sounds pretty dire. Unfortunately, with these devices, there’s not much one can do to fix these types of issues, other than doing a reset/restore on the iPod itself or through iTunes. If you’ve already done these things to no avail, you might just be out of luck. You might search for a process of un-jailbreaking your iPod and then starting over, if that’s possible.
i have googled and ‘asked’-i cannot find anyway of unfreezing my neices ipod touch. from the home screen(i guess)it says-ipod is disabled, connect to itunes. i’ve connected it to mines-yes i know it will have to be totally wiped out and reloaded of of my computer-my itunes is telling me that it is locked-needs the passcode, which i understand, but the i touch itself will not go to any page except the one it is frozen on. i can turn it off and on, i have tried to reset it with home and standby buttons, but nothing at all will let me get out of this screen so i can put the passcode in. someone please tell me that there is something i can do-no warranty anymore.
My first suggestion would be to completely drain the battery. Once completely drained, plug the iPod into a computer to get it to begin charging. See if that fixes the lock-up issue.
I will try that. we will see what happens in a couple of days! thanks!
Just a quick follow-up to my earlier post. Having restored my son’s iPod Touch several times and done all the possible variations on holding keys down and releasing, waiting, etc it still had the problem that it would not turn off.
As soon as I posted the message, I thought I would have one last go at pressing the two keys together for 15 secs, waiting 15 secs and pressing on.
A miracle then occurred – it worked!! And, three days later it is still working. It must be a very exact thing, time wise or just plain good luck!
Hope everyone else can solve their problems.
I’m glad to hear it’s working for you.
My itouch wont turn on and i just got it. i press the top button and the home button at the same time for 10 seconds like people say but that doesnt work so it is pretty much frozen. how do i unfreeze it?
If you literally just got you iPod Touch, simply plug it in to your computer. It should turn on. But if you’ve had it for some time and it was on before, simply hold only the top button until the screen lights up and you see the Apple logo.
Thank you for you input. I googled and fixed in less than 2mins. That’s technology!
God Bless
I’m having problems with my friend’s pod. When we turn it on, the screen shows picture of itunes logo, an up arrow below it and the ipod cable just right below the arrow. And when i connect the ipod to itunes, it says: “…locked with a password. You must enter a passcode on the iPod…”.
Yet, there seems to be nowhere we can enter a passcode.
Have you tried connecting the iPod Touch to the computer and then restoring it from within iTunes? Doing that might cause loss of data, but if you’ve backed the iPod up, it would only be a matter of time to restore the data. This is the only supported method to bypass a password protected iPod Touch.
The only other solution is to use SSH to access your iPod and change the “PasswordProtected” value in the preferences. A semi-how-to is posted here. This method can be tricky and requires a little nerdiness.
I fixed it in less than two min. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I /*—*/ LOVE YOU
Carl ..
In exactly the same position as you!
it’s so annoying!
Have tried all the little tips everyone is giving out and nothing seems to be working for me
Has anybody who had the same problem manage to get themselfs out of it?
Comments back would be appriciated BIG time
!
Have you tried the first suggestion I gave to Carl? That’s the only supported way of bypassing the password protection, other than inputting the password.
Yeah i have. The problem is i cant even get my ipod to open into itunes, i get an error message popping up telling me to type in my passcode – which is impossible when the screen of my ipod is stuck on the “usb to itunes” image! Think i’m going to take it into a shop tommorow, i’ve searched a few forums on the web and the people with this same problem havent been able to resolve it, or they havent said they’ve been able too. Thanks
So, is iTunes asking you for your password, or is the iPod Touch?
anybody with the same problem as me:
i followed this video and it worked
Good suggestion. Maybe it will help some folks solve their iPod Touch problem. Thanks!
So I got my iPod touch in November and I’ve had absolutly no problems with it until last night, it was sitting by me and it started doing things all on it’s own, putting itself into sleep mode and what not. So today I try and put it into sleep mode and nothing happens! My power button won’t do a thing! Any suggestions?
You can try these things: 1) Drain the battery completely, plug it into your computer, let it charge, and then try to use it; 2) Reset the settings on the iPod (instructions here); 3) Restore your iPod via iTunes (may lose some data).
wow! haha thanks i was sooooo freaked out!
My ipod is locked and when i plug it into my computer that i just downloaded itunes to it says it wont open till i unlock it. and i dont know the password so what should i do.???
Please try the instructions in the video posted in the comment by Maria on June 13, 2009.
Thanks a million for rescuing my itouch from jammed land