If you want to use your new iPod to its fullest, you should get familiar with its physical features first. We will explain the two iPod model types, ones with color screens and ones without, and what functions each has. If you have an older iPod, its physical attributes are similar to an iPod with a color display.
Ready for the grand tour? Just select your iPod...
iPod with color display (including iPod nano)
If you've got an iPod with a color display (we're showing the latest iPod with video model, though iPod nano controls are similar), here's a map of its main controls and features.
LCD screen
Fifth Generation iPod models feature a color 2.5-inch (diagonal) LCD screen to help you navigate and control everything on your iPod. iPod nano features a 1.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD screen. Older iPod with color display models feature a 2-inch (diagonal) color LCD, while classic iPod models feature a 2-inch (diagonal) monochrome LCD. All iPods with a display feature a handy backlight to prevent you from fumbling around menus when the lights go out.
Any iPod with a color display can show off navigation menus, audio file attributes (file name, artist, genre, and more), photos, album art, playlists, volume, audio file progress, games, the time, personal contacts and calendars, notes, and more. iPod nano, in addition, displays a stopwatch, screen lock control, lyrics, and multiple world clocks, while iPod with video (aka Fifth Generation iPod) does what iPod nano does, plus puts video capabilities and improved games in your hands.
Click Wheel
This donut-shaped dial (on all current iPods with a display) doesn't physically spin; it's a touch-sensitive pad (much like a trackpad on a portable computer) that senses movement as you glide your finger across its surface. Just whirl your finger around the wheel to scroll through menus, crank up the volume, scrub through an audio track, eyeball your photo collection, and more, depending on where you're at in your iPod.
Although the Click Wheel doesn't actually rotate, it'll play an audible clicking sound through an internal speaker on your iPod while you scroll to let you know it's working (you can turn this sound off if you can't bear the clicking—we'll show you how in "Customize My Menu").
The wheel also serves as a 4-way controller; just press any control's label toward the edge of the wheel to activate it. Unlike the wheel, these buttons aren't touch-sensitive—pressing a label on the Click Wheel actually pushes a corresponding button underneath the wheel. You can play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and skip songs, or go to other menus using the buttons on the Click Wheel.
Where's the On and Off switch?
You won't find a dedicated switch to turn your iPod on and off. To turn it on, just press any button. Make sure that the Hold switch isn't engaged either. To turn off iPod, press and hold the Play/Pause button until iPod turns off.
Tip: To keep from accidentally turning on your iPod in transit, slide the Hold switch to the Hold position to lock the controls.
Center button
This button (formerly known as the Select button) in the middle of the Click Wheel (but separate from it) lets you choose the currently highlighted menu item shown on the LCD. For example, if you're in the Music menu, you can whirl your finger around the Click Wheel until Songs is highlighted, then press the Center button to go to the Songs menu and see all the songs on your iPod (in iPod menu speak, you just chosen Music > Songs). You can then highlight a song and press the Play/Pause button to hear it.
You can easily get to anything on your iPod by simply using the Click Wheel and Menu and Center buttons.
Menu button
This button takes you back to the previous menu. For example, if you're now playing a song (after following our example for the Center button, above), pressing the Menu button will return you to the Songs menu. Press the Menu button again to go back to the Music menu, and one more time to return to the main (iPod) menu.
Previous/Rewind button
When a song (or audiobook or podcast) is playing (the Now Playing screen appears on the LCD), you can start the song over by pressing this button once, go to the previous song in the list by pressing the button twice, or rewind through the current song by holding down the button as long as you want.
When you're browsing photos, pressing this button lets you go back to the previous screen of photos. If you're viewing a slideshow, press this button to go back to the previous photo in the slideshow.
Next/Fast-forward button
When a song (or audiobook or podcast) is playing (the Now Playing screen appears on the LCD), you can skip to the next song in the list by pressing this button once, or fast-forward through the current song by holding down the button as long as you want.
When you're browsing your photos, pressing this button lets you skip to the next screen of photos. If you're viewing a slideshow, press this button to skip to the next photo in the slideshow.
Play/Pause button
When you choose a song, video, audiobook, or podcast, pressing this button will either play the selection or pause it if it's already playing. When you're viewing photos, you can choose any photo or album and press this button to play a slideshow. Press it again to pause the slideshow. Pressing and holding the Play/Pause button also turns off iPod.
Apple Earphones
If you want to hear your music, you've got to plug some headphones into your iPod. The included Apple earbud-style headphones provide awesome sound with full frequency response (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), and connect to iPod with a 3.5-mm stereo miniplug. If you have a hard time keeping these types of ’phones in your ears, feel free to plug in a different set of headphones.
Here's the bird's eye (left)—and bug's eye (right)—view of an iPod with color display. iPod nano features its headphone port on its bottom (next to the Dock Connector).
Headphone/AV port
This is the place to plug in your headphones—either the included Apple Earphones or your own (as long as it has a stereo 3.5-mm miniplug). iPod features the headphone jack/AV port up top, while iPod nano sports a headphone port on its bottom (it doesn't have AV capabilities).
If you want to share sound, you can alternatively use a 3.5-mm stereo miniplug to dual RCA jack cable (not included) to connect your iPod or iPod nano to your home stereo and share your tunes with friends. Or hook up a pair of powered speakers to the port.
If you've got photos or video on your iPod, you can also use this port to connect your iPod to a TV (this feature isn't available on iPod nano), then gather up family and friends to watch slideshows, music videos, movies—including your own home movies (see "Creating video for iPod" for instructions), and TV shows on the bigger screen. You'll need an Apple iPod AV Cable (optional) to make this connection.
Hold switch
Sliding this little switch to the Hold position allows you to lock all of the button and Click Wheel functions. This comes in handy when you want to avoid accidental button presses when you're, say, running around with your iPod in hand, or have it turned off and are transporting it in your pocket, bag, or purse (pressing any button turns on iPod). Slide the switch back to reclaim full control.
iPod Remote port
This port allows you to connect an optional remote control accessory to iPod to control playback. iPod nano and iPod with video do not feature this port.
Dock Connector
Flip your iPod upside-down and you'll see the Dock Connector. When you connect the included iPod Dock Connector to USB 2.0 cable to this port, you can feed your iPod battery a healthy dose of electrical current when you attach the USB side of the cable to an AC adapter that's plugged into an electrical socket. Or connect it to a high-powered USB port on your computer to charge the battery and sync music and more.
iPod shuffle
Here's everything you'll find on an iPod shuffle exterior, and what each thing does.
Status light
Although iPod shuffle doesn't have an LCD screen, it does have status lights to communicate things to you. The status lights—one next to the Off Switch on the bottom, and opposite the headphone jack on the top—can be green, orange, or red and lets you know the following:
When iPod shuffle is connected to your computer...
- Solid orange—iPod shuffle is charging but not in use; it's OK to disconnect it from your computer.
- Blinking orange—iPod shuffle is in use; do not disconnect it from your computer in this state.
- Solid green—iPod shuffle is fully charged and not in use; it's OK to disconnect it from your computer.
- No light—iPod shuffle is not charging, nor in use; it's OK to disconnect it from your computer.
When iPod shuffle is not connected to your computer...
- When you turn iPod shuffle on, the status light will be green for up to 3 seconds and then turn off.
- Solid green—iPod Shuffle is fully charged.
- Solid orange—iPod Shuffle charge is low, and should be recharged soon.
- No light—iPod Shuffle has no charge.
- If the status light blinks orange and green when you press any button, iPod shuffle is letting you know that there's either an issue, or it could be that you have no songs on the player. We'll tell you how to resolve this issue in our iPod troubleshooting section.
You can easily check your iPod Shuffle battery charge by quickly turning it off, and on again, even while it’s playing. The status light will light briefly with one of the colors described above.
Put It on Hold
iPod shuffle features a Hold mode that allows you to temporarily disable the front buttons to avoid accidental presses while you're listening to your tunes. To turn on Hold, press and hold the Play/Pause button for 3 seconds; the status light will blink orange three times to let you know that iPod shuffle is on Hold. If you press a button when Hold is on, the status light will display orange, but the press will have no affect.
To turn off Hold, press the Play/Pause button for 3 seconds; the status light will blink green three times to let you know that the iPod shuffle buttons are free to be pressed at will. Alternatively, you can also turn off Hold by moving the switch on the back of iPod shuffle to the Off position.
Play/Pause button
This center button allows you to play or pause a song, audiobook, or podcast. Pressing this button will either start play or pause it if something is already playing.
Volume Up button
Press this button to crank up your tunes, audiobook, or podcast. Press this button multiple times to turn up the volume incrementally. Hold the button down to turn up the volume gradually.
Volume Down button
Press this button to turn down your tunes, audiobook, or podcast. Press this button multiple times to turn down the volume incrementally. Hold the button down to turn down the volume gradually.
Previous/Rewind button
When a song (or audiobook or podcast) is playing, you can start the song over by pressing this button once, go to the previous song by pressing the button twice, or rewind through the current song by holding down the button as long as you want.
Previous/Rewind button
When a song (or audiobook or podcast) is playing, you can start the song over by pressing this button once, go to the previous song by pressing the button twice, or rewind through the current song by holding down the button as long as you want.
Next/Fast-forward button
When a song (or audiobook or podcast) is playing, you can skip to the next song in the list by pressing this button once, or fast-forward through the song by holding down the button as long as you want.
Apple Earphones
If you want to hear your music, you've got to plug some headphones into your iPod shuffle. The included Apple earbud-style headphones provide awesome sound with full frequency response (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), and connect to iPod shuffle with a 3.5-mm stereo miniplug. If you have a hard time keeping these types of ’phones in your ears, feel free to plug in a different set of headphones.
Headphone port
This is the place to plug in your headphones—either the included Apple Earphones or your own (as long as it has a stereo 3.5-mm miniplug). When you're not feeling selfish and hogging your tunes to yourself, you can alternatively use a 3.5-mm stereo miniplug to dual RCA jack cable (not included) to connect iPod shuffle to your home stereo and share your tunes with the neighbors. Or hook up a pair of powered speakers to the port.
Power Switch
This switch on the bottom of iPod shuffle lets you turn the player on and off.
To turn on iPod shuffle, slide the switch away from Off to reveal a green strip beneath the switch. To turn off iPod shuffle, slide the switch to the Off position (you won't see any green when iPod shuffle is turned off).
Shuffle Switch
This switch on the bottom of iPod shuffle sets whether iPod shuffle plays songs, audiobooks, and podcasts in order or in shuffle mode (total, random, free-for-all). When positioned next to the crossed arrows, you’re in shuffle mode, when positioned next to the circular arrows, songs repeat in the order you set in iTunes.
Take me to the iPod Anatomy index Take me to Lesson 2: What's On the Menu