How to Unlock Your iPod When It's Broken

The Apple iPod is known for its durability. While it is built quite strong, occasionally it can be broken by simply dropping it or leaving it out in the cold. However, even when it seems like it is broken, the iPod can usually be fixed by trying a couple of methods that are guaranteed to bring most iPods back to life.

Instructions

1. Toggle the "Hold" switch on the top right of your iPod from "On" to "Off." Then press the "Menu" and "Play/Pause" buttons together and hold them down for 10 seconds. The iPod logo should appear and the iPod should be unlocked. If it is not, progress to step 2.

2. Plug your iPod into a USB port on your computer. Open iTunes by going to "Start > Programs > iTunes" and within 20 seconds the iPod will show up in iTunes.

3. Click the "iPod" icon within iTunes. Click the "Summary" tab.

4. Click the "Restore" button. Then click the "Back up files" button as restoring the iPod will delete all files that are currently on it. ITunes will then reset your iPod to factory settings, a process that may take a few hours to complete.

5. Open iTunes after the restore process has completed. Click "Sync" and your music library will be synced again to your iPod, which may take an hour or two to complete. After this your iPod will be fully functional and unlocked.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't disconnect your iPod before the restore or sync process is completed. If you do this, it will make matters worse and corrupt your iPod even more, perhaps to the point of it being beyond repair. That's why you always need to make sure the process is finished before disconnecting your iPod.