How to Troubleshoot an iPod Audio Book

With an iPod, you can listen to audiobooks as well as music.

Along with listening to your favorite tunes on your iPod, you can also listen to audio books. They can be transferred to your iPod just as songs are---from iTunes on your computer. Occasionally, you might run into trouble playing audio books on your iPod, but some quick fixes will ease any problems.

Things You'll Need

• iTunes

Instructions

1. Check to make sure the audio book plays in iTunes if it won't play on the iPod. On your computer, double-click on the problematic file. You may need to enter your iTunes user name and password. Select your iPod and click "Sync iPod" under the "File" menu.

2. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes. You can update it by downloading a new version from the Apple website. Also check for updates to your iPod software. With your iPod selected in iTunes, click the "Summary" tab.

3. Delete the file if it does not play in iTunes. Re-import it into iTunes from a backup copy or audio CD. Select the iPod and click the "File" menu. Select "Update iPod."

4. Choose a different menu. If you hear garbled audio while playing an audio book on your iPod, select the audio book from a menu other than "Music," such as "Playlists" or "Artists." The garbled sound is probably coming from a video that you just played. This can happen if you play a video on a 5th-generation iPod and immediately afterward start an audio book from the "Music" menu.

5. Use the "scrub" feature. If the iPod rewinds when you press the "Fast-forward" button while playing an audio book. the "scrub" feature will allow you to fast-forward a different way. While on the "Now Playing" screen, press the "Center" button. You'll see a diamond symbol that shows the point in the audio book that is selected. Use the scroll wheel to fast-forward in the audio book.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an iPod shuffle, you will not be able to "scrub" to rewind or fast-forward an audio book. See Resources for navigation tips for audio books.

References

• Apple iPod Help: Troubleshooting Songs and Audiobooks that Won't Play
• Apple iPod Help: Audio From a Video May Be Heard when Playing an Audiobook on iPod
• Apple iPod Help: Scrolling to Any Point in a Song on iPod

Resources

• Playing Audiobooks on the iPod Shuffle