How to Eject an iPod Before Disconnecting

Ejecting an iPod from iTunes prior to physical removal is a good practice.

Apple's ubiquitous iTunes and associated iPod portable music player represent a rather easy-to-use system. Computer devices, such as hard drives, like to be ejected at the software level prior to physical removal, to prevent possible delayed data loss. Although this is less likely to occur with an iPod, prudent users nonetheless will feel compelled to eject the iPod prior to removing the unit from the connected dock or USB/Firewire cable from the PC or Mac.

Instructions

1. Wait until the iPod completes the "OK to Disconnect" process. This is visible on the iPod's display, indicated by a bar moving left to right.

2. Locate the iPod under the "Devices" header on the left side of the iTunes desktop. Use the mouse to navigate to this indicator.

3. Hover the mouse over the icon representing ejection. Click on this icon. Once the iPod is successfully ejected, the iPod will disappear on the iTunes desktop. It is now OK to physically remove the iPod.

Tips & Warnings

• Keyboard level shortcuts exist for ejection. For Macs, click the "Finder" icon under the "Dock" menu. Navigate to the "iPod" file, then press "Command E" on the keyboard. For PCs, navigate to "My Computer," then "iPod." Right click on the iPod icon, then click "Eject."

References

• Apple: Safely Disconnect iPod
• Zofunk: Disable iPod from Computer

Resources

• Method Shop: "Do Not Disconnect" Won't Go Away