What to Do When an iPod Freezes iTunes When Plugged In?

By Tyson Cliffton

You can't update your iPod if iTunes refuses to recognize the device.
i sing or not? image by Christophe Schmid from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Connecting your iPod to your computer only to have iTunes freeze up is a frustrating feeling. You can't upgrade your iPod's hardware, add personal videos you may have converted, place new pictures on your device or do a number of other things. Whether your having this problem using Windows 7 or Mac OS X, there are a few things you can try to recognize your iPod without throwing a fit.

Update iTunes and Mac OS X

Do not connect your iPod to your computer. Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of OS X and then click "Software Updates." Scroll through the list of updates and make sure you select an update for iTunes if one is available. Install the updates. Restart your computer after the updates are finished installing. Open iTunes and then connect your iPod to your computer to see if iTunes still freezes up.

Update iTunes and Windows 7

Open iTunes. Do not connect your iPod to your computer. Click "Help" in the upper-left hand corner and then click "Check for Updates" to check for an iTunes software update. Install an update if one is available. Close iTunes and restart your computer after the update is finished installing. Click the "Start" icon in the lower-left corner of the Windows home screen. Type "Update" in the Search box and press "Enter." The Windows Update dialog box appears. Select the critical updates and click "OK" and then "Install Updates." Enter your password if prompted. Click "Finish" when the updates are finished installing. Restart your computer. Open iTunes and then connect your iPod to your computer to see if iTunes still freezes up.

Disable Automatic Sync

Open iTunes. Do not connect your iPod. If you are using Mac OS X, click "iTunes" from the menu in the upper-left corner of the iTunes program window and then click "Preferences." If you are using Windows 7, click "Edit" from the menu in the upper-left corner of the iTunes program window and then click "Preferences." The "iTunes" dialog box will appear on the screen. Select the "Devices" tab and then click to check the box to the left of "Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically." Click "OK." Connect your iPod to your computer to see if iTunes still freezes. If your device is successfully recognized, click the name of your device from beneath "Devices" on the left side of the program window and then select the various tabs above your iPod summary box on the right side of the program window and uncheck all but one of the "Sync" boxes associated with those tabs. Disconnect and then reconnect the device, each time leaving a different "Sync" box checked to see if syncing any content on your device is the source of the problem.

Remove Plug-ins

Close iTunes. Do not connect your iPod to your computer. Navigate to the following folder if you are using Windows 7: "C:\Users[username]\App Data\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins." Navigate to the following folder if you are using Mac OS X: "/Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins." Cut the "iTunes Plug-ins" folder from its current location and then paste it on your desktop. Open iTunes and connect your iPod to your computer to see if the device freezes up. If the device is successfully recognized, do not reinstall any of the plug-ins before consulting the company you downloaded the plug-ins from. If iTunes still freezes up, do not replace the plug-ins, as they still may be part of the problem.

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