How to Transfer an MP4 Movie to a Classic iPod

By Robert Vaux

Third-party iPhone apps can play videos in formats other than MP4.
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Newer electronic items such as iPhones and iPads have replaced older-model iPods for many. But iPod Classics and similar MP3 players still can play movies in MP4 format the same way newer models can. IPod Classics have smaller screens, but their basic programming remains the same. So long as you have iTunes software on your computer and it is registered with your iPod Classic, you easily can transfer MP4 movies.

Step 1

Open your iTunes software on your computer and see if the MP4 movie you want to transfer is in its menu. You can find it by clicking the "Movies" folder in the upper, left-hand corner of the iTunes screen. Alternately, you can type the title of the movie file in the "Search" bar in the upper, right-hand corner of the screen.

Step 2

(If you located your movie in Step 1, skip this step.) Locate the movie file on your hard drive, click and drag it to the iTunes window. It should copy the movie into MP4 format and store it in your iTunes folder.

Step 3

Connect the iPod Classic to your computer using the cables that came with the iPod Classic. The wide end of the cable goes into the slot on the bottom of your iPod Classic, and the other end goes into the USB port on your computer. You should see an icon of the iPod appear in the left-hand column of the iTunes window.

Step 4

Click the iPod icon in iTunes, then click on the tab labeled "Movies" in the top, center portion of the screen. A list of the movies in your iTunes folder should appear.

Step 5

Check the box next to the MP4 movie you want to transfer to your iPod Classic. A check mark should appear in the box.

Step 6

Press the "Sync" button in the lower, right-hand corner of the iTunes window. The movie will begin transferring to the iPod classic. This may take a few minutes.

Step 7

Wait for the computer to indicate that the sync is complete, then click the "Eject" symbol next to the iPod Classic icon. When the iPod menu comes up on the iPod's screen, disconnect it from the computer.

Step 8

Scroll down to the "Videos" menu in the iPod Classic and press it. Scroll down to the "Movies" menu and press it. You will see a list of MP4 movies, which should include the movie you transferred over.

Step 9

Click on the movie; it should begin playing on the iPod screen.

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