Every iPod, iPhone, or iPad owner has encountered a frozen device at least once or twice. Fortunately, it’s less common today than it used to be, but that makes it even more annoying when it happens. If you are looking at a frozen device, the question you will ask yourself is “what do I do if my iPod freezes?”
The answer is simple and the same as when your computer freezes: restart it. How to reset a frozen iPod, iPhone, or iPad depends on the model you have. This article provides information on each model and a link to step-by-step instructions for resetting each model.
iPhone
All iPhones used to have the same reset process, but then the iPhone 7, 8, and X came along. Because they have different hardware options, resetting them is also different.
- iPhone , instructions to reset all models, including iPhone 7, 8 and X
iPad
Every iPad model uses the same reset process as older iPhones and iPod touch. Press a few buttons and it will reboot immediately.
- iPad , instructions to reset all models
ipod touch
Apple’s “phoneless iPhone,” the most popular iPod model today, reboots just like an iPad and some older iPhones.
- iPod touch , instructions to reset all models
Ipod nano
Each version of the portable and powerful iPod nano has had a very different look, which means that the reset of each of them is slightly different. (Not sure which model you have? Take a look at these model descriptions to find out.) That said, most of them reset using the click wheel.
- iPod nano , reset instructions for all model generation
ipod shuffle
Rebooting these devices usually requires pressing buttons, but a Shuffle model doesn’t have any buttons. Combine this with the different form factors of the Shuffle and the reset instructions are very different for each model.
- iPod Shuffle , instructions for resetting 1st-4th generation models
older ipods
With so many different models in the original iPod lineup, you’d think there could be many different ways to reset them. Not so much: it is mainly based on the Clickwheel.
- iPod Classic , instructions for the 6th generation iPod
- iPod video , instructions for the 5th generation iPod
- Clickwheel iPod & Photo iPod , instructions for iPod 3rd and 4th generation
- Original iPods , instructions for 1st and 2nd generation models
- iPod mini , all models
With so many different iPod models that look quite similar to each other, knowing which one you have can be difficult. Learn about each iPod model here so you can be sure you’re reading the correct instructions.