How to Turn Off Your iPod Classic

Two ways to power down your iPod Classic

Last Updated: August 24, 2022

Turning an iPod Classic off is really just putting it into a deep sleep state. Since the iPod Classic doesn't run any power-draining apps in the background like the iPod Touch, sleep mode is still an effective way to shut down your iPod and conserve power. It's also fine to use this mode on airplanes when instructed to turn off your electronics. This wikiHow teaches you how to shut down your iPod Classic, as well as how to make the iPod turn off automatically after a specific amount of time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Play/Pause Button

1
Unlock your iPod. When the Lock/Hold switch is enabled, you'll see a lock icon next to the battery icon at the top of your iPod's screen. If you see this icon, slide the switch at the top of the iPod away from the word "Hold" to unlock it.
2
Press and hold the Play/Pause button at the bottom of the wheel. You'll usually need to hold the button down for about 10 seconds or so.

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3
Lift your finger from the Play/Pause button once the screen goes dark. This turns off your iPod Classic.
- Don't touch any buttons on the iPod, as it will turn it back on.
- If this doesn't turn off your iPod, try playing a song and then pausing it. Once the song is paused, press and hold the Play/Pause button again until the screen turns off.
- If your iPod is not responding or the screen appears frozen, press and hold the Menu and Center buttons at the same time. After 8-10 seconds the iPod should turn off and then turn back on. You should then be able to use the Play/Pause button to switch it off.^{[1]
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4
Slide the Lock/Hold switch back into the locked position. Push the switch toward the word "Hold" at the top of the iPod to prevent you from accidentally turning it back on.
5
Turn the iPod back on when you're ready. To do this, slide the Lock/Hold switch back to the unlocked position, and then press any button on the wheel.
- If you're having technical problems and just want to shut down and restart the iPod, wait a few minutes before turning it on again. This will allow the hard drive to cool slightly, and it may work better.
- If your iPod displays a "Connect to power" message, plug it into a power source and let it charge for a few minutes before turning it back on.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Sleep Timer

1
Unlock your iPod. When the Lock/Hold switch is enabled, you'll see a lock icon next to the battery icon at the top of your iPod's screen. If you see this icon, slide the switch at the top of the iPod away from the word "Hold" to unlock it.
- Use this method if you want to set your iPod Classic to automatically turn off after playing for a specific amount of time.
2
Press the Menu button until you're at the main screen. This is the screen that displays links to all of the things you do on your iPod, such as Music and Videos.
3
Select the Extras menu. To do this, rotate the wheel until Extras is selected, and then press the center button. Another menu will expand.^{[2]
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4
Select the Alarms menu. It's near the center of the menu.
- If you don't see this option, select Clock.
5
Select Sleep Timer. A list of suggested lengths of time will appear.
6
Select how long you want your iPod to play. For example, if you select 60 Minutes, your iPod Classic will automatically turn off after playing for 60 full minutes. This will return you to the prior screen. The sleep timer is now set.
- To disable the sleep timer, return to the Sleep Timer menu and select Off.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I turn on a dead iPod 6?

Community Answer

You cant because if it's dead, it won't turn on. You should put a charger in the ipod for about 10 minutes.
Question

What do I do if my iPod classic isn't charging?

Community Answer

Try using a different cord, power block, and/or wall outlet. If none of these options work, you may have to replace the battery.
Question

What can I do if I can't turn off my iPod Classic because it is frozen?

Mo Tate

Community Answer

To force restart your iPod classic, put the Hold switch firmly in the unlocked position. Press and hold the Menu and Center (or Select) buttons for 8 seconds, or until you see the Apple logo. This should release it.