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How to Unlock an iPod If You’ve Forgotten the Password

Thursday, October 30, 2008 / iPod / iTunes

My son has an iPod that is locked. He can’t remember the combination. What can I do to get unlocked?

A forgotten password is a common occurrence on iPods, so Apple has a few ways to help get you past a locked iPod. The first way you can connect the iPod to the computer it was originally configured on, and open iTunes. When you disconnect iPod from the computer, it will no longer be locked. You then can go into the preferences and turn off the lock. If you don’t have access to the original computer or it just does not work, you can jump to the second method. The best fix for any iPod problem is the classic “restore your iPod to factory settings.” That this will erase all data on your iPod and take you back to day one, but you can just add your music and data back to iPod from iTunes. This is the true benefit of the iPod / iTunes relationship.

7 Responses to “How to Unlock an iPod If You’ve Forgotten the Password”

  1. alexaa

    i still can’t unlock it, i plugged it into itunes and yet it still asks for a password and i cannot remember! :[

  2. sydney

    how do you get to itunes

  3. Natasha

    So if I hit restore will it erase all my music and stuff on iTunes too?

  4. Jacob Loeb

    @sydney – iTunes is an application you’ll need to download from Apple: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ This program runs on your desktop and syncs your music library to your iPod.

    @Natasha – No, restoring an iPod erases the files stored on the iPod and resets all settings to their defaults.

  5. Priscila

    It worked! Thank you!
    I pluged it in my comouter and opened up iTunes, after that I had to earas and sync the new music into my iPod then when it was done I disconnected and it reseted everything that was done to my iPod, it worked!
    Thanks again!

  6. Jacob

    Good to hear – thanks for letting me know this worked for you!

    - Jacob

  7. Jay

    My ipod won’t unlock… I’ve tried to plug it in the computer to see if Itunes would read but it wouldn’t I don’t know what I can do to unlock it

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