A Guide to Changing Your IPod Battery

Millions of people enjoy the use of an iPod every day. However, after one has experienced the joy and happiness that comes with owning and using an iPod, the pain that comes with not having one only seems that much more severe. While iPods are generally pretty durable devices, and are designed to stand up to a wide range of punishment, the one thing they are not designed for is battery life. As many have experienced, the batteries in iPods tend to die off, meaning that they will only hold a charge for a limited period of time. At the worst extreme, a full charge will take days to accomplish and only last for five to ten minutes. What can be done about this problem?

Of course, if you happen to be one of the lucky few who still has a warranty when the battery dies, Apple will fix the problem and you will get a brand new battery for free. However, for the majority of people, the warranty has expired by the time the battery dies. This leaves a person with several options, most of which are incredibly expensive. Of course, you can still take the iPod to Apple for service, but be advised that it will cost an arm and a leg. Also, there are companies out there that specialize in iPod services. However, these companies generally are not that cheap either. So, why spend the extra money when you can change the battery yourself!

The stigma with changing iPod batteries is one that seems to have spread unnecessarily. Of course, you should be advised before starting this operation that it IS possible to damage your iPod if you are not careful. Also, if you tear apart your player, you WILL void the warranty. Of course, why would you perform this operation if you still had the warranty anyway?

So, first things first. Make sure that you have a couple of things before starting. Namely, you want an open space to work with, preferably a flat table top, plenty of light, a flat blade tool (box cutters work very well, although some type of plastic tool is preferable if your worried about damage), the new battery (duh) and some confidence. The absolute first thing to do is make sure that you have the proper battery. The proper battery for your iPod can easily be found online (try www.iPodJuice.com, which sells entire kits to aid with replacement). When searching out your battery, remember to pay the full price for a new battery, as used batteries are generally not worth the couple dollars you might save. Also be careful when actually ordering the battery, you want to make sure that the generations match up, different generations of iPods use different types of batteries, so you definitely want to make sure that you have the right battery, or all the work you put into changing the battery will be in vain.

Now that you have your tools ready, it is time to begin the daunting task of opening up the iPod. The directions are basically the same regardless of your iPod type, however, these are specific for the third and fourth generation iPods. Don't worry though, the process is basically the same no matter what type of iPod you have, and it really isn't all that difficult.

Take a look at your iPod, it should seem obvious that there is no simple method to getting the thing apart. However, the goal here is to separate the metal back piece from the plastic front. Be warned, this does take a little bit of time, and to do it right be prepared to spend a while. Being careful is of paramount importance, you do not want to damage your iPod or destroy the plastic casing.

To start this operation, you need to take your tool, whether it be metal or plastic, it should definitely be thin and strong, and begin running it along the side of the iPod, where the plastic and metal meet. Take the time and be patient, after a while, you will see the two sides start to separate a little bit. When this happens, you should also be able to see plastic clips which generally hold the two pieces together. As you can begin to see the clips, you are going to want to try and push them "in" so that they release the top part of the iPod. After doing one or two clips, you should have the basic idea of what to do. Perform this operation along the entire iPod, being very careful not to break or damage the clips or the unit itself. After the clips are off, do not simply rip the two pieces apart, make sure to separate them carefully.

Setting each piece down next to each other on the tap, you now want to ground yourself to make sure that no static electricity damages the device. Do this by touching something metal. Now, you are going to see the hard drive of the iPod in plain sight, it should be the very first thing you encounter in the unit and also have a rubber seal around it. Being incredibly careful, remove the hard drive and disconnect the cable that attaches it. Now, that being done, you should be able to see the battery, as well as the cable which holds it on. So, simply take out the battery, put the new battery in the exact same way, and reconnect it. Put the hard drive back in place, reconnect it, and put the two halves back together. Remember not to force them, they will go eventually. Then, go and charge the iPod. You should now have a once again functional iPod that will have years and years of battery life.

Congratulations! You successfully fixed your iPod without paying any massive costs. However, if this seems like a job that is beyond your technical know-how, do not attempt it. It is not worth the price of buying a brand new iPod. Remember that your iPod can be damaged by this operation, so it is important to make sure you feel comfortable doing it. With a little patience and some luck though, you can save yourself a lot of money and once again have a fully functional iPod.