Solve IPod Touch Problems with These Simple Steps

The iPod Touch is a fantastic little device, but even it can freeze up. Here's how to bring your favorite media player back to life and keep the tunes playing.

Step 1: Find a USB port
Your iPod may just be craving some power after all the music movies and games, so plug the iPod into a USB port to charge the battery. Be sure and use the USB port on your computer or the iPod AC adapter because the USB ports on keyboards or add-on cards don't provide enough power to recharge your player. If the iPod Touch battery is too low on power, the display may be blank for up to two minutes before one of the low-battery images appears. If the red part of the battery image flashes three times and then the screen goes black, it means that iPod touch is not receiving power.

Step 2: If all else fails, reboot.
Your iPod is a great music and video player, but at its heart, it is a mini computer and sometimes it needs to be restarted. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least 10 seconds. During this time, a red "power off" slider may appear and the screen may go black, but do not let go of the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons until the Apple logo appears.

Step 3: Return to the default settings
Some of the iPod's settings may be confusing the iPod. Resetting the the iPod to its original configuration will wipe out all of your preferences, but it may bring your iPod back to life. On your iPod, tap Settings, General, Reset and select Reset all Settings.

Step 4: Restore from backup
This will replace and update the built-in Apple software that drives your iPod as well as your collection of movies, music, games and applications. Follow these steps to perform a restore.

1. Update to the latest version of iTunes
2. Plug in your iPod Touch to the computer.
3. Select your iPod when it appears in iTunes under Devices.
4. Select the Summary tab.
5. Select the Restore option.

What if it freezes again,
If the iPod freezes shortly after the restore, then an application may be conflicting with the iPod. Apple goes out of its way to keep a single program from causing problems to the entire iPod. Try removing the last installed application. To remove an app, remove it from the applications list under your iPod in iTunes.
If the iPod is functioning at the moment, tap the application on the iPod screen and hold it for three seconds. An X will show up in the upper left corner of the application icon. Tap the X and select Yes that you want to remove the application. Be sure and remove the application from the iTunes list or the application will be re-installed the next time that you sync your iPod.

For more information, visit Apple's support site.