When your iPod does not appear.
First check whether the computer can see the iPod's files. Then check whether iOpenPod can identify it. Those are separate steps, and they need different fixes.
1. Check the iPod model
iOpenPod targets filesystem-accessible full-size iPods, iPod classic, iPod mini, and iPod nano. It does not currently support iPod shuffle, iPod touch, or iPhone. See the compatibility guide for generations and validation limits.
2. Check the connection and mounted filesystem
Connect the iPod with a cable appropriate for that model. Check whether its files are accessible in File Explorer on Windows, Finder on macOS, or your Linux file manager. Charging alone does not establish that the computer can access data.
If no filesystem appears, check the cable, connection, and operating-system mounting behavior first. iOpenPod cannot load an iPod that the Host cannot access. Do not reformat the iPod, delete its library database, or restore it merely to refresh discovery; those actions can remove existing data.
3. Open the Device Picker
With the iPod mounted, open iOpenPod’s Device Picker. Discovery refreshes while the picker is open. Select the intended iPod when it appears. Only one Active iPod is loaded at a time.
On Linux, follow device-identification setup shown by the app. An iPod can be visible as a mounted volume while hardware-identification information is still unavailable. If iOpenPod cannot confidently identify the model, report the result instead of trying to disguise it as another model.
4. Separate detection from Sync problems
If the library opens but media preparation fails, discovery has already succeeded. Check Settings → Media Tools, the selected encoder, and the reported source file. Use the media-tool instructions or FLAC conversion guide.
If a write was interrupted, reconnect the same iPod and follow the recovery action shown by iOpenPod. Keep recovery files in place until that workflow completes. Reconnecting starts a new Filesystem Session; it does not mean the interrupted operation finished.
5. Send a useful support report
Open a GitHub issue with:
- Your iPod model and generation, firmware version if known, and any storage modification.
- Operating system and version, iOpenPod version, and installation channel.
- Whether the operating system can access the iPod’s files.
- What appears in the Device Picker and the exact error text, if any.
- The steps that reproduce the problem, including whether it follows an interrupted write.
Settings → About shows the application version and Install Channel. The log-file FAQ lists the default diagnostic locations. Review logs before posting because they can contain personal file paths and library metadata. A focused excerpt is more useful than an unexplained dump of your library.