How to Enable an iPod for Disk Use Without iTunes
By Avery Martin
Different models of the iPod have different methods of enabling Disk Use without using iTunes. You can turn on Disk Use for any iPod except for the iPod touch, which requires additional software that you can download to your computer or from the App Store directly to your device before you can use it for storage. The iPods that support Disk Use without using iTunes are the iPod Classic and the iPod Nano. The iPod Mini and iPod Shuffle require the use of iTunes to enable Disk Use.
Apps for iPod Touch
Step 1
Launch the App Store on your iPod touch and download Documents Free to allow storage of additional files on your device. Select the "Free" button and click "Install" to install the app. Enter your iTunes username and password, if prompted. You can also download TouchCopy on Windows or Mac systems and PhoneView on Mac for a fee. Navigate to the TouchCopy or PhoneView website, then download and install the application on your computer.
Step 2
Connect your iPod touch to your computer using the provided USB connector cable.
Step 3
Launch PhoneView or TouchCopy on your computer and drag files directly into the application to send documents to your iPod touch. The files automatically update on your iPod touch once they are finished transferring. You can then store your items on your iPod touch and access them through your computer. For Documents Free, launch iTunes on your computer and select your iPod touch from the Devices section. Click the "Info" button and select "Documents Free" from the File Sharing section. Click the "Add" button and select files to add to your iPod touch, then click "Sync."
iPods With Click Wheels
Step 1
Turn off your fully charged iPod using the "Hold" switch. Then, turn the iPod on and off again.
Step 2
Hold the "Menu" and "Select" buttons for six seconds or until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Step 3
Release the "Menu" and "Select" buttons when the Apple logo appears and press the "Select" and "Play/Pause" buttons together until you see the Disk Mode screen.
Step 4
Connect your iPod to your computer with the provided USB connector cable. Your iPod now works as a storage device.
iPods Without Click Wheels
Step 1
Turn off your fully charged iPod by turning the "Hold" button to the off position.
Step 2
Set the "Hold" button to "On" and then "Off."
Step 3
Press both the "Play/Pause" and "Menu" buttons and release them when you see the Apple logo.
Step 4
Hold the "Previous" and "Next" buttons when you see the Apple logo. Hold the buttons down until you see the Disk Mode screen.
Step 5
Connect your iPod to a computer to use your iPod as a storage device.
IPod Nano Sixth Generation
Step 1
Press the "Sleep" and "Volume Down" buttons at the same time on your fully charged iPod. Hold the buttons until the display goes dark.
Step 2
Hold both the "Volume Down" and "Volume Up" buttons until the iPod indicates it has entered Disk Mode.
Step 3
Connect your iPod to the computer and transfer your files to the iPod by dragging them to the iPod disk icon.
References
Tips
- Check the charge on your iPod by turning on your iPod and checking the battery icon. Charge your iPod fully before enabling Disk Use.
Warnings
- The iPod touch does not support Disk Mode. The iPod Shuffle and iPod Mini must use iTunes to enable Disk Use.
- Information in this article applies to iPod Classic and iPod Nano second generation and later. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
Writer Bio
Avery Martin holds a Bachelor of Music in opera performance and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies. As a professional writer, she has written for Education.com, Samsung and IBM. Martin contributed English translations for a collection of Japanese poems by Misuzu Kaneko. She has worked as an educator in Japan, and she runs a private voice studio out of her home. She writes about education, music and travel.