How to Tell the Battery Status on an iPod Nano

By Traci Joy

Updated February 10, 2017

i Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images

The iPod nano has made the entertainment side of life portable and convenient. However, if you are out and about enjoying your music, and your battery dies, it can be very frustrating and inconvenient, since you can't recharge the battery until you are near a computer or power outlet. Keep an eye on your battery status to know if you should charge it before you leave the house. There are currently five generations of iPod nanos, but when it comes to checking the battery status, all operate by the same principle.

Turn the iPod nano on and look at the top right corner of the screen. There you will see the battery icon. If the battery bar is full and green, the iPod is fully charged. If it is halfway full and green, it has a 50 percent charge. If it shows a red bar that is taking up 1/3 of the battery icon, then the battery is less than 20 percent charged and will need charging soon to continue uninterrupted use.

Look at the iPod screen, and if you see a large battery icon with a traingular caution symbol, and the iPod is not connected to a power source, it means the battery is completely dead and you must charge it in order to use the nano at all.

Connect the iPod nano to the computer or another power source, such as a USB/outlet adapter. If the screen still displays the battery icon that has a triangular caution symbol near it, then it means the battery is charging and the iPod cannot communicate with the computer until it is charged. It will also say "Please Wait. Battery is charging." This means that you will not be able to download songs or other files until the battery has a partial charge.

Wait while the battery charges and check the battery icon. If it displays a lightening bolt through the icon, it means the battery is still charging. If the battery icon is full green with a plug icon displayed, it means the battery is now fully charged.

Items you will need

  • iPod nano

  • USB/iPod charging cable or USB/iPod outlet connector

Tips

If you add music and files to your iPod while you are charging the battery, it will take longer for it to charge.

Warnings

Before using your iPod nano for the first time, it is important that you let it charge for a minimum of three hours. If you do not, you can weaken the battery, giving it a shorter lifespan.

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