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iPod Bench

iPod photo and iPod with color display

A 4th generation iPod with a color screen. It opens, charges and takes the same battery as the 4th generation.

Open the interactive page All iPods

What is inside

Metal rear panelHard drive andribbonHeadphone jackassemblyLogic boardColor displayBatteryPlastic front andclick wheel
  1. Metal rear panel. Same right-edge seam and five tabs as the 4th generation.
  2. Hard drive and ribbon. Same drive family as the 4th generation.
  3. Headphone jack assembly. Separate iFixit guide.
  4. Logic board. Drive ribbon plugs in here.
  5. Color display. 2 inch color LCD.
  6. Battery. Held with adhesive in the front case, lifted by its leads.
  7. Plastic front and click wheel. Click wheel on the front side.

We have not confirmed an order for this model, so read the list as parts, not steps. Drawn by us, not to scale.

Quick facts

  • Model: A1099, EMC 2022. Launched October 2004 as the iPod photo, renamed the iPod with color display in June 2005
  • Storage: 1.8 inch ATA-66 hard drive, 4,200 rpm, 20, 30, 40 or 60GB over its run
  • Battery: The same 750 mAh iFixit replacement as the 4th generation
  • Rating: Apple rated music at up to 15 hours

How it opens

  1. Lock the hold switch.
  2. Insert an opening pick between the plastic front and the metal back at the right edge.
  3. Release the five retaining tabs along that edge.

Tools named in the guides: Plastic opening pick, spudger.

Change the storage

  • The 4th Gen converter lists the photo and color models, then iFlash CF, Solo, Dual or Quad goes on top.

Rockbox

Stable. Rockbox lists iPod Color and Photo with no major issues.

What goes wrong

  • Sad iPod icon, or a folder with an exclamation mark: Usually the hard drive or its ribbon.
  • Display problems, shutdowns, will not charge: These are the themes on iFixit's device page. Replace the battery first, because it is the cheapest.

Mods that are documented for it

  • Flash storage swap. Replace the spinning drive with a memory card or an SSD. It is silent, runs cooler and wakes faster. Which board you need depends on the model, so check the model page. (iFlash)
  • New battery. The cheapest fix for a short day. Match the capacity to your exact model and size, because the 60GB and 80GB video and the thick classic take a thicker battery. (iFixit parts: iPod batteries)
  • New headphone jack and hold switch. For a crackly jack or a stuck hold slider. On the video the hold switch's plastic part may need moving to the new jack. (iFixit guides)
  • Click wheel replacement. For a wheel that skips or goes dead. On the classic it is the last layer of the stack and a long job. (iFixit: iPod Classic Click Wheel Replacement)
  • Rockbox firmware, dual boot. Open-source firmware that plays FLAC, Opus and more. The original software stays one boot away. Non-classic models need the iPod formatted as FAT32. (Rockbox, Rockbox install manual (mirror))

Parts to search for

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These links only search by name. Match your exact model before you buy. Disclosure

What we have not confirmed

  • Order of parts and their positions inside the case.
  • Whether the front panel and click wheel come apart on this model.

Where this came from

Written in our own words from the pages above. Opening an iPod can break it, and a lithium battery that is bent, punctured or shorted can burn, so wear eye protection and stop if one is swollen. Boards and batteries vary, so check your own. Not affiliated with Apple.