Middle Button Stuck In. Any Ideas?

My 80GB iPod has just done this too and I have only had it since May! I didn't know what else to do either. I am very careful with it so I don't think that I did this. Any help is greatly appreciated! Do you think Apple will fix it under the warranty?

Probably "yes" because they probably won't fix your unit immediately. To save time for customers and to efficiently schedule their personnel, you'll get an identical reburbished unit. The only thing that will be added to the refurb is any engraving that was originally put on by Apple. Your unit then gets refurbished for the next customer.

This is how I fixed this problem on my 3rd Generation 20GB iPod. I don't know if this will work on your model iPod, but you might as well try it.

First, open the case of the iPod. You can find information on how to do this on Google. Once you have the case open, try the button. If the button now works with the case open, continue on.

Inside my iPod, the battery is crammed against the button, and the hard drive is crammed against the battery. It is this jamming together of the hard drive, battery, and button mechanism that is causing the button to be stuck in.

In between the hard drive and the battery, there is foam padding, about 1/8" thick. Pull off as much of the padding as you can. Then take a small screwdriver and scrape off the remaining padding, being careful not to damage the hard drive.

Once you have removed the foam padding, put the iPod back together. The button should now work.

I have had some luck fixing this problem. Sometimes you don't even have to open the ipod to fix it, depending on how it is stuck.

The select buttons have grooves on the inside of it that keep it locked into a certain position. You can't tell from looking at it from the outside. Sometimes when the select button gets pushed in hard enough and rotated the grooves become offset and can make the select button stick.

Try applying pressure to the select button and rotating it until you feel a click. This would be the clickwheel locking itself back in place.

If that doesn't work you have to open the ipod and check behind the select button. If your iPod is under warranty send it in, opening it voids the warranty.

This problem can usually be fixed without having to replace any parts.

Hope this helps.

*...for about a year now...*

Does "about a year" mean 11.9 months or 12.1 months? Obviously, I'm alluding to the 1-year warranty.

*Do you think Apple will fix it under the warranty?*

Sure. That's the purpose of a warranty.

Do you think that they'll lose all of my songs when fixing it? It's not that big of a problem since they are backed up on my PC and laptop, but it will be a hassle.

Thanks so much for your input!!

Call Apple NOW. They have been know to be flexible.

800-275-2273