Nano not updating Play Count

So far I know, latest firmware for iPod Nano 5th is 1.02 why you said 1.3?

Here is another twist on this problem. I have had the same problem on and off. Most times, the "last played" had been updated. This week, well ...

I have a playlist called Healthclub Music. I load it with songs that will keep me going for about an hour. Anyway, I used it Wednesday, March 17. After coming home, I synced it manually (always seems to work out the best). Everything synced fine. Last play showed March 17. I updated my list of music, removing old, adding new and synced again. On March 19, Friday, I played through much of my list. I get home, sync, and "last played" is not updated. For all itunes/ipod cares, I did not play anything on March 19.

Now, here is the really strange part. I look under Music and find that the music I played on the 17th is showing up as being played on the 19th. Of course the music I played in the 19th shows up as not played.

From comments here, it seems that Apple has problems and they are taking a Toyota approach and denying they have a problem. Obviously, something in updating play counts, times, syncing to iTunes is not working. Is it iPod or iTunes? It doesn't really matter to me, but it is really irritating.

I've had my ipod 5th gen Nano for 6 months & have followed this thread with interest. I too am baffled as to why it is totally random when Play Count chooses to update - I cannot figure out if there is anything I'm doing that will adversely affect the update.

It's not something that is going to make me throw my toys out of the pram, but I do like to get an accurate picture of what I am & am not playing (it fascinates an anorak like myself). The majority of the time I just hit shuffle, but whether I do this, or play an individual album, there is no guarantee the Play Count will update when I later connect to itunes.

Ironically I have a play list called 'Play Count 0', containing 50 tracks randomly selected that I haven't played since I've had my nano - there are times I play from this list, it then doesn't update & so tracks remain on it!

Same problem here as everyone else....I had a 8gb Nano 5G that worked fine with syncing play counts, it was damamged to I upgraded to a 16gb and now this one doesn't sync the play counts (it will sync the actual songs that I add/remove).

I am syncing only specific playlists as my iTunes is enormous. Using HP Pavilion with Windows 7, iPod software is current and Nano software 1.0.2.

I can't believe this many people have the same problem and it's not an Apple issue! I sent a feedback about it....

The problems have stared again. For the last couple of months the work around of listening to a short bit of podcast to ensure the transfer of play data worked fine. Suddenly since yesterday this no longer works.

Anyone else gone backwards?

Same problem with my Ipod Nano. But....I honestly don't know if these songs were just never played on the Ipod. In ITunes, I also have a lot of songs in my library that do not show that the song was ever played. Anyway, the skipping between Playlists on the Ipod before updating didn't work for me, either.

This has been working for me for a few days now:

After everytime I plug the nano into the computer, I reboot the nano and then go about using it for however long. When I plug it back in it has been tracking the play count (from mult playlists, longer than 2 songs, etc).

I think the nanos may require this reboot to clear the playcount memory file or something like that.

Hope it works for you too

The other culprit to this issue could be that you manually need to eject the nano before disconnecting it. With the older iPods you could close iTunes and it would disconnect for you. Now the nano remains connected even if you close iTunes.

I use Mac and several iPods (classic, touch AND nano) and the only one I'm having this problem (failure to sync of play count) is the nano. I have just discovered it and can see it is a typical occurrence now! It is SO annoying...Does anyone have a solution that does NOT comprise reinstalling iTunes? Thanks.

Thank you, MVLaing, your reply, lost in the middle of all this Nano's blues gave me the idea you may have the right answer to it: I didn't include podcasts in my Nano (I keep my 160 GB classic for that since my library is huge) but now I will, hoping it may help to restore the play count. Will keep you posted.

It's me again to report that just as MVLaing said...it worked! I played my 5th gen Nano all day (mostly from Cover Flow, as I like to play whole albums) unsure it would work, but took care to play some Podcast on it before I sync'd and there were all my songs played accounted for! Not sure what the trick behind all this is, of course, but something needs to be done on Apple's part. Thank You MV!

It works, it works and it works!

I want to add that I manually manage my music on my iPod, and for the last day or so it's actually be syncing the play counts and ratings, despite on manual (which I think is awesome). I'm not sure how long this will last for, however.

I bought a 5th Gen on Tuesday and after several attempts it has not yet updated my play counts.

Tried it for four days on the trot at work but it registers nothing on my recently played list.

It's a real shame as it is a lovely little iPod and I really like the design, I have tried the 'podcast before syncing' idea but it did not work for me and after the problems I had with Genius earlier in the week it's seems my luck is out although (thanks to Chris CA) I now have the Genius mixes back.

Sorry went off topic a little there but I was wandering if there are any other ideas as I have a lot of smart playlists that need the playcounts to keep my iPod's content fresh.

The podcast idea had worked for about 10 days, up until yesterday.

But then after playing some music, I listened to the middle 20 minutes of an hour long podcast. When I came to sync today, the play count didn't update & then when I went back to the podcast, it started at the place I had already listened to yesterday, as if I had never played it at all.