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click wheel not working on my nano 4th gen

*Help - seems many people have this problem.*
My ipod nano click/scroll wheel has stopped working, i have reset it and restored it twice now but still the same. The scroll wheel is just frozen. Has anyone any solutions?

nano, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Apr 26, 2010 3:31 PM

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Posted on Jul 21, 2010 1:56 PM

Question: Have any of you been using your nano with a docking station or a stereo that has a docking port? I have a theory that certain docking ports cause damage to the pin structures inside the nano. Try this: (1) Insert your white charging cable that came with the ipod. (doesn't need to be plugged into anything on the other end.) (2) Hold the ipod with the screen facing you. (3) the he part that is plugged into the ipod...slightly tilt the bottom of it away from you so that the pins inside move toward you. (4) Is your click wheel responsive again?
51 replies

Mar 16, 2011 5:31 PM in response to August.Star

August Star:

I sent my iPod nano 4G to an outfit called Rapid Repair ( http://www.rapidrepair.com/). I haven't gotten it back yet, but they seem to think it can be fixed. Using the "wiggle" procedure described here only made the problem worse for my nano. If Rapid Repair is able to fix mine, I will post the results and hopefully an approximate repair cost.

In the meantime, I have obtained a new 8GB iPod Touch 4G. I am usually not impressed with Apple products, but this iPod Touch is awesome. It does so much more than a nano, that I wouldn't even think of getting another nano.

Also, the docking port on the Touch is a much tighter fit than on the nano, I really couldn't wiggle the connector at all, though I only applied light force. But there is a good chance that the third-party docks will work better with the Touch and not mess up the pins in the docking module. I have an Onkyo DS-A2X dock and it's a fair bet that it was the cause of my problem as unless you carefully adjust the back rest for the iPod, the unit is able to wobble and I believe that is what caused the damage to the pins.

I am going to contact Onkyo support about this issue as well, to see if they have any thoughts on the matter.

Apr 6, 2011 1:22 PM in response to Matt108

I did the same thing as Matt. I opened it up and fixed it. Here's what I did step by step.
1. Take the white piece off the bottom of your ipod with a pair of tweezers.
2. Get a screwdriver and unscrew the two little screws. Note: this could be tricky because the glue from the white piece could be on top of the screw.
3. Take the metal piece out once you have unscrewed it.
4. Stick something in the space between the USB port and the BACK of the ipod. I used the back of an earring. It was rubber so it fit nicely and didn't scratch anything like metal would. You might have to adjust the back of the earring a little to make the clickwheel work.
5. Put the metal piece back on and screw the screws in tightly so nothing sticks out.
6. Pop back on the white piece. I put just a dab of super glue on each end of the white piece to make sure it won't spontaniously fall off.

And done! Hope this helps!
Oh and I used an iHome docking station for this iPod. I can't decide if it is apple's fault or the docking companies for this problem. It makes me mad.

Message was edited by: Monicaaaaaa

Oct 24, 2011 10:19 PM in response to awhite6000

Ok, so I have a iPod Nano 4th Gen like the one in question, and I took it apart like the video that bb193 postedhttps://discussions.apple.com/thread/2413091?start=15&tstart=0#discussion-12131 474 , and I have gone in and replaced the whole entire cable and click wheel hardware, but still no response from the ipod when i try to use it. The iPod is still unresponsive when I use the connector cable as has been suggested in earlier posts. But no luck. Any help would be appreciated.

Jan 30, 2012 9:11 PM in response to awhite6000

Hey Apple. Great job on the 1st gen Nano recall that occured on maybe 11 total units. Your stock is flying up because you took care of customers years after most of us had put an old nano in the drawer and gave us the faith that you take care of customers first. My daughter used her 1st gen nano in a dock, but the 6th gen Nano was a worthy replacement, even though others have complained they want the click wheel again.


I have had iphones and imacs taken care of under AppleCare and some have been taken care of just after the warranty expired because of goodwill. My son jumped in the pool with his iphone 4 and even then you replaced it-with liquid damage-because of goodwill. And yes, I was told it was on a case by case basis, and was a 1 time deal, and only because his was still under warranty. Thank you again for that.


This Nano 4th gen problem is pervasive, recurring and increasing at an alarming rate; and with thousands of people having their $150 and up ipod sitting there worthless (at least the 1st gen Nano still worked with its very remote chance of overheating) this problem at the dock renders it worthless becuase the click wheel won't work. Yes, I realize a warranty is a warranty, but car companies repair cars with recalls years after warranties expire because an issue is pervasive, it is at too high a percentage and this is that kind of issue. This is a design or manufacturing issue. My 4th gen is in great condition since it is on a dock most of the time, and is a brick.


Apple, please Issue a recall to repair or replace this brick with another repaired 4th gen, or 5th gen Nano. This newer model should not be replaced with a 6th gen unless somebody requests that, because many people want the larger screen and click wheel. If the 5th gen with a camera begins having the same problem, then you may need to issue ipod touch's to remedy.


And keep up this kind of customer service. This is what make good customers return. The people you have in the store and on the phone are the best. It keeps us coming back, but glitches like this should be taken care of so you don't lose customers that you have done such a good job cultivating for years.

May 11, 2012 11:05 PM in response to listentoit

Listentoit: My sentiments exactly. A friend of mine just got pursued by apple to replace his ipod shuffle. For what reason, I have no idea. Maybe he blogged about it. My nano looks brand new becuase it sits in a dock and now is useless. I did nothing outside of normal and appropriate use and it is now crap unless you happen to be a tinkerer who is confident in taking things apart and jimmy rigging the thing. This is totally unacceptable. Someone should start a class action lawsuit. I can't even get Apple to listen to my all-too-common problem witnout paying for support. That is just wrong. I'm really disappointed at the random way they seem to treat some cosutomers and not others as well. I own over $10K in curtrent Mac products and they can't see fit to give me a single courtesy replacement?

May 12, 2012 10:46 AM in response to HollyJAMs

Correction- they replaced his 1st gen nano and it's because some of them have overheating batteries. Nice Apple, that's great. But that is a much older device. You care about them being deffective but not ours? Clearly it is because you think you have a case for saying it is the consumer's fault. That we we somehow bent it ourselves. Can't exactly blame an overheating battery on us, though, can you?

Mar 4, 2013 4:16 AM in response to Matt108

The paper clip worked great and only took about 5 minutes.


This is a good guide to taking apart the 4th Gen ipod .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh3kPGzawNk



For this fix, you only need to remove the bottom bezel. Then the two screws holding the little metal casing around the dock.

Then remove the casing and insert a 1.5 cm piece of paper clip in the gap behind the connector. Put it back together and you're good to go.


Will update if this stops working. Good luck

Mar 22, 2013 11:37 AM in response to awhite6000

This is a fix from the gods, I got a 4th gen nano by mistake of eBay with click wheel fault, I needed a 4th gen classic which I paid a lot more for but had this in my glove box rattling around, thought I'd put it back on eBay but come across this thread , and managed to fix the iPod 4th gen nano, now I can see what it does I'm gonna keep it ,

I have 4 iPods now an iPhone 4s and iPad 2 , and thIs forum deserves a big pat on the back, thank you guys n gals keep up the good work

May 24, 2013 1:02 AM in response to Matt108

I've fixed my 4th nano. I tried to do "I opened up the bottom of my nano with a pair of tweezers and took out the casing around the dock connector port with a screwdriver. There will be a small amount of space between the back casing of the nano and the port. I used scissors to cut a small piece off of a paper clip and wedged it in between that space... and the wheel worked! The paper clip piece puts pressure up on the port so it provides the same effect as the charging cable trick, " with a small screwdriver. I'm using namecard(paper) clip 2 pieces. Thanks!

Mar 27, 2014 12:38 AM in response to awhite6000

Happened to me today, noticed the wheel was becoming less responsive recently


tonight, after leaving nano on charger while at work, tried to play it while closing up and it was unresponsive

tried plugging it back in to see if maybe battery had died... screen lit up, showed last thing played but not responsive to play or return to list.... etc....

I kept playing with it and eventually, thinking if it has died, a little more force might be worth a try, I tried holding the directions of the wheel down and pushing harder on the wheel than is probably advisable... a lot of force on the center...... the weird thing is, it worked....

without the fix above (copying it for future use) it gradually began responding and now plays, stops, goes to lists, etc as it should...


glad I don't have to purchase a new one, tax time... but, the 16g is really attractive ;-)

sometime soon maybe


I had not understood the connection between problems with the nano and the charger, I had problems with the nano after using a cheap charger cable, it kept shutting off, the wheel did not work right, acted odd for a while and then resolved, the threw the cheap cable out and had not had a proble since... until tonight... energizer charger, has always worked fine....

click wheel not working on my nano 4th gen

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