iPod Classic no longer works with iTunes for Windows?

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As I am a noob and nerd. I am curious what actually is the cause of this problems. It seems random and varies by user on the internet as they share their story.

Apple never said they did ended support of using iTunes for Windows and iPod Classic.

My curiosity went on...

So I booted up my Windows 11, check Apple software update, open iTunes 12.12.3.5, on the menu check for update again, everything is up-to-date.

This time, I connected my iPod Classic to iTunes 12.12.3.5 Windows 11...

Volla.......... It just works.... out of no where, just works... Hoorey.....

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Story is not yet end...

Again, as a noob and nerd, I wanted to know what exactlly is the cause of the problem.

Is it a .plist file corrupt?

Is the computer authorization plays its role here?

Is it the account associates with this iPod and iTunes?

Or else? I don't know...

With that greatful in mind, I then eject my iPod Classic out of iTunes 12.12.3.5 Windows 11.

Just to test, wait until the iPod screen back to home screen. So I reconnect my iPod Classic again into iTunes 12.12.3.5 Windows 11, this time doesn't work. It just nothing freeze, the iTunes disappear after 5 seconds

Don't worry, I will try again --> iTunes disappear

Reboot Windows 11 (1st Time)

Connect iTunes with iPod --> iTunes disappear

Eject iPod

Connect iPod first, then open iTunes --> iTunes disappear

Open iTunes first, then connect iPod --> iTunes disappear

Reboot Windows 11 (2nd Time)

Connect iTunes with iPod --> iTunes disappear

Eject iPod

Connect iPod first, then open iTunes --> iTunes disappear

Open iTunes first, then connect iPod --> iTunes disappear

Reboot Windows 11 (3rd Time)

Connect iTunes with iPod --> iTunes disappear

Eject iPod

Connect iPod first, then open iTunes --> iTunes disappear

Open iTunes first, then connect iPod --> iTunes disappear

How about goes back to Windows 7 (1st time) to see what is going on?

Boot into Windows 7 with iTunes 12.6.5.3 --> Works fine

Reboot Windows 11 (4th Time)

Connect iTunes with iPod --> iTunes disappear

Eject iPod

Connect iPod first, then open iTunes --> iTunes disappear

Open iTunes first, then connect iPod --> iTunes disappear

How about goes back to Windows 7 (2nd time) to see what is going on?

Boot into Windows 7 with iTunes 12.6.5.3 --> Works fine

I am basically just try to reproduce the outcome from my case.

Now, clearly, my lastest version iTunes 12.12.3.5 on Windows 11 just doesn't work.

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I spent the last 3 hours just trying to do what you recommend.

I messed up with all the related drivers just to see if the outcome will be different.

The answer is no, they are the same.

iTunes itself working fine as long as no iPod plug-in.

Within 5-6 seconds after iPod plug-in, the iTunes keep disappear.

May I sum up a bit (thanks to @turingtest2 and @Brocktoon623)

To narrow down,

• Windows 7 or 11 is not the factor here.
• Drivers are not the factor here.

Still finding the answer

• Newer iTunes version is the factor here
• Downgrading iTunes to something from 3 years ago i.e. 12.6.5.3 work flawlessly
• Is it possible that on iPod itself, there are some reference files which triggering iTunes to check upon connection process in order to validate something. and that file (of mine) is failed to do its work? I skeptic about this because the way iTunes disappear in a blink of eyes after like 5 seconds of connecting iPod to computer.

iTunes 12.12.3.5

FairPlay 2.20.6

iPod Updater Library 12.0

Apple Mobile Device 15.5.0.16

Apple Mobile Device Driver 486.0.0.0

Apple iPod Driver 1.67.0.0

Bonjour 3.1.0.1 (333.18)

Gracenote SDK 3.06.1.3084

Gracenote MusicID 3.06.1.3084

Gracenote Submit 3.06.1.3084

Gracenote DSP 3.06.1.3084

Disk Drives

- Apple iPod USB Device

Driver Provider: Microsoft

Driver Date: 21-Jun-06

Driver Version: 10.0.22000.1

Portable Devices

- {my iPod's Name}

Driver Provider: Microsoft

Driver Date: 21-Jun-06

Driver Version: 10.0.22000.1

Universal Serial Bus Controllers

- USB Mass Storage Device

Driver Provider: Microsoft

Driver Date: 21-Jun-06

Driver Version: 10.0.22000.258

- Apple Mobile Device USB Driver

Driver Provider: Apple, Inc.

Driver Date: 19-May-17

Driver Version: 6.0.9999.69

I still have no solution up to this point

I assume this is a bug on newer version of iTunes interact with iPod Classic.

Since it affects a countable number of people, so Apple did not care to look into the trouble. Moreover, iPod Classic is obsolte, why would Apple borther fixing the problem.

Again the problem is random and vary by people, some claims it works while others still struggling as you've seen the number of people inquire about why my iPod Classic doesn't work on Windows.

I my case, I will conclude that my iPod Video 5.5gen does not work with newer version of iTunes for Windows (no matter which version of Windows, or no matter which version of newer iTunes). That one time is the luck, and cannot reproduce again.

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Anyone would like to investigate more, or have some insight?

I think I have some more information to add to this discussion.

I want to add this to my original question under "Edit" section, but I don't see edit my question any more (last night still available, I saw it). So, I have to choice but just to reply instead, with 5000 characters allow in reply, I will need to split my reply into part again :(

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I woke up this morning with full intention to fix my iPod Classic with iTunes for Windows problem.

I did some more research, the internet saying the "iTunes 12.6.5.3" was the last version to support iPod Classic's clickwheel game. I did start from that...

Since it is the obsolete iTunes version, So I decided to go on Windows 7.

I then uninstalled "iTunes 12.10.11.2" (up to date as of Mar 2022) as well as other relates plugin such as iCloud, iPod Service, Apple Mobile Device Support, Apple Software Update, Bonjour and any others "Apple related service" in the hope that I will start fresh again.

After that, I download iTunes "12.6.5.3" directly from Apple server (not from 3rd party hosting file). I proceeded to install that version on Windows 7 successfully, then reboot.

On first launch iTunes 12.6.5.3 Windows 7, I decided to go through all preferences just to make sure it will not automatically syncing my iPod to blank state, then I close iTunes.

On second launch, I am ready to connect my iPod Video 5.5 gen. As expected, It works flawlessly like the old day, the clickwheel games function still there. This is greatful.

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Up to this point, I told myself... This is not a solution since I still need the latest iTunes to work with my iOS 15, iPadOS 15. I cannot stick myself with this old version of iTunes just to use iPod Classic.

So I connect my iOS 15 device into iTunes 12.6.5.3 to see how it would react. As expected, some function just work, some others don't.

iTunes 12.12.3.5 - Updated yesterday (8 Mar 2022)

iTunes 12.12.2.2 - at the time of posting this question, I was on this version

iTunes 12.12.1.1 - I will try this version

iTunes 12.12.0.6 - I don't think I want to try this since iOS15.2 requires newer version of iTunes

Here is the result.

I uninstall current iTunes 12.12.3.5 as well as others Apple service.

I chose iTunes 12.12.1.1 to test with this link

https://tinyurl.com/k6nv6v49

The same thing happens, iTunes open just fine but upon connect iPod Classic, no frozen, no reaction, the iTunes just disappear before my eyes (took around 5 seconds from iPod connection).

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You have mentioned something anti-virus.

I also test with disable Windows Security Defender and everyting as possible. whatever toggle there are, I disable it.

The result is the same.

Yes, I did stripping out all Apple components and rebooting as I want it to be as clean as possible.

I even manually check the left over file and folder from Apple in C:, if there are so, I delete those files.

Thank you Turingtest2 for still up for the topic.

The answer to your method is still "Not working"

Computer was fully shutdown, not on hibernation, or sleep. Then fully connect iPod before anything else. Then press power button to boot up fresh from BIOS and on until Windows login then iTunes still disappearing before my eyes.

That is what I thought...

and in my reality, iTunes for Windows just disappear (close itself) every time when I connect my iPod Classic.

On Windows 7 — Yes, I have 3rd Party Anti-virus Software.

On Windows 11 — No, only default Window Defender