Ipod 7th Gen, will pair however wont play.

That's a very strong term, who alleges it?

I'm confident that Apple knows the difference between a nano and a Touch, as well as the software version on each model. To confirm which iPod you have, see this article: Identify your iPod model - Apple Support.

Unless you tell us otherwise, I'll assume that you have an iPod Touch. If you want to be certain, look in Settings/General/About>Software Version: It's it's an iPod Touch, which uses the iOS software, it will be one of the following for the more recent models:

• • (iOS) 15.8.1 - then it is a 7th gen Touch (it cannot install iOS 16)
  • (iOS) 12.5.7 - that's a 6th gen Touch (this one cannot install iOS 13)
  • (iOS) 9.3.5 - a 5th gen model (this one cannot go higher than this version)

All the versions I've mentioned above are the most recent versions (on the day of writing).

If your iPod pairs and connects to a Bluetooth speaker, but no sound comes from that speaker, that suggests to me that one of your other devices is also connected and that it has priority (I've experienced this). Turn the Bluetooth off on all your other nearby devices, does the iPod work now?

If that doesn't fix the issue, keep the other devices turned off and use the Forget This Device option (it's in Settings/Bluetooth. Next to the speaker device's name, tap the i in the circle icon and tap Forget This Network. The speaker should then appear under the OTHER DEVICES list (it may have slightly different wording).

Now pair with the speaker again. Does that fix it? (It should.)

Lethal4057 wrote:

I agree that some things SHOULD happen, but dont always.

The reason for this issue will be because either:

1. 1. the iPod's Bluetooth is faulty (possible, although this is not high on my suspect list)
   2. both sets of speakers are faulty (the JBL and the Teac. Somehow, I suspect not)
   3. something is not yet apparent

My money is on number three.

Looking at the article you provided above, it seems it may be a 6th or 5th gen as it only has 16gb capacity (which wasnt offered on 7th gen).

5th or 6th what? (Which model of iPod; Touch or nano?) One of the main reasons I pointed you to the "identify your iPod" page is because each and every model of iPod is pictured. Look again; does your iPod look exactly like a Touch or is it in fact a 7th gen nano? In fact, look even harder, the 6th gen nano is a completely different shape to the 7th nano and the 5th gen nano is different to both of them.

Does it matter? You bet it does: while the 7th gen iPod Touch was not available in 16GB capacity, the 7th gen iPod nano did come in a 16GB model and 1.0.4 further suggests the nano. The firmware on the nano (or software) does not use iOS, whereas an iPod Touch does use iOS to run the device, hence the different wording in the Settings, which has only led to confuse you. For the purposes of this discussion, firmware and software do the same thing [run the iPod] but each in its own way.

So far, I think you probably have a 7th gen iPod nano. If you wish to avoid having to use expressions such as "allegedly" and making assumptions that don't stand up to scrutiny, I urge you to re-check the Apple page I linked to and make certain you know which iPod you have. It will also make it far easier to diagnose where the cause of your problem lies, even if it's not me that solves it.

Back to the issue that brought you here:

The 7th gen iPod nano uses Bluetooth 4.0. I have read that most - note the word "most", versions of Bluetooth are backward compatible. Backward compatible means that a newer version of Bluetooth should work with a previous version. However, I also read that if a device (your iPod) uses Bluetooth 4.0, potentially it can recognise later versions. The word "potentially" sticks out like a sore thumb.

So it is possible that your iPod simply cannot work with the version of Bluetooth that each of your speakers is using. Once again though, I'm not convinced that this is the issue.

I have not been able to discover which version of Bluetooth the Teac uses. My JBL Charge 3 speaker is backward compatible.

So where do you go from here?

• • Well, ditch the wild assumptions about which model you have and 100% confirm it instead
  • Next, try the procedure that I outlined once again. Make extra certain that that no other device has taken control of the speaker and then that the iPod is both paired with the speaker and connected to it. If it doesn't work, try the other speaker (you stated that you have a Teac and a JBL)
  • If that doesn't work, try your iPod on someone else's Bluetooth speaker

It should work and by using the word "should" I do not mean that a fluke is stopping it from working, or that poor standards are causing the issue, or anything else like that.