my iPod shuffle 4th gen won't charge or show up in iTunes when i plug it in to the back of the computer and when the off/on switch is halfway it gives me a solid red light on the iPod battery status light for about five seconds does anyone know what to do
iPod shuffle, Other OS
OK, guys, here's how I solved the 5-second-light-no-charge issue.
You will need some patience though.
Plug your 4th Gen Shuffle into a high-power USB port (preferable the stock wall charger). Wait until the red light goes on and than off. Unplug. Repeat continuously until the light doesn't go off, which means the Shuffle starts charging. It took me about 15 minutes, however it may take longer depending on how low the battery charge is.
Here's a little technical background behind this process. When the device is not being used for a while, especially if it is not charged, the battery voltage falls below a certain threshold becoming insufficient to start the microprocessor any more. However, the processor is necessary to start the charging process, and the device gets into the deadlock. Basically, when you plug it in, it's being charged for only 5 seconds while the red light is on. When you constantly plug it in and out you manually charge the battery in 5-second increments until it's voltage is high enough to start the processor.
I advise to unplug the USB from the charger, not the charger from the socket.
OK, guys, here's how I solved the 5-second-light-no-charge issue.
You will need some patience though.
Plug your 4th Gen Shuffle into a high-power USB port (preferable the stock wall charger). Wait until the red light goes on and than off. Unplug. Repeat continuously until the light doesn't go off, which means the Shuffle starts charging. It took me about 15 minutes, however it may take longer depending on how low the battery charge is.
Here's a little technical background behind this process. When the device is not being used for a while, especially if it is not charged, the battery voltage falls below a certain threshold becoming insufficient to start the microprocessor any more. However, the processor is necessary to start the charging process, and the device gets into the deadlock. Basically, when you plug it in, it's being charged for only 5 seconds while the red light is on. When you constantly plug it in and out you manually charge the battery in 5-second increments until it's voltage is high enough to start the processor.
I advise to unplug the USB from the charger, not the charger from the socket.
Thank you so much! There is no service in my city and i almost ordered battery online. It took 30 minutes of plugging and unplugging it. And finally it is charging.
Make sure your USB cable is plugged ALL THE WAY IN THE IPOD, there should be no gap. It feels like you are forcing it but you have to do it. Same goes when charging, or using headphones or buds.
Hope this helps.
Hey Guys, I did exactly same steps (connecting and disconnecting the shuffle repatedly) after 15 minutes the red came on steady but never go green. I put the shuffle on charge all night and the following day but still no charged. Does anybody do that properly and the shuffle is charged?? Please help me!! Thanks.
As a test, shut down (power OFF) your Mac. Disconnect all USB devices, including any hub device. Do this to Reset the shuffle
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1655
Start up Mac with all USB devices disconnected, except for standard keyboard and mouse (if used). Run iTunes. Connect shuffle to a direct USB port on Mac. See if there is any improvement.
If it's better, add your other USB devices back (one at a time) to see if the problem recurs.
It depends on the vendor, but Apple often just uses the serial number to determine if a device is under warranty or not.
iPod: How to find the serial number
Then, try entering that serial number here
https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do
Also, make sure you have the docking cable plug (at the iPod end) completely inserted into the headphones jack, as shown in this document
iPod shuffle (4th generation): Not seen in iTunes
It should "snap" into place.
If you connect it to the Mac with iTunes NOT running, and run Disk Utility, does it appear in the sidebar as a "disk"? Also, you can run System Profiler or System Information (depending Mac OS X version). It is in Applications/Utilities/, but you can also run it from the About This Mac window. Does the shuffle appear as a device under USB?
The red light when you move the power switch to ON means very low charge in battery. That probably means the battery is not getting charged when connected. In terms of hardware, that could mean a bad USB port on Mac, a bad USB cable, or a bad connection on the shuffle. In any case, power is not getting to the battery. It might be a bad battery, but if that was the only problem, I think the shuffle would still appear in iTunes when connected. That's why asked if it appeared in Disk Utility or System Profiler/Information; if it does, the connection is working (even though iTunes does not see it for some reason).
You can make sure the USB port is working by using something else that is similar (like a USB flash drive) on the same port. If you happen to have another USB cable, you also try to rule out a bad cable.
Does a similar device, like a USB flash drive or iPhone/iPod or a "pocket" 2.5-inch USB hard drive that is powered off the USB port, work on that same USB port? What model Mac is it?
You are using the USB cable that came with the shuffle (or the Apple replacement part)?
If you have Disk Utility already running when you connect the shuffle, does it appear in the sidebar momentarily during the 5 or so seconds when you first connect the shuffle (wthen the indicator light is red)?
You said
when the off/on switch is halfway it gives me a solid red light on the iPod battery status light for about five seconds
What happens if you move the swtich all the way to the "shuffle" setting?
The USB port worksi can charge my iPad on it the Mac model is 2010 iMac 21.5 inch
I am using the original shuffle charging/syncing cable
No the shuffle will not show up at all on disk utility
The red light only comes on when it's plugged in and it does the same thing on shuffle setting
There seems to be a hardware problem. The USB port on the Mac is obviously working. Since you only have one USB cable to try, you can't rule out a faulty cable. However, that seems less likely because it does "do something" when plugged in; the red light comes on for a few seconds. The problem may be on the logic board, or something else in the shuffle.
If you have an Apple Store nearby, you can make a reservation at the Genius Bar and take it there. They can confirm the problem is in the shuffle, and not the cable. If that shuffle happens to be less than one year old, it is under warranty, so you can see about getting it replaced (if needed). Otherwise, if under warranty, you can also contact Apple's cusomter support using the Contact Us link at the bottom right corner of this window.
ok, thanks, i will try it. and any idea on how i can make the itunes to recognize the device? because my cousin connected his iphone and now the only thing showing is his device, so my ipod won't appear
no..it doesn't matter what i do, the only light is the red light. i will do anything possible to go to the nearest apple service and maybe they will save the problem 😀 not even the tutorials on their site won't help.
anyway, thanks for you help and sorry for the headaches 😀
I am having the same problem and I didn't get it wet at all. Its a fairly new shuffle......only a few weeks old.... and it won't charge (only the red light comes on for 5 seconds) and itunes won't recognize it. Did I just buy a dud?
I am having the same issue. It's a waterproof shuffle, so water should not be a problem. When I plug it in, get the red light for a few seconds, then nothing. It has been charged in overnight and is not charging. Have restarted my computer, and I know the USB port is fine. The device does not show up in Disk Uitility. Any ideas how to get my laptop to recognize the nano?
I am having the same issue. It's a waterproof shuffle, so water should not be a problem. When I plug it in, get the red light for a few seconds, then nothing. It has been charged in overnight and is not charging. Have restarted my computer, and I know the USB port is fine. The device does not show up in Disk Uitility. Any ideas how to get my laptop to recognize the nano?
my iPod shuffle 4th gen won't charge or show up in iTunes
