iPod Classic 160g does not sync

I contacted Apple as I was having the same problem and they said that the iPod classic is no longer supported and won't sync with the new iTunes. There might be some Third Party software available that will help.

I have this same issue and have opened a ticket with Apple support. Tested three (3) different iPod 160GB, several cables, direct USB connect, Hub connect, powered-hub connect and a Elgato Thunderbolt 2 dock ports.

The iPods all appear in System Information under USB but iTunes seems to be disconnecting them. Everything under current release at the time of this post.

iTunes disconnects.

On the iPod Classic 160GB models, and I've tested four (4) iPod Classic 160GB with several different 30-pin cables, the iPod Classic will get to the point where the "Sync" animation appears on the iPod display and then it immediately disconnects. The behavior looks like iTunes or iTunesHelper is doing the disconnect. If iTunes doesn't launch, the device appears in Finder, as expected. (It actually appears in Finder very briefly, even if iTunes does the disconnect.)

Each IpoD appears in the System Information screens under USB in the appropriate USB controller, whether that's the Mac Pro USB port, a USB Hub or a dock like Elgato. Under each of the wiring patterns, the behavior is the same.

I then tested the previous generation iPod Classic, two (2) 60GB iPod Classic units. They seem to behave differently, appearing in Finder but never being seen by iTunes and never being disconnected.

It seems like the USB2 article Apple published on June 6th might be relevant to this situation.

Thanks for your comment and suggestion.

Apple Customer Service called me today, 26-June-2017, to inform me the Apple "Engineering Team" has declared the iPod Classic 160GB to be "obsolete" and the functionality to sync with iTunes will not be restored. The resolution is to purchase a new and smaller iPod Touch device (which also has an uncertain future).

I am now evaluating third-party software to replace iTunes, a product called Swinsian, the seems very promising for iPod Classic devotees. This involves making your iPod Classic work in Disk Enabled mode. Three of my units were already set that way, but a fourth unit seems to accept the setting on my older MacMini but not seem to have it when I connect to the mac Pro under Sierra. You also want to turn off "Automatically launch iTunes" upon connection.

It's very disappointing that a new MacOS machine would not work with the iPod Classic. Sometimes "used" is better than "new".

Not sure if related, if your iPod was originally synched on another computer, say an ex GF or wife, or another mac you used to own, the classic will not work. I bought and downloaded cd's on another iMac with my iPod classic, but had to get a new one. All the other music I bought is now wasted, I cannot get it on the new IMAC. So if I purchase or download cds to the new MAC, it will not synch ON MY CLASSIC. APPLE HAS SCREWED US OVER ON THIS ONE!!!

Cannot Sync my 160GB iPod classic with ITUNES 12 either. The problem is this is my music player on my boat and would require replacing the head unit on my boat and will cost a good deal more than just buying a new iPod alone. Has anybody found a way around this end of support issue?

Apple may not be actively supporting the iPod classic any more, but you should still be able to sync content to it using iTunes. Have you tried another cable or checked for fluff in the docking port? Different contacts are used for charging so you might not notice an issue that only affected data.

tt2

The latest patch to iTunes seemed to have corrected the issue for both my 60GB iPods and my 160GB iPods, so even if officially unsupported, they are working again. I might continue to play with Swinsian, too, though. Just in case.

I can confirm for me as well that my 9+ year old iPod Classic 160 was able to sync successfully again after the latest iTunes patch. It was struggling mightily to connect but as soon as the patch was applied it worked. Hopefully it will remain stable for a while longer.

The iTunes is sort of installed, but it won't save CD albums properly.

And I can't back up the 6000 plus songs ether, as it won't sync.

We did all the updates we could.

We scheduled an appointment at local Apple store tomorrow, they sent an email telling me to back up!

How to?

I just provided info in a different topic, that may be applicable to your situation. Take a look here

Re: iPod Classic 7th Gen 160gb SO MANY PROBLEMS!!!

See Recover media from an iPod.

tt2

This was a huge help! Thanks so much!!!

I have the same problem, bought a new cable (which was very expensive), but nothing. Mine was reseted, tho (when i tried to sync, all my music was gone). Have you found a solution??

Did you try the suggestions already posted in this topic (especially in the first reply post)?

New USB docking cables are not that expensive.