iPod 5th Gen - Wont add or sync music after update

You don't have to use playlists. It's a suggestion. There are options to sync specific genres, artists or albums, or you can continue to manually manage the device if you prefer. But if you're having trouble getting new content onto the device then a backup, restore as new device, restore backup cycle is likely to be the most reliable fix.

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Try the following all-purpose steps for dealing with erratic device or sync behaviour (including the troublesome grey dotted circles). They assume that all of the content you want on the device is in your library ready for restoring. If it isn't see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device first. I would also recommend you copy everything out of the camera roll if you haven't already.

1. Backup device.
2. Restore as a new device.
3. Restore the backup you made earlier.

Use an encrypted backup (*) if you want to preserve passwords, Wi-Fi settings, web history and health data where appropriate. I also suggest syncing with a selection of playlists (unless you're using iCloud Music Library) rather than manually adding content as, if nothing else, the process above is easier to do if you ever have to go through it again.

(*) The downside with backup encryption is that if you forget the password when you need it again, which could be years later, you may need to invoke a workaround to turn off encryption as shown in Re: disable encrypted backups, which can only help if your device is in a state that can backup to iCloud.

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I am having the same issue. It is really frustrating. I have read several posts about creating playlists. I DO NOT use playlists. I like just being able to open my library and select album or artist I want to listen to, and not worry about selecting a playlist. It started doing this on the last update (9.3.5 ios), never had this issue before. It did transfer some of my new music yesterday, but now it won't transfer at all. How do I fix this??? I have already done everything I could to try to get it to work, but it just won't. The only thing it will do is just picks up my device when plugged in.

I manually manage my device also. I tried to do a back up but it didn't back up my entire library so it was a complete bust. I restored to new and manually re-added and it is still doing the same thing. This is very upsetting. I can't add anything new to the device yet I have plenty of space. I hope you have better luck!

Well I've done everything that was suggested, and it still won't work. When I was syncing everything back into my ipod, not everything was transferred over. I tried manually transferring what didn't transfer, and it just won't work. Everything is up to date ( Itunes and my ipod software), but ever since the new update nothing will transfer to my ipod any more. I have plenty of space. This is very upsetting!

Unfortunately I didn't. 😟 I've done the restore to new and everything else I could do, and it still won't transfer anything. Can't understand why they didn't work out the bug before releasing the new update. Ever since the update I can't transfer anything any more. Not sure what else to do.

Please let me know if you find out anything else. While I was fortunate to get my old music back onto my iPod, I can't add anything else which renders this useless. I really don't have time to get it to an Apple Store but that might be my last ditch effort.

As I mentioned above I really recommend syncing with selected playlists. It is more efficient when reloading the device than manually queuing up content to put back on. If iTunes seems to have trouble copying the data reliably then it may help to exclude the iTunes folder from any real-time anti-virus scans. See also the break-up large transfers method described in Corrupt iPod Classic.

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Creating a playlist with the selection that goes on the device is more efficient than manually picking and choosing. Even if all music is to be copied syncing a playlist (i.e. Music, you don't even have to make one) is better than manually selecting all in music and dragging it to the device. Your other symptom about having to set up again after a hard boot (of computer or device?) suggests something else is not quite right. Which is it? For the computer a rebuild of iTunes as outlined in the second box of Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates, and running the installer as administrator might help. For the device see https://www.payetteforward.com/how-to-put-iphone-dfu-mode/ and restore the device in DFU mode to give it a proper clean out before reloading.

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Yes I prefer to manually manage my device since I have some stuff that I don't want synced to my device but to stay in my library. I will try what you suggested and see if that works. Thanks!

OK, I'm going to put a Bat Call out for our resident iTunes expert to see if he can work with you on this. Stand by - not sure if he is even on tonight, but that's who you want to be looking at this.

Cheers,

GB

Also update your itunes to latest version. I dont thing there is any problem while you are updating your ipod. After itunes update did you find your ipod inside your itunes device tab. It this is happen then you can easily sync your ipod.

Also re authenticate computer on which itunes is installed.

I am having the same issue. I manually sync all my music. I've already restored it to factory and put the music back. But when I try to change anything on the iPod, it will do a few steps but never update. Every time I do a hard boot, it takes me back to the new update screen, and I have to sign in etc, etc all over again. Please help. I have over 6000 songs on my iPod and I need this working!!!

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure why I'd want to sync specific playlists. I guess I *could* create a playlist with all of my content and sync that but it seems to be such a waste of time. I did the "copy in chunks" method but it's still not acting right. I can play music, no problem, I just can't go in a change something...nor even add a song. I tried to update the Album Artist on a song, it didn't work...I deleted the song and thought I'd just re-add from iTunes after I corrected it there. Nope...the dreaded dashed circle. This is so frustrating. Been having issues for a week and this doesn't make sense with such an expensive device.