How to install Rockbox on an iPod Classic

Written By: Aaron Cooke (and one other contributor)

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How to install Rockbox on an iPod Classic

Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

Time Required

20 - 25 minutes

Introduction

This tutorial is for computers running Windows only. Doing this on a Mac running Windows via BootCamp will work, but not on a Mac thru VirtualBox or any other virtual machine on a Mac.

It is possible to install Rockbox via a computer running macOS or Linux, however I have not been able to successfully do an install on either macOS or Linux. If you are brave and have time to attempt this, here’s the web site for instructions on how to do so.

Step 1 How to install Rockbox on an iPod Classic

Connect your iPod in normal mode (iTunes/file transfer).

Connect your iPod in normal mode (iTunes/file transfer).
- Close iTunes completely if it opens when you plug in your iPod, as iTunes will try to interfere with this process if it is left open.
Download the Rockbox EXE file at the link below. Run the Rockbox EXE file and click OK through the dialogues.
- Download the Rockbox EXE file here
Once you are at this screen, click "Show disabled targets" and click OK at the dialogue.
- Don't be spooked by the dialogue... even if something were to go wrong with this process we can still go back and restore your iPod.

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Step 2

After you have enabled the disabled targets, click the "Autodetect" button and your iPod's model should be highlighted in the menu above.

After you have enabled the disabled targets, click the "Autodetect" button and your iPod's model should be highlighted in the menu above.
After you have selected your iPod's model, click OK.

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Step 3

For the next steps we will be installing everything but the bootloader. We will deal with the bootloader later on.
Check all of the boxes selected in the blue box.
After checking all of the boxes that are necessary, click install.
- Take a sip of your beverage, or a bite of your food while this process is being completed. It should not take very long.

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Step 4

Once the installation of the firmware, themes and games has been completed, it's time for the most challenging part... the bootloader.
Check the bootloader checkbox.
- Click install again.
You must follow the on-screen instructions in order for this to work. Pay close attention to the console. Make the window bigger so you can interpret the text easier.
When this message appears in the console, press and hold both the MUTE and the SELECT button until there is a message in the console telling you to release the buttons.
- It is important to do this quickly, otherwise the process can fail requiring you to re-do everything in this step.

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Step 5

If this process has been successful, you will see that Rockbox has started on your iPod and a success message will appear on the console.
One other thing from my experience is that the console may take obnoxiously long to tell you the installation was successful but the iPod is running Rockbox just fine. You should be OK to remove your iPod anyways.

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