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iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement

What you need

  1. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement, Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Before opening your iPod, ensure that the hold switch is in the locked position. The slider should be all the way to the right if your iPod is facing you.

  2. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Opening the iPod can be challenging. Do not get discouraged if it takes you a few tries before the iPod is opened.

    • Free the first retainer clip on the bottom of the iPod using the iPod opening tool. The tool's edge should point towards the metal back case to prevent scratching the plastic front.

  3. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Use this photo of the OPENED iPod for the reference, in order to locate the areas where the retaining clips are - 4 per side, one on top and two at the bottom. It should save you a lot of frustration and help avoid scratching the plastic cover.

  4. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 3 iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 3 iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • There are four retaining clips on each side of the iPod. An iPod opening tool will be used to separate the plastic front from the metal back of the iPod.

    • Insert the iPod opening tool into the left side of the iPod, with the edge of the tool pointing towards the metal back.

    • A small guitar pick can be extremely helpful in opening the iPod. Simply insert it and slide the pick around the case to free the clips to streamline the process.

    • Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the iPod opening tool and moving it to the left.

    • Continue doing so until the entire side of the iPod is loose.

    • You can then insert an iPod opening tool to the right of the Hold button. Be very careful while inserting the tool, as the display is very fragile.

  5. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • Gently glide the iPod opening tool on the top of the display, making sure to free the retaining clips.

    • The other sides of the iPod should now easily come loose. If they do not, use iPod opening tools on the right side of the iPod in the same way as on the left side of the iPod.

    • Separate the front of the iPod from the back about an inch (or a couple of centimeters).

    • The iPod casing is now open, but don't completely separate the two halves just yet. Two ribbon cables are still connecting the back panel to the rest of the iPod.

  6. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Use angled tweezers or an iPod opening tool to slide up the brown connector latch, holding the orange battery ribbon cable in place. Make sure you pull from both sides of the latch. You only need to lift the brown connector latch up about 1-2mm to free the cable. Do not lift more or remove the latch, or you might pull the white connector with it!

    • Don't lift up too far or you could pull the battery connector out of the logic board.

    • Make sure to slide the brown connector directly upwards. The connector is frail and will break if it is accidentally shifted to the side. The connector has hooks at the bottom to hold the cable in place. As soon as you break one of the arms you will have problems putting the battery cable back on. If it breaks put the cable in the slot and then push the brown holder in place to keep the cable from slipping out.

    • Remove the cable from the connector.

  7. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • You should now have one orange ribbon cable still attaching the front case to the back.

    • At this point you are able to remove and replace the blue rubber bumpers, or continue with separating the case.

    • Separating the case is not necessary to complete battery replacement but may facilitate ease of replacement. It does require removing an extra cable at some risk of damage during removal.

  8. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Lift up the hard drive to expose the headphone jack ribbon connector (indicated by the yellow box).

    • If the hard drive bumpers come loose, make sure to put them back with the notch as shown in the picture.

  9. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • With the iPod opening tool, gently lift the brown tab of the headphone ribbon cable connector. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable.

    • Using your fingers, pull out the headphone jack ribbon cable.

  10. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • The front and back of the iPod should now be completely separated.

  11. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 11, image 1 of 2 iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Use a small iPod opening tool to release the black hinge holding the hard drive ribbon cable. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees towards the logic board, releasing the ribbon cable.

    • Use your forefinger to hold the ribbon cable in place; disconnect the drive from the ribbon cable.

    • Make sure the hard drive rubber side bumpers are attached to the drive being installed. Use the hard drive rubber side bumper installation guide to accomplish this task.

    • If necessary, the blue foam padding on the hard drive might also need to be transferred to the replacement drive.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

230 other people completed this guide.

9 Comments

Okay, I apparently did the same thing as Jeff above. When I opened the case, the plastic front came off cleanly, but now I can't figure out how to pry the innards out of the metal casing, which apparently was supposed to just happen by itself, according to the instructions above.

I've tried very gingerly pulling and prying around the edges to see if I can dislodge the metal casing, but no such luck so far. Now what?

Jack Mingo - Reply

Guide was helpfull and well detailed. The screewed on parts from the black cover broke but what the !&&*, it's not like i need them now. I switched the battery without problems, everything from the guide is well detailed.

Buttons wont work now. Re opened it 4 times and buttons still wont work.

Threw this Apple Crap at my wall, now it's all opened up again, permanently!

Guide is perfect tho! Thanks for the help.

cottofraises - Reply

I saved myself about $400 (that is on the cheap end of a new iPod 7th gen on Amazon) by buying new hard drive for $25, buying a new battery that came with iPod repair tool for $7.99 (all on Amazon), and used this guide. I had no problems with disassembly and reassembly. This guide is fantastic!

Lee - Reply

With this guide i managed to save some bacon on my two 5th generation iPods. One black and one white. Just for 25E i managed to find replacement hard disks for them. Now i enjoy the music in both car and living room. Thanks again mate... Cheers from Greece.

Emmanouil Georgopoulos - Reply

I decided to fix my boyfriends ipod video(5th gen 60gb) for his Christmas present. He dropped it a while back and the hard drive went to crap. So I got all my parts and tools today(very quick shipping btw) and decided to go for it. I was a little intimidated at first since I've never done this before but everything was so easy. Had no problem opening or separating the case. Changed the battery while I was in there and that was easy. Got to the hard drive and got it done. Before closing I checked that it was working but it just hung out on the apple screen. Was a little worried that the new hard drive was bad so I disconnected and the reconnected it and it worked perfectly! So proud of myself! All in all, the guide was a huge help, and it only took about 45 minutes to do everything. Easy peasy. Now I know I can change the battery in my ipod with no problem. Thanks!!!

Ravon Byas - Reply

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