Picture of the iPod Nano 3rd Generation portable player, paused while playing an audio file.

iPod Nano 3rd Generation Factory Reset

In this post, we give the iPod Nano 3rd Generation Factory Reset routine to put it back to factory settings. Resetting restores this mobile player to default (fresh out of the box) state.

Picture of an iPod Nano 3rd Generation  player, paused while playing an audio file.
An iPod Nano 3rd Generation, paused while playing an audio file.

iPod Nano 3rd Generation Factory Reset: Step by Step

1. Bring up the iPod’s Home Screen

First, press the top of the touch ring, the Menu labeled area until you see the main menu show up. You may have to press the ring a few times to get back to the main menu.

The Nano’s main menu shows in the next pic.

Picture of the unit showing its main menu.
The unit showing its main menu.

2. Find the Settings Menu Item

Next, move your finger clockwise around the touch wheel. Stop when you highlight the Settings menu item with the blue bar, as shown next.

Picture of the main menu, with the -Settings- item selected.
Showing the main menu, with the -Settings- item selected.

3. Go to the Settings Screen

Then, press and release the Enter button at the center of the touch ring. The Settings menu then displays, as shown next.

Picture of the iPod Nano 3rd Generation unit displaying its Settings menu.
The iPod Nano 3rd Generation displaying its Settings menu.

4. Find the Reset Settings Menu Item to Continue with iPod Nano 3rd Generation Factory Reset

Then, move your finger clockwise around the touch ring. Stop when the blue bar highlights the Reset Settings menu item, as shown next.

Picture of the -Settings- menu, with the -Reset Settings- option selected.
The -Settings- menu, with the -Reset Settings- option selected.

5. Bring up the Reset Settings Confirmation Screen

Then, press and release the Enter button again. The Reset Settings confirm screen then comes up, as pictured next.

Picture of the iPod Nano 3rd Generation, displaying its Reset Settings confirmation screen.
An iPod Nano 3rd Generation, displaying its Reset Settings confirmation screen.

6. Select the Reset Button

Once again, move your finger around the touch ring until the blue color highlights the Reset button.

Then, press and release the Enter button. This starts the reset. This can take some seconds to finish. Once done, the Language screen shows, as seen next.

Picture of the player displaying its -Language Selection- menu.
The player showing the -Language Selection- menu.

7. After Reset Finishes, Choose Language to Continue with iPod Nano 3rd Generation Factory Reset

Then, move your finger clockwise around the touch wheel until the blue bar highlights your preferred language.

Then, press the Enter button. This puts into effect your chosen language, such that all menus appear in that language. We chose English on our iPod Nano.
The main menu once again appears. Note that our music files still reside on the iPod. How do we know that? Because an artist pictures still shows on the right side of the screen. But the music stays on the iPod only until you connect it to a computer running iTunes. Then, all media files on the Nano will disappear.

Picture of the unit displaying the Main Menu after factory default reset.
The unit displaying the Main Menu after factory default reset.

 

8. Done with Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation !

You have now successfully reset all the settings in your 3rd gen iPod Nano to default values. Resetting restores the tone settings to flat, sound check, repeat, main menu item display, and so on, to default values. It also sets all the files on the iPod to delete the next time it connects to iTunes.

Picture of playing an audio file normally after reset.
Playing an audio file normally after reset.

You can completely erase and reset your Nano by connecting it to a computer running iTunes. Then, follow iTunes menus for removing the media files altogether. You can also reset iPod settings that the routine we just did does not reset. These include the iPod Nano’s name.

Reset Without iTunes

We found that the music on the iPod does not erase until plugged into a computer with iTunes. Our iPod reset fully at that time, but not before. There indeed may be ways to fully reset an iPod Nano 3 without iTunes. But we feel that these are awkward. Plus, they may brick the iPod Nano, making it non bootable. So, we suggest that you use the method of resetting an iPod above. But then, plug the iPod into an iTunes computer to finish the full reset.

Firmware Version Tested

  • The method above works with iPod Nano firmware version 1.1.3.

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References for iPod Nano 3rd Generation Factory Reset

  1. Where to Buy the iPod Nano 3rd Generation