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

Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation Player

In this post, we show how to reset iPod Nano 3rd generation to factory settings. Resetting restores this mobile player to default (fresh out of the box) state.

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

How to Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation to Factory Settings

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 player showing its main menu.
The player 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 Gen Portable Player, displaying its Settings menu.
iPod Nano 3rd Gen Portable Player, displaying its Settings menu.

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

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 Gen Portable Player, displaying its Reset Settings confirmation screen.
iPod Nano 3rd Gen Portable Player, 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 Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation

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 How to Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation to Factory Settings !

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.





How to Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation to Factory Settings 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.

Related Posts to Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation

  1. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Reset Instructions
  2. Factory Default Reset of Apple iPod Touch Media Player
  3. iPod 6th Generation Nano Review
  4. Google Home Mini Reset to Factory Default Settings
  5. Reset Gosund Mini Smart Plug, Hard Factory Reset

References for Reset iPod Nano 3rd Generation Instructions

  1. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Troubleshooting   from iFixIt.com
  2. How to Completely Reset the iPod Nano 3rd Generation  from TechWalla.com

Change Log

  • 2019-04-11: Added tags and tweaked key phrase targeting. Removed ad code.
  • 2018-04-28: First posted.