When restoring the iPod Touch to factory settings, you reset all audio, video, and system settings on this Apple portable media player to factory default values. You can accomplish this even without a computer.
Note that doing so this way, does not erase any music from this player right away. But, restoring does schedule a media file deletion for the next time this iPod is connected to a computer running iTunes.
Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Turn on your iPod Touch.
Press and hold the Power button until you see activity on the screen (usually the Apple logo). At that time, release the button.
2. Press the Home Button
First, press the Home button (button underneath the touch screen).
This brings up the Home screen, as pictured next.
3. Touch the Settings Icon
We find the Settings icon on the left edge of screen, second row up from bottom on our iPod.
The Settings menu screen then displays, as shown next.
4. Tap the General Menu Item to Continue with Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings
Next, touch the General menu item on the Settings screen. We find it at the top of the third group in the Settings menu.
The iPod then shows the General Settings screen, pictured next.
5. Find the Reset Menu Item
Then, single-flick upward with your index finger on the touch screen, to reveal the Reset menu item, as shown next. We see it on our iPod at the bottom of the General menu.
6. Touch the Reset Item
Then, tap the Reset menu item.
The Reset screen then appears, as pictured next.
7. Tap the Reset All Settings Item to Continue with Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings
On the iPod Touch player, you can choose how extensively the unit resets itself to factory defaults. You may choose either to:
- 1 Reset All Settings,
- 2 Erase All Content and Settings,
- 3 Reset Network Settings,
- 4 Reset Keyboard Dictionary,
- 5 Reset Home Screen Layout, or
- 6 Reset Location Warnings
In our case here, we wish to reset all settings on the iPod, but not erase the music. So to do that, we touch the “Reset All Settings” option; the first option on the Reset menu. This displays the Reset All Settings confirmation screen, as pictured next.
8. Touch the Reset All Settings Button
If you’re certain that you wish to proceed with the factory default restoration, press the red Reset All Settings button on this screen. If not, touch Cancel.
But assuming you went ahead and chose to perform the restoration, the factory settings restore process begins. Note that this can take several seconds to complete.
The iPod Touch then displays a progress bar showing how far along in the restore process it is, as shown next.
Once done successfully, the Lock screen displays, as shown next.
9. Unlock the Screen After iPod Reboot Finishes
Then, move your finger from left to right, across the bottom of the screen where it says, “Slide to unlock.” The Location Services option screen then appears as follows.
10. Answer the Location Services Prompt to Continue with Restoring the iPod Touch to Factory Settings
Choose whether or not you want to enable or disable Location Services here, by tapping the appropriate button. When you do, the iPod prompts you to connect to an in-range WiFi network, as shown next.
11. Connect your iPod Touch to your Preferred WiFi Network
To connect to a displayed in-range WiFi network, tap on the desired network in the shown list. Otherwise, tap the blue Next button.
However, we opted not to connect to a WiFi network at this time, and so just pressed Next. The Terms and Conditions acceptance prompt appears next, as follows.
12. Accept Apple’s Terms and Conditions
Assuming that you agree with Apple’s terms and conditions of use for this iPod, tap the blue Agree button.
The Touch then prompts for how to handle diagnostics messages, that it sends back to Apple for evaluation and analysis, as follows.
13. Choose Whether to Automatically Send Diagnostic Data to Apple
We choose the “Automatically Send” option. Press this button, and you then see the Thank You screen, indicating that Setup was successfully completed.
14. Tap the Start Using iPod Touch Button to Continue with Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings
Finally, touch the “Start Using iPod Touch” button.
Doing so takes you once more to the Home screen, as shown next. Note that this restoration reverts any any customization you have made (if any) back to original factory default values.
15. Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings Done !
You have now successfully restored all the settings in your iPod Touch music player to factory default values, without deleting the media files on it. You may remove those files later if you wish. Delete the music files on the iPod by running through a similar routine to the above. But the one different thing you would do, is when prompted for which type of reset you want to perform on the Reset screen, choose the “Erase all content and settings” option.
Related Posts to Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings
- Restore Factory Default Settings to Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen Player
- How to Reset Echo Spot Smart Speaker, Restore Proper Operation
- Reset Echo Dot to Restore Proper Operation
- How to Reset Comcast Remote Xfinity XR2 U2 Hard, Factory Restore to Default Settings
- Google Home Mini Reset to Factory Default Settings
References for Restoring iPod Touch to Factory Settings
Revision History
- 2019-05-04: Added tags.
- 2019-01-13: First posted.