<< Mr. T Sings | Home | Working From Car Dealership >>

Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB

I bought one of the fourth generation (4G) iPods - the 60GB iPod Photo - and it came with a USB charger and a USB-to-dock connector cable. I plugged it in, attached the iPod, and it charged right up.

Later, I tried to attach Jenn's iPod (my 3G 15GB iPod) to that charger to charge it up, and it doesn't charge - it stays on, but it doesn't charge.

Turns out this is a known issue. The Apple Store page for the USB charger says it "supports iPod shuffle, iPod mini, iPod photo and iPod with click wheel." Which subtly excludes 3G iPods (they don't have a "click wheel").

Interesting that they don't outright say anything about this anywhere in the official Apple support section. You'd think more people would wonder about this.

Print | posted @ Wednesday, April 13, 2005 11:12 AM

Comments on this entry:

Gravatar # Re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by coyote at 8/11/2006 1:53 AM
Interesting.

My older 4G iPod (20GB b/w click-wheel) came with the firewire charger. I don't have a USB charger, but if you connect it via USB, it won't charge unless it's mounted. If it's charging and you eject it, it stops charging.

No problem w/ firewire.

My universal laptop charger has a USB power port for just this kind of thing, and it will power the iPod but not charge it!
  
Gravatar # ipod dont charge
by Mike at 4/18/2008 7:41 AM
my ipod wont charge anytime i plug it in it turns on dosent recognizes it and the it just sits there
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Sam at 4/19/2008 10:20 AM
My third generation is having the same problems.
I dont want to get a new one, i want to fix this one.
But is there anyway to get it to charge?
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Lila at 4/28/2008 1:22 AM
Same problem here, let me know if you find a solution
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Travis Illig at 4/28/2008 7:29 AM
There really isn't a solution. Or, more to the point, the solution is to find a Firewire charger and use that instead of a USB charger. Unfortunately, most places only carry the USB chargers so you'll have to search the web and order a Firewire charger online.
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by stuart at 7/25/2008 2:36 AM
My 4 gig mini (what generation is it?) Will ONLY charge from USB-- was fine till a week ago! What can I do?
Tried the diagnostics but not sure! what I'm doing
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Pepe at 10/9/2008 6:27 AM
After many days trying to get a wall charger for my Ipod 3 Generation with not aval . I found a "workaround"
I got a 12 volts car charger for my 3 G Ipod, then I bought a
"mini AC DC socket" for 4 dollars .
now every time I want to charge my IPOD 3 generation I just plug it to the car charger then I plug the car charger to the mini AC DC socket then I plug the mini AC DC socket to my 120 volt outlet or receptacle.
If You don't know what a "mini AC DC socket" is; just google it.
not only I charge my Ipod , I use it for my cellphone or any other device that needs a 12volt cigarette lighter socket.
if you you want to get one I will recoment to buy one that works with 120 to 240 wall voltage.
I seen then in the Auto stores and the car accessories section of the big name stores.
click the websitelink; to get a picture of the mini AC DC socket.
Good luck!

  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Mike at 10/9/2008 7:48 AM
i plugged my ipod to firewire charger and when i got to use the usb to sync it doesnt do anything....
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Mohit at 11/8/2008 1:53 AM
To,
Pepe,
U mean to say that u charge with 12 volts charger.
The ipod original charger is 5v one.
How this is possible?
  
Gravatar # re: Third Generation (3G) iPod Won't Charge From USB
by Pepe at 11/14/2008 3:51 PM
I believe that car charger has a voltage regulator that provides the right voltage to the Ipod 3G.
  
Comments have been closed on this topic.
Typemock Expert