What It Does
Any Format In, iPod Out
FLAC, OGG, WMA, MP3, AAC — drop in whatever you have. Non-native formats get transcoded to ALAC or AAC automatically.
Fingerprint-Based Matching
Tracks are identified by how they sound, not filenames or tags. Re-encode a file or fix a typo — it still matches.
Play Counts Come Back
Listen on your iPod, plug it in, and your play counts, ratings, and skip counts sync back to your PC library.
Album Art Included
Art is pulled from your files, resized, and written in the iPod's native format. No extra steps.
Review Before Syncing
Every sync shows you exactly what's changing — adds, removes, metadata updates — with checkboxes for each track.
Backup & Rollback
Your iPod database is snapshotted before every sync. One click to undo if something goes wrong.
See It In Action
Supported iPods
Works with every click-wheel iPod that Apple ever made.
| Device | Read | Write | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPod 1G–5G, Mini, Photo | ✅ | ✅ | No hash required |
| iPod Classic (all gens) | ✅ | ✅ | Uses FireWire ID |
| iPod Nano 1G–2G | ✅ | ✅ | No hash required |
| iPod Nano 3G–4G | ✅ | ✅ | Uses FireWire ID |
| iPod Nano 5G | ✅ | ✅ | Needs one iTunes sync first |
| iPod Nano 6G–7G | ✅ | ✅ | Uses FireWire ID (WASM) |
Get Started
Requires Python 3.13+ and uv. For transcoding: FFmpeg. For fingerprinting: Chromaprint.
git clone https://github.com/TheRealSavi/iOpenPod.git
cd iOpenPod
uv sync
uv run python main.py
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sync my iPod without iTunes?
Install iOpenPod, connect your iPod via USB, select your music folder, and click sync. iOpenPod writes directly to the iPod's database — no iTunes needed.
Can I put FLAC files on an iPod?
Yes. iOpenPod automatically converts FLAC to Apple Lossless (ALAC) during sync, so your iPod plays them natively with no quality loss.
Does it work on Linux and macOS?
Yes. It's built with Python and PyQt6 — runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Just mount your iPod as a drive and go.
Which iPod models are supported?
All iPod Classic generations, iPod Mini, iPod Photo, and iPod Nano 1G–7G have full read/write support.
Will syncing erase my iPod?
No. iOpenPod shows you exactly what will change before writing anything, and backs up your database before every sync. Roll back with one click.