Which iPod models are supported?

iPod Classic, iPod Mini, and iPod Nano models are supported. iPod Shuffle support is planned. iPod Touch support is not planned.

Will syncing with iOpenPod erase my iPod?

No. iOpenPod shows you exactly what will change before anything is written, and automatically backs up your database before every sync. You can roll back with one click.

iOpenPod — Desktop iPod Manager for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Your whole iPod library

FLAC goes straight in

Add FLAC and other unsupported audio. iOpenPod converts it automatically with FFmpeg, caches the result, and syncs an iPod-ready copy—no separate conversion step.

Video and photos, automatically

iOpenPod prepares unsupported video and photos for the formats and sizes your iPod expects. No separate HandBrake workflow or manual resizing.

Review first. Restore if needed.

See additions, removals, artwork, metadata, and storage impact before syncing. Automatic device snapshots give you a way back.

See playlists, podcasts, artwork, and more

Podcasts

Subscribe, choose how many recent episodes to keep, track listened status, and add episodes to an iPod.

Scrobbling

ListenBrainz and Last.FM scrobbling can submit play history during sync.

Playlists & Smart Playlists

Manage standard playlists or build smart playlists with rule filters, live updating, limits, and sort order.

Play Counts & Ratings

Read play counts, ratings, and skip counts from the iPod and sync them back to PC library metadata where supported.

Drag and Drop

Copy files directly to the iPod without using the full PC-folder sync workflow.

Artwork

Change cover art, inspect iPod artwork records, and write device-specific thumbnail formats.

Media Types

Supports music, audiobooks, podcasts, videos, and photos.

Settings

Tune encoders, bitrate, lossless conversion, sample rate, and spoken-word output.

Backups

Browse snapshots by device and restore only when the connected iPod matches.

See it in action

Choose folders and what iOpenPod scans in each one

Review storage impact and every pending change

Choose exactly which podcast episodes go to the iPod

See six more screenshots

Drill down and choose individual changes

Edit artwork down to its iPod database fields

Control playback behavior and iPod flags

Build smart playlists and preview the matches live

Tune conversion for music and spoken word

Keep backups separated—and restores safe—by device

Supported iPods

Device	Status	Notes
iPod "Classic" (all generations 1st-7th)	Supported
iPod Mini (all generations 1st and 2nd)	Supported
iPod Nano (all generations 1st-7th)	Supported
iPod Shuffle	Planned	Shuffle uses a different database structure. ETA ~4 mo.
iPod Touch	Not planned	Touch requires non-file-system device protocols.

Install options

Install from PyPI (Recommended)

iOpenPod is available as a Python package through pip, pipx, and uv tool. After installing, launch it with iopenpod.

`pip`

Installs iOpenPod into your current Python environment.

$ python -m pip install iopenpod

$ iopenpod

Upgrade with python -m pip install --upgrade iopenpod.

`pipx`

Creates an isolated app environment and exposes the iopenpod command.

$ pipx install iopenpod

$ iopenpod

Upgrade with pipx upgrade iopenpod.

`uv tool`

If you already use uv, this gives you the same isolated app-style install.

$ uv tool install iopenpod

$ iopenpod

Upgrade with uv tool upgrade iopenpod.

Latest Release Builds

Native builds do not require a separate Python installation.

Download Detailed Install Help

Platform	File	Instructions
Windows	iOpenPod-Windows.zip	Extract the archive and run iOpenPod.exe.
macOS	iOpenPod-macOS.zip	Extract the archive and run iOpenPod.app. You may need to allow the app in System Settings.
Linux (recommended)	iOpenPod-Linux-x86_64.AppImage	Run `chmod a+x ./iOpenPod-Linux-x86_64.AppImage`, then launch the AppImage.
Linux (Arch-based)	iopenpod (AUR)	Install from the AUR.
Linux (tarball)	iOpenPod-Linux.tar.gz	Extract the archive and run ./iOpenPod.
Linux (Flatpak)	iOpenPod-Linux.flatpak	If present on the release, install with Flatpak.

For step-by-step platform setup and troubleshooting, see the Install Help page.
Python package installs require Python 3.11+. If iopenpod is not on your PATH yet, run pipx ensurepath for pipx or uv tool update-shell for uv tool.
Installs should be updated with the same tool used to install them.
Required tools: install FFmpeg with ffprobe for transcoding and media probing, and Chromaprint for acoustic fingerprinting during sync.
Linux users who see a Qt xcb platform plugin error should install the XCB runtime packages listed on the Install Help page.

For Contributing Developers

$ git clone https://github.com/TheRealSavi/iOpenPod.git

$ cd iOpenPod

$ uv sync

$ uv run iopenpod

uv sync installs dependencies into a local virtual environment. FFmpeg with ffprobe and Chromaprint are needed for full sync functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sync my iPod without iTunes?

Install iOpenPod from PyPI with pip, pipx, or uv tool, or download a native release build. Launch it, connect your iPod as a mounted drive, choose PC media folders, review the proposed changes, and apply the sync plan.

Do I need Python to use iOpenPod?

PyPI installs require Python 3.11 or newer. Native builds do not require a separate Python installation.

Can I put FLAC files on an iPod?

Yes. iOpenPod can convert unsupported audio and video formats to iPod-compatible output during sync. FFmpeg with ffprobe is required for transcoding and media probing.

Does it work on Linux and macOS?

Yes. iOpenPod supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. PyPI installs are recommended while native packaging is still being hardened.

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.

Can I add files without a full sync?

Yes. Drag and drop files into iOpenPod and they'll be added to your iPod directly — no sync configuration required.

My iPod was previously managed by iTunes. Will I lose my music?

No. iOpenPod reads the existing iTunesDB on your iPod and shows you everything already on it. You can browse, edit, and add tracks without touching what's already there. A sync will only change what you explicitly approve in the review step.

My iPod isn't being detected. What should I do?

Make sure the iPod is mounted as a drive and visible in File Explorer, Finder, or your Linux file manager. If it still is not working, open an issue with your iPod model, OS, and iopenpod.log.

To find the log in iOpenPod, open Settings > Storage, then click Open next to Log Location.

How do I find the iOpenPod log file?

Open Settings > Storage, then click Open next to Log Location. Attach iopenpod.log when reporting a bug.

Do I need FFmpeg, ffprobe, and Chromaprint installed?

Yes for full sync functionality. FFmpeg with ffprobe is required for transcoding and media probing, and Chromaprint is required for acoustic fingerprinting during sync.

What happens if something goes wrong mid-sync?

iOpenPod takes a full snapshot of your iPod's database before every sync begins. If anything goes wrong, open the Backups panel and restore the previous snapshot with one click — your iPod goes back to exactly how it was.

Does iOpenPod send any data to the internet?

Only when you explicitly trigger it: checking for updates, scrobbling to ListenBrainz, or searching for podcasts. Nothing is sent in the background. There's no telemetry.

Can I sync the same iPod from multiple computers?

Yes, with a caveat. The fingerprint-to-database mapping is stored in a file on the iPod itself, so the iPod carries its own identity. Each PC will re-fingerprint its local library on first sync, then match against what's already on the device.

Does iOpenPod support iPod Touch?

Not currently. iPod Touch uses non-file-system device protocols rather than the iTunesDB-style storage used by classic iPods.

Join the iOpenPod community

Meet other iPod owners, suggest features, share feedback, and get help when something isn’t working.

Join us on Discord