iPod: Minimum System Requirements

Summary

Want to find out if your iPod will work with your computer? You've come to the right place.

The following two charts detail both Windows and Mac software and hardware configurations that Apple supports for each iPod model. Please note that for some iPod models, the system requirements have been changed to enable new features and product enhancements.

If you need to verify which iPod model you have, check out our "Identifying different iPod models" article.

For all iPods, Apple recommends using the latest version of iTunes and the latest iPod software available through iTunes.

Products Affected

iPod, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, iPod nano, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows 2000 SP4

Microsoft Windows Requirements

Windows Vista
Windows XP SP24
Windows 2000 SP4
FireWire (IEEE 1394)
USB 1.1
USB 2.0
iTunes5
Adobe Photoshop Album 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.2, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0.
iPod touch For iPod touch system requirements, see "iPhone and iPod touch: Minimum system requirements"
iPod classic
√
√
Charging only3
--
--
√
7.6
√6
iPod nano (3rd generation)
√
√
--
--
√
iPod shuffle (2nd generation)
√
√
--
--
√
√
7.4
--
iPod (5th generation late 2006)
√
√
√
Charging only3
√2
√
7.0
√6
iPod nano (2nd generation)
√
√
√
√2
√
iPod (5th generation)
√
√
√
√2
√
6.0
iPod nano
√
√
√
√2
√
4.9
iPod with color display (including iPod photo)
√
√
√
√
--
√
4.7
iPod mini (2nd generation)
√
√
√
√
--
√
--
iPod shuffle
√
√
√
--
√
√
4.7.1
--
iPod (Click Wheel)
√
√
√
√
--
√
4.7
--
iPod mini
√
√
√
√
--
√
--
iPod (dock connector)
√
√
√
√
--
√1
--
iPod (touch wheel)
√
√
√
√
--
--
--
iPod (scroll wheel)
√
√
√
√
--
--
--
  1. iPod (dock connector) will not charge over USB 2.0. Charging this unit requires a built-in 6-pin FireWire port or the FireWire iPod Power Adapter.
  2. USB 2.0 recommended.
  3. iPod nano, iPod (5th generation), and iPod classic will charge via a 6-pin FireWire connection but will not sync over FireWire.
  4. This excludes Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, but includes Windows Media Center editions of Vista and Windows XP Media Center (32-bit editions).
  5. See article 301301 for information about 64-bit editions of Windows.
  6. The latest version of iTunes is required to support the latest versions of Adobe photo applications.
  7. Internet access required during setup.

Mac OS X Requirements

10.4.10 (Tiger)
10.3.9 (Panther)
10.2.8 (Jaguar)
FireWire (IEEE 1394)
USB 1.1
USB 2.0
iTunes
iPhoto
iSync
iCal
iPod touch For iPod touch system requirements, see "iPhone and iPod touch: Minimum system requirements"
iPod classic
√
--
--
Charging only3
--
√
7.6
4.0.3
1.0
1.0.1
iPod nano (3rd generation)
√
--
--
√
iPod shuffle (2nd generation)
√
√
--
--
√
√
7.4
--
--
--
iPod (5th generation late 2006)
√
√
--
Charging only3
√2
√
7.0
4.0.3
1.0
1.0.1
iPod nano (2nd generation)
√
√
--
√2
√
iPod (5th generation)
√
√
--
√2
√
6.0
iPod nano
√
√
--
√2
√
4.9
iPod with color display (including iPod photo)
√
√
√
√
--
√
4.7
iPod mini (2nd generation)
√
√
√
√
--
√
--
iPod shuffle
√
√
√
--
√
√
4.7.1
--
--
--
iPod (Click Wheel)
√
√
√
√
--
√
4.7
--
1.0
1.0.1
iPod mini
√
√
√
√
--
√
--
iPod (dock connector)
√
√
√
√
--
√1
--
iPod (touch wheel)
√
√
√
√
--
--
--
iPod (scroll wheel)
√
√
√
√
--
--
--
  1. iPod (dock connector) will not charge over USB 2.0. Charging this unit requires a built-in 6-pin FireWire port or the FireWire iPod Power Adapter.
  2. USB 2.0 recommended.
  3. iPod nano, iPod (5th generation), and iPod classic will charge via a 6-pin FireWire connection but will not sync over FireWire.
  4. Internet access required during setup.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple's recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

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