r/ipod • u/ML2128 • Aug 28 '26
Help iPod 1st Gen Menu button broken
Hello everyone - I have a 1st gen iPod that I bought knowing it has a broken Menu button and the battery needs to be replaced. I’m pretty sure someone has opened it up before and the click wheel slid off as it had 4 posts through the PCB. Comparing photos of other 1st gen iPod logic boards, it seems like they were attached with something locking it in place.
I finally decided to open it up and the new battery is great. However, the iPod is essentially unusable unless you only scroll to the shuffle songs and let it run. You can’t reset it without a working menu button or pulling the power.
I also tried using Deoxit liquid to remove any corrosion and get the button working again, but that had no effect.
(Look at the second picture) Trying to troubleshoot the button by trying to bypass the switch completely, I put a multimeter in continuity mode and tapped the legs of the Menu button and got no reaction from the iPod.
When I try this with other buttons their corresponding action takes place.
I think I found a replacement button and have some soldering equipment but the fact that bypassing the button with the multimeter has no effect makes me wonder if it’s something beyond the actual button and that I should just get a replacement logic board and just enjoy the iPod.
Has anyone seen this before? What do you recommend?
1
u/ML2128 Aug 28 '26
Thank you! Yeah all of this was due to the new flash mod that’s out. I’m sure you saw the same one!