Downgrading Apple iPod Classic Firmware (1.0.2 > 1.0.1). *UPDATED SIGNATURE LINK*
Having read about issues facing the 1.0.2 firmware that’s been pushed out, here’s a quick guide to downgrading to 1.0.1.
*NOTE: Downgrading firmware will format your player, so backup your data before continuing. Also, this guide is solely for the iPod Classic.
Windows:
1, Firstly, reset your iPod. To do this, hold down the menu and centre button until you see the Apple logo appear.
2, Open iTunes, head to Edit > Preferences > General and untick ‘Automatically check for updates’. **CLOSE iTunes**
3, Head over to X:\Documents and Settings\*YOUR PROFILE NAME*\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPod Software Updates where ‘X‘ is your drive name (example, C:\). Alternatively, you can do: Start > run > %appdata%
4, Delete the files ‘iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw’ and ‘iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw.signature’.
5, If you don’t already have ‘iPod_24.1.0.1.ipsw’ and ‘iPod_24.1.0.1.ipsw.signature’, download them here: Signature | Firmware
6, Put the downloaded files into the directory above.
7, Plug in your iPod and start iTunes.
8, Head over to ‘Devices’ and select ‘Restore’. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to check online for updates, click ‘Don’t check’.
9, Another dialog box will appear asking if you want to use an older version, select ‘Use Older Version’.
10, You should have successfully downgraded your iPods firmware.
Mac (courtesy of comment poster ‘Dem’):
1) go to spotlight and do a search for .ipsw
2) in the results click on “show all” this will open the results in a separate spotlight window.
3) right click (ctrl click) on iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw and select “Reveal in finder” this will open the folder where the files are kept.
4) simply drag the iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw and the iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw.signature files to the desktop or another folder or to the trash, wherever you want.
5) in iTunes click the restore button making sure you don’t have the option to automatically update your ipod with the latest software turned on and this will restore your ipod to 1.0.1
WARNING: as i’m sure you’re all aware this will delete all the songs from your ipod, so you’ll have to re-sync to put them all back on..
Note to Apple: Bugtest your software before you put it out to the masses!
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Comments
Thanks for this guide
Can you add that all your songs etc will be deleted, so it said in itunes, once it told me this i stopped as i have 4000 plus songs
This is not working for my 5.5 gen Ipod. On teh step where:8, Head over to ‘Devices’ and select ‘Restore’. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to check online for updates, click ‘Don’t check’.
I don’t get an option saying don’t check. Rather, it’s just Check and cancel, and cancel cancels the whole process. Help!
To downgrade on mac:
1) go to spotlight and do a search for .ipsw
2)in the results click on “show all” this will open the results in a separate finder window.
3) right click (ctrl click) on iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw and select “Reveal in finder” this will open the folder where the files are kept.
4)simply drag the iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw and the iPod_24.1.0.2.ipsw.signature files to the desktop or another folder of the trash where ever you want.
5) in iTunes click the restore button making sure you don’t have the option to automatically update your ipod with the latest software turned on and this will restore your ipod to 1.0.1
WARNING: as i’m sure you’re all aware this will delete all the songs from your ipod so you’ll have to re-sync to put them all back on..
Thankyou for your help on this people.
As my first ipod, to run across this issue - without even listening to a song - has thoroughly disgusted me. It is only this useful advice that is stopping me throwing the ipod back in Apple’s face.
Keep up the good work.
Nathan
great, and thanks for that, but i’m not arranged to re rip 80gb music on applelosseles
C’MOOOOON APPLE, DON’T BE MICROSOFT ¡¡¡¡¡
It’s the first day I got my iPod Classic, and I was just too agressive and update to the newest firmware. Then this thing happened. Thank you very much guys. You just save my iPod, and save me from the hell.
This time, Apple, you went too far.
Thanks mate procedure worked a treat. Although my iPod seems slow and sluggish now. Is that a side affect of this roll back or is it just an effect of not having updated firmware, i.e. was it slow to start with. I dont know as i only had my iPod for a few days before updating to 1.0.2 and then the problems started. Thanks anyway.
[…] News Add comments Apple has now released 1.0.3 firmware which includes several bugfixes to the previous situation. I can confirm that the menus are now faster and more responsive, photos load faster, shuts down […]
thank you for this!!!! I have an 80GB iPod classic qith the firmware 1.0.3 and I think it sucks!! I can’t sync any picture from my computer anymore and when I turn the iPod on after a few minutes off it resets and takes me to the “choose a language” page 
I hope this works!! Thanks again!!
[…] Auf jeden Fall ist aber ein Downgrade möglich. Sollte also das bei dem einen oder anderen User nicht mehr richtig funktionieren, wie der Downgrade funktioniert, steht hier: http://spr33.co.uk/wp/archives/downgrading-apple-ipod-firmware-102-101 […]
Brilliant!
Worked first time. My ipod plays music!
Why can’t Apple get their act together?
Many thanks.