# iPod: Enter passcode

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-enter-passcode/952371
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 12, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-enter-passcode/952371 "2021-10-12T19:59:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-enter-passcode/952371/1 "2021-10-12T19:59:18Z")

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I’m still using an iPod I bought… I don’t know how long ago. A dozen? Anyway, it’s an iPod Touch, 1st Generation. Mostly, I plug it into the dock of the clock radio on my desk twice a week when I come into the office. The only other times I use it is on the rare, long road trip.

This morning I plugged it in as usual and got preoccupied getting my day started. I looked over to move the slider to open it up, and there was a screen saying I needed to enter a passcode. I have no recollection of ever giving it a passcode. It hasn’t been plugged into a computer in years. I pulled it out of the dock, shut it off, and restarted it. From there I could ‘slide to unlock’ as expected.

1. Why would this screen suddenly show up after over a decade of use?
2. Assuming I did give it a long-forgotten passcode, what recourse would I have if the restart didn’t work?

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### Author: ![DenisZen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@DenisZen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DenisZen)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-enter-passcode/952371/2 "2021-10-12T23:05:43Z")

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Just hit enter. If you didn’t set a passcode the default is nothing. And if that doesn’t work good luck.

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### Author: ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-enter-passcode/952371/3 "2021-10-13T02:04:53Z")

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Thanks. I’ll try that if it comes up again.

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### Author: ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-enter-passcode/952371/4 "2021-10-13T02:34:38Z")

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Assumedly you have your music and playlists backed up somewhere, just in case?