## iOpenPod: Open-Source iPod Sync Tool — Manage Your iPod Without iTunes

iOpenPod is and always will be completely free and open source. If you like it and would like to support me, it is so very appreciated.
Support on Ko-fi

## Everything Your iPod Needs

No iTunes. No setup wizards. Just your music, on your iPod.

Core

### Any Format, Any iPod

FLAC, OGG, WMA, MP3, AAC — drop in whatever you have. Non-native formats are automatically transcoded to ALAC or AAC, cached so repeat syncs are instant.

Safety

### Review Every Change

Every sync shows you exactly what's happening — adds, removes, metadata updates — with a checkbox on each item. Your database is snapshotted before anything writes.

Identity

### Fingerprint, Not Filename

Tracks are matched by acoustic fingerprint, not path or tags. Re-encode, re-tag, or change quality — your sync history follows without losing anything.

### Podcasts Built In

Search, subscribe, and download episodes right inside iOpenPod. Sync to your iPod without a separate app.

### ListenBrainz Scrobbling

Sign in and your listening history scrobbles automatically every time you sync.

### Playlists & Smart Playlists

Browse and manage standard playlists. Smart playlists with rule-based filtering are supported too.

### Play Counts & Ratings

Listen on your iPod, plug it in. Play counts, ratings, and skip counts sync back to your PC library.

### Drag and Drop

Don't need full sync? Drag files into the app and they land on your iPod — no fingerprinting, no setup.

### Album Art Included

Art is extracted from your files, resized, and written in the iPod's native RGB565 format automatically.

### Audiobooks, Movies & TV

All supported and sorted into the correct categories on your iPod automatically.

### Backup & Rollback

Your iPod database is snapshotted before every sync. One click to roll back if something goes wrong.

### Light, Dark & Catppuccin

Multiple themes including Catppuccin. Scales correctly on high-DPI and standard displays.

## See It In Action

Review every change before it hits your iPod
Detect and pick your connected iPod
Built-in podcast manager
Drag and drop tracks directly
Browse and manage playlists
Smart playlists with rule-based filtering
Light mode
One-click backup and restore

## Supported iPods

Every click-wheel iPod Apple ever made. Shuffle support coming soon.

Device | Status | Notes
--- | --- | ---
iPod 1G–5G, Mini, Photo | Fully supported | No hash required
iPod Classic (all gens) | Fully supported | Uses FireWire ID
iPod Nano 1G–2G | Fully supported | No hash required
iPod Nano 3G–4G | Fully supported | Uses FireWire ID
iPod Nano 5G | Fully supported | Needs one iTunes sync for HashInfo
iPod Nano 6G–7G | Fully supported | HASHAB via WebAssembly
iPod Shuffle | Coming soon | —

## Download & Install

Native builds for most users. Python package installs are also available.

Download Latest Release

Platform | File | Instructions
--- | --- | ---
Windows | iOpenPod-windows.zip | Extract, run iOpenPod.exe
macOS | iOpenPod-macos.tar.gz | Extract, right-click iOpenPod.app → Open
Linux (AppImage) | iOpenPod-Linux-x86_64.AppImage | `chmod a+x` then run
Linux (Arch) | iopenpod (AUR) | Available in the AUR
Linux (tarball) | iOpenPod-linux.tar.gz | Extract, run ./iOpenPod

### Install from PyPI

For technical users who prefer package managers. After install, launch iOpenPod 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`.

Native downloads can update themselves from the app (except AUR). Package-manager installs should be upgraded with the same tool you used to install them.
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.
Optional: FFmpeg for transcoding and Chromaprint for fingerprinting.

## For Developers

Requires Python 3.11+ and uv.

$ git clone https://github.com/TheRealSavi/iOpenPod.git
$ cd iOpenPod
$ uv sync
$ uv run python main.py

`uv sync` installs all dependencies into a virtual environment automatically.

## Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sync my iPod without iTunes?

Download iOpenPod from the releases page or install it from PyPI with pip, pipx, or uv tool. Launch it, connect your iPod via USB, select your media folder, and click sync — no iTunes required.

Do I need Python to use iOpenPod?

No for most users. Precompiled binaries are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you prefer a Python-based install, you can also use pip, pipx, or uv tool.

Can I put FLAC files on an iPod?

Yes. iOpenPod automatically converts FLAC to Apple Lossless (ALAC) during sync, so your iPod plays them natively with no quality loss.

Does it work on Linux and macOS?

Yes. Precompiled downloads are available for all three platforms. Just extract and run.

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 (visible in File Explorer or Finder) and not in disk mode lock. iOpenPod also has a manual folder picker if auto-detection misses it. If it's still not working, open an issue on GitHub with your iPod model and OS.

Do I need FFmpeg and Chromaprint installed?

They're optional but recommended. Without FFmpeg, iOpenPod can't transcode non-native formats like FLAC or OGG — you'd be limited to MP3 and AAC. Without Chromaprint, fingerprint-based sync isn't available, though drag-and-drop still works.

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?

No. iPod Touch runs iOS and uses a completely different sync protocol. iOpenPod is built specifically for the click-wheel iPods (Classic, Mini, Photo, Nano) that use the iTunesDB binary format.