Where to Download iPod nano Manuals for All Models

7th Gen. iPod nano

Apple Inc.

You won't find a printed iPod nano manual in the box. In our digital age, printed manuals are a rare and endangered species. But that doesn't mean that Apple doesn't make manuals for the iPod nano. It just doesn't print them anymore. The company provides these manuals as downloadable PDFs on its site. Here's your guide to identifying which model you have and then getting the correct iPod nano manual for you.

Apple discontinued all models of the iPod Nano on July 27, 2017.

7th Generation iPod nano

7th Generation iPod nano
7th Generation iPod nano. image copyright Apple Inc.

The 7th generation iPod nano is distinguished from its predecessors by its larger, multitouch screen, the Lightning connector on the bottom, its thin body, and support for features like Bluetooth audio streaming. The link above takes you to an article that describes the 7th gen. nano in more detail. Once you know if this is the model you've got, you can:

Buy 7th Gen. iPod nano at Amazon.

6th Generation iPod nano

Apple iPod nano 16GB 6th Generation
Apple iPod nano 16GB 6th Generation. Photo from Amazon

The 6th generation iPod nano is pretty easy to identify. It's the only nano model with a square shape and matchbook size. Besides that, it sports a clip on the back, a touchscreen, and removes the clickwheel and video camera that the 5th generation model offered. Once you know if that's the model you've got:

Buy 6th Gen. iPod nano at Amazon.

5th Generation iPod nano

5th generation iPod nano

Apple Inc.

The 5th generation iPod nano looks pretty similar to the 4th gen. model from the outside. While their cases are reasonably similar, the 5th gen. sets itself apart thanks to its inclusion of a video camera on the bottom of its back, 16GB maximum capacity, and an FM tuner, among other features. Once you know if you've got the 5th gen. model:

Buy 5th Gen. iPod nano at Amazon.

4th Generation iPod nano

4th Gen. iPod nano
4th Gen. iPod nano. image credit: Apple Inc.

It's easiest to identify the 4th gen. iPod nano based on what it doesn't have, rather than what it does. Since the 4th and 5th gen. models look so similar, the key way to tell them apart is to look for the video camera lens on the backside. If there's no lens, you've got the 4th generation nano. It also has a slightly smaller screen than the 5th gen., but that's difficult to see easily. Once you know that you've got this model:

Buy 4th Gen. iPod nano at Amazon

3rd Generation iPod nano

3rd generation iPod nano

The 3rd Generation iPod nano is easily identified due to its square shape, thin body, and bright colors. While the 6th gen. is also square, the 3rd gen. model is bigger and thinner and sports a Clickwheel. Once you know if that's the model you've got or not:

Buy 3rd Gen. iPod nano at Amazon

2nd Generation iPod nano

2nd Gen. iPod nano
2nd Gen. iPod nano. image credit: Apple Inc.

The 2nd Generation iPod nano looks reasonably similar to the original model, with one big difference: color. The 2nd gen. models were the first to come in colors other than black or white. If you've got a narrow, tall nano in a color other than black or white, chances are pretty high it's a 2nd gen. model. Once you know if that's the model you've got:

Buy 2nd Gen. iPod nano at Amazon

1st Generation iPod nano

1st gen. ipod nano
First Generation iPod nano. image copyright Apple Inc.

The 1st Generation iPod nano is tall and narrow and comes in black or white. It's a little boxier than the 2nd gen. model. Once you've determined that you've got a 1st gen. model:

Buy 1st Gen. iPod nano at Amazon

Was this page helpful?