First connection and disk mode

What you need

• An Android phone with USB-C that can act as a USB host (OTG). Most phones from the last ten years can.
• A USB OTG adapter (USB-C to USB-A).
• The iPod’s 30-pin dock cable.
• For a stock iPod mini with its original Microdrive, possibly a powered USB hub. The drive draws more power than some phones give when it spins up. Minis converted to CF or SD cards, and the nano, draw far less.

Connecting

1. Open Scrollwheel. It says “Plug in your iPod with the USB OTG adapter”.
2. Plug the iPod in. The iPod’s tile reads “Tap to allow access”.
3. Tap it, then tap Allow when Android asks whether Scrollwheel may use the iPod. If you missed the question, unplug the iPod and plug it in again to be asked again.
4. Tap Connect. The Connecting to your iPod card shows each step: opening the iPod, reading the partition table, checking the firmware, opening the music library, and reading Rockbox and device info. A healthy iPod ends with “Looks healthy.”

The app’s tabs are Library, Firmware, Games and iPod. The gear icon opens App settings.

Never accept Android’s “format” or “fix” prompt

When you plug an iPod in, Android may offer to format the “USB drive” or “fix” it. Always decline. Formatting erases the iPod’s software, and it won’t start until it’s restored. (If that has already happened, the app can restore it.)

“Android has the iPod”

Sometimes Android mounts the iPod as a USB drive itself, and Scrollwheel can’t get at it. The app then shows a panel titled Android has the iPod. Tap Open Storage settings, tap the USB drive, tap Eject (leave the cable in), then come back and tap Connect.

Mac-formatted iPods

An iPod that was set up on a Mac uses Apple’s HFS+ format, which Android can’t read. The app says so. iPod › Repair & Restore › Restore from .ipsw converts it to the Windows (FAT32) format that works everywhere, but this erases the iPod, so copy your music off first if you can.

Disk mode

Disk mode makes the iPod behave like a plain USB drive.

Apple’s disk mode (any firmware)

1. Reset the iPod: hold Menu and Select until the Apple logo appears.
2. At once, hold Select and Play until the disk mode screen shows.

Apple’s disk mode lives in the iPod’s own read-only memory, so nothing we install can block it. It is the universal way back in.

From Scrollwheel OS

• Plugging into a phone or computer shows “Connecting to computer…” for two seconds. Press Menu to stay in Scrollwheel OS instead. Otherwise the iPod restarts into Apple’s disk mode.
• You can also choose Settings › Disk Mode (restart) on the iPod.
• USB disk without restarting (experimental, untested on a real iPod) is under Firmware › Scrollwheel OS › Settings › Advanced. With it on, Scrollwheel OS acts as a USB drive itself and shows “USB / Do not disconnect”, then “OK to disconnect” once you eject. On a low battery it only lets the computer read. Back up with the app first if you try it.