Installation of Rockbox and the Rockbox bootloader on iPod nano

Last updated: 21 September 2026

Current testing version: aeeb7d67e1-260921 (21 September 2026)

There is a command-line tool mks5lboot for Windows, Linux and macOS, which can install, update or uninstall the bootloader.

Jump to: Compatibility: Models | NAND flash | Installation instructions | DFU mode | Download | Building mks5lboot | Usage | Support | Contribution

Model number compatibility

IMPORTANT! Please check if your model number (on the back of the device) matches, before proceeding with the installation!

NAND flash compatibility

See the tables below.

• ✅ Validated means that it passed basic read and write tests, and it's confirmed to work well.
• ⚠️ Checked read-only means that it passed basic read tests but not write tests. You can test if it works on your own risk!
• ⏳ Reported means that someone has a device with this NAND model, but it has not been validated. It might be available in a next build in a couple of days.
• 🛟 Testers needed means that it's not tested at all, and we don't have contacts with anyone who has this NAND model. Get in touch with us for further instructions - see the Support section.

Installation instructions for Mac

IMPORTANT! Please make sure that your iPod is formatted using FAT32 (a.k.a. WinPod) before attempting to install the bootloader! Installation will not work on HFS/HFS+ iPods (a.k.a. MacPods).

1. Connect your iPod in normal mode (iTunes/file transfer).
2. If your iPod is not visible as a Removable storage (similar to an external HDD or USB flash drive), go to iTunes/Finder and check Enable disk use.
3. Download Rockbox.
4. Extract the Rockbox ZIP to your player's root directory. Its contents need to go next to the Calendars, Contacts, Notes and Recordings folders - NOT inside any of them, or in a new folder.
   • On macOS and Linux, you need to enable Show hidden files, since Rockbox's folder is hidden by default, it's called .rockbox.
5. Download the bootloader in .ipod format.
6. Download mks5lboot. Alternatively, you can build it from the source code.
7. You need to have package libusb installed using Homebrew (brew install libusb) or MacPorts (port install libusb) in order to run mks5lboot.
8. To make sure the installer is marked as executable, start the following command in the terminal: chmod +x mks5lboot.
9. Start mks5lboot from a terminal with the following command-line: ./mks5lboot --dfuscan -l. It should scan for DFU devices every second.
10. IMPORTANT! Before continuing to the next step, ensure the following so that your iPod is not put in the wrong mode:
    • If you have iTunes installed, make sure to stop iTunes (dock icon → Quit) and iTunesHelper (using Activity monitor, find the process and select Quit or Force quit if it doesn't terminate gracefully).
    • On modern macOS, Finder tries to restore any connected iPods. To prevent this, run the following commands: defaults write -g ignore-devices -bool true and then killall Finder. To undo it: defaults delete -g ignore-devices and then killall Finder
11. Put your iPod in DFU mode
12. When the device is detected, press CTRL+C to terminate the scan process, and proceed to the next step.
13. Start mks5lboot from a terminal with the following command-line: ./mks5lboot --bl-inst path/to/bootloader-ipodnano3g.ipod, providing the correct path to bootloader-ipodnano3g.ipod that you downloaded earlier.
14. When the installation is complete, you should have Rockbox up and running!

Troubleshooting

If you get this screen after installing the bootloader:

It means your device's NAND flash memory has not been tested yet. You can help validating and enabling it for you and others that have the same model of flash memory. Join one of the channels listed in the Support section, and we'll give you instructions on how to proceed.

Entering DFU mode

At some point during the installation, you need to switch your iPod to DFU (device firmware update) mode. This has proven to be tricky, so here are additional instructions

1. Lock the HOLD switch
2. Wait 1 second
3. Unlock the HOLD switch
4. Press and hold down MENU and CENTER at the same time
5. Wait 12 seconds - the timing is important, so either look at your computer's clock, or count to 12
6. Release both buttons

A device in DFU mode is hard to tell apart from a turned off device. The screen is completely black, nothing happens if you press any of the buttons. But if you connect it to a computer, the USB IDs are different - Product ID is 1223 (here's a table of iPod Product IDs).

Download

iPod nano (3rd generation) files

Most recent version

version aeeb7d67e1-260921

• Rockbox ZIP (17M)
• Rockbox Bootloader (103K)
• macOS build of mks5lboot (arm64, Apple Silicon) (85K)
• Directory listing with all files
• Source code of Rockbox
• Source code of these changes to Rockbox and mks5lboot

Older versions

version eaac18c818-260921

• Rockbox ZIP (17M)
• Rockbox Bootloader (103K)
• macOS build of mks5lboot (arm64, Apple Silicon) (85K)
• Directory listing with all files
• Source code of Rockbox
• Source code of these changes to Rockbox and mks5lboot

version 70ea2a556a-260919

• Rockbox ZIP (17M)
• Rockbox Bootloader (87K)
• macOS build of mks5lboot (arm64, Apple Silicon) (85K)
• Directory listing with all files
• Source code of Rockbox
• Source code of these changes to Rockbox and mks5lboot

Building mks5lboot from source

You need git, GNU make and a compiler (gcc/clang). Also, you need to install the development package of libusb (called libusb-1.0.0-dev on Linux or libusb-dev on Mac)

1. Clone Rockbox's Git repo using git clone git://git.rockbox.org/rockbox.git.
2. Change the directory to rbutil/mks5lboot.
3. Build the tool using make.

Usage

Turning on the iPod

Unlock the HOLD switch, or press any button if already unlocked.

Turning off the iPod when running Rockbox

Hold down the PLAY button, until you see Shutting down...

Switching from Apple's firmware to Rockbox

Hold down MENU+SELECT, until the iPod reboots. Release them immediately after the screen goes black.

Switching from Rockbox to Apple's firmware

Turn off the iPod, then turn it on and immediately lock the HOLD switch.

- OR -

Turn off the iPod, then turn it on and immediately hold down MENU.

Entering Apple's Disk mode

Turn off the iPod. Power it on by holding down SELECT+PLAY, keep holding until Disk mode starts.

Entering Apple's Diagnostics mode

Turn off the iPod. Power it on by holding down SELECT+LEFT, keep holding until Diagnostics mode starts.

Entering Rockbox's Bootloader USB mode

Turn off the iPod. Power it on by holding down SELECT+RIGHT, keep holding until you see the USB Mode message.

Uninstalling of the Rockbox bootloader

Enter DFU, then run the following command: ./mks5lboot --bl-uninst ipodnano3g.

Uninstalling of Rockbox

Uninstall the bootloader first so you don't run into any issues! Then delete the .rockbox folder on the iPod.

Support

As this installation method is not yet official, please use the following channels:

• IRC: #freemyipod@irc.libera.chat (webchat also available)
• Matrix: #freemyipod:hackerspace.pl (bridged to IRC)
• Discord: #rockbox-n3g-n4g at the iPod nano Hacking Discord server

For the officially supported models (iPod nano, iPod nano 2nd gen), you can use the official Rockbox support channels:

• IRC: #rockbox@irc.libera.chat (webchat also available)
• E-mail: rockbox@lists.haxx.se

Contribution

These instructions are available on GitLab, merge requests are welcome!