Editing IPod (section)

=== File storage and transfer ===
All iPods except for the iPod Touch can function in "disk mode" as [[USB mass storage device class|mass storage devices]] to store data files but this has to be manually activated.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 6, 2010 |title=iPod touch: Appears in iTunes but not in Finder or Windows Desktop |url=https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306414 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418104003/https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306414 |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=August 15, 2011 |publisher=Docs.info.apple.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/195777/ipod_portable_storage.html |last=Fong |first=Kris |title=Turn your iPod or iPhone into a portable drive |publisher=Macworld |date=April 4, 2009 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511051744/https://www.macworld.com/article/195777/ipod_portable_storage.html |url-status=live }}</ref> If an iPod is formatted on a Mac OS computer, it uses the [[HFS Plus|HFS+]] file system format, which allows it to serve as a [[boot disk]] for a Mac computer.<ref>{{cite web |author=—Gina Trapani |url=https://lifehacker.com/software/how-to/boot-up-your-mac-from-your-ipod-260157.php |title=How To: Boot up your Mac from your iPod |publisher=Lifehacker.com |date=May 14, 2007 |access-date=August 15, 2011 |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812065231/http://lifehacker.com/software/how-to/boot-up-your-mac-from-your-ipod-260157.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> If it is formatted on Windows, the [[FAT32]] format is used. With the release of the Windows-compatible iPod, the default file system used on the iPod line switched from HFS+ to FAT32, although it can be reformatted to either file system (excluding the iPod Shuffle which is strictly FAT32). Generally, if a new iPod (excluding the iPod Shuffle) is initially plugged into a computer running Windows, it will be formatted with FAT32, and if initially plugged into a Mac running Mac OS it will be formatted with HFS+.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ipod.about.com/od/restoreandreformatipod/a/ipod_format_a.htm |title=Restore iPod – Format iPod – Reformat iPod – iPod Restore Software |publisher=Ipod.about.com |date=February 1, 2010 |access-date=June 2, 2010 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075031/http://ipod.about.com/od/restoreandreformatipod/a/ipod_format_a.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Unlike many other MP3 players, simply copying audio or video files to the drive with a typical [[file management application]] will not allow an iPod to properly access them. The user must use software that has been specifically designed to transfer media files to iPods so that the files are playable and viewable. Usually ''iTunes'' is used to transfer media to an iPod, though [[comparison of iPod managers|several alternative third-party applications]] are available on a number of different platforms.

''iTunes'' 7 and above can transfer purchased media of the iTunes Store from an iPod to a computer, provided that computer containing the DRM protected media is authorized to play it.

Media files are stored on an iPod in a hidden folder, along with a proprietary database file. The hidden content can be accessed on the host operating system by enabling [[hidden files]] to be shown. The media files can then be recovered manually by copying the files or folders off the iPod. Many third-party applications also allow easy copying of media files from an iPod.