Those still rocking an original iPod are set to find it even harder to keep it going as Apple appears to be dropping support for the original devices with the upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.
Some early adopters of the new macOS discovered that the first developer preview removes support for FireWire, the tech used to connect the first two generations of iPod to a Mac to sync across audio files.
That means the original iPod from 2001, and the iPod 2nd Gen Touch Wheel from 2002, won’t connect for syncing on macOS Tahoe 26. The 3rd Gen iPod from 2003 gained USB support for syncing alongside FireWire, so those iPods and later devices should continue to connect.
As reported by MacRumors, NekoMichiUBC on X noted that when they tried to connect their iPod to a Mac running the latest software, they were met with a blank screen. This also means older external hard drives that rely on FireWire won’t be supported, as one Reddit user found out after connecting a FireWire 800 external drive.
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Apple has yet to formally confirm the end of FireWire support. That may mean this is a mistake and the company will change course for its final software release in September. But don’t hold your breathe, considering the age of the tech. (Apple discontinued the iPod lineup in 2022.) We asked Apple for clarification on FireWire support, and we’ll update this story when we hear back.
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Apple first introduced FireWire support on some 1997 Mac models, before gradually expanding to the full range with it appearing on many products between 1999 and 2011. The technology itself is nearing its 40th birthday next year.
It’s remarkable the company has continued to support FireWire, and therefore the original iPod, over the last 23 years. If you want to continue syncing your iPod with your Mac, you’ll need an older device that isn’t upgraded to the latest software so you can continue to connect it.
New MacOS Tahoe Revealed at WWDC25
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About James Peckham
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