How do I limit the volume on my son's Apple iPod?

My son is really into what he calls "speed metal" and I call horrible loud noise. Even when his headphones are clamped to his head I can hear the guitars and singers screaming into the mic. I seem to recall that Apple added some system whereby I can limit the maximum volume on his iPod so he doesn't go deaf by the time he's 17, but I can't figure out how to do it. In the name of humanity, HELP!

Dave's Answer:

Wow, sounds serious. I know what you're talking about too: I often take the bus and it's amazing to sit three rows from someone with the Apple earbuds and an iPod, with it playing so loud that I can actually recognize the song even with the ambient noise of the bus engine!

Apple isn't the only company facing the concern of a generation of youth going slowly deaf from excessively loud music, but as far as I know, it's the only MP3 player line that actually lets you do something about it. Here's how it's done...

First off, use the "MENU" button to navigate to the very top of your iPod menu, then choose "Settings":

Within settings, you'll find "Volume Limit":

Choose that and you can now specify the maximum allowable volume that the iPod will play by simply spinning the wheel clockwise or counterclockwise:

Like your new setting? Push the button in the middle of the wheel to set it, then enter a four-digit combination to lock it in place:

Apple iPod: Settings: Set Volume Limit Combination

"Set Combination" looks pretty cool, actually, kinda like some safe cracking game or something:

Pick a four digit value that your son presumably won't guess but that you'll remember, spinning to the numeric value and pushing the center button to go from digit to digit.

When you've entered all four, it's locked and the volume is limited as you seek. Good luck!

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Categorized: iPod, Sony PSP and MP3 Player Help (Article 6685, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: apple ipod, audio player deafness, mp3 players and hearing, volume limits
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Reader Comments To Date: 39

DeadParrot24 said, on July 26, 2006 3:51 PM:

This only works with the Nano and 5th generation. If you have an older iPod, you're out of luck.

Mike Kupietz said, on August 2, 2006 8:57 PM:

You might want to add that they should change the combination once a month. It's easy to underestimate both a kid's persistence and free time... If I was a kid I wouldn't let a measly four digits stand between me and cranking my Helloween to 11.

Jaimie said, on March 16, 2007 10:24 AM:

I lost my combination to my volume limit how can i change it?

Ann said, on March 30, 2007 7:49 PM:

I lost my combination to my volume limit how can i change it?

Jose said, on April 3, 2007 9:31 PM:

i to lost my volume limit code. my iPod says that through itunes u can unlock it i dont know how though?

some guy said, on April 14, 2007 3:30 PM:

i lost my volume limit combination. I have no idea how to get it back. HOW CAN I GET MY COMBONATION BACK???

someone said, on April 21, 2007 8:22 AM:

I lost my ipod lock code!!! how am i supposed to unlcok the volume limit thingy now?? can someone pleeease help

Lil Pat said, on May 3, 2007 5:01 PM:

I lost my ipod lock code,how am i supposed to unlcok the volume limit now? can someone please get some help.

janet said, on May 6, 2007 7:56 PM:

okay,
so i lost my code and cannot unlock the volume settin on my ipod. HELP do I need to reset the entire thing and loose all my music? sending out an SOS please advise.
janet

ted said, on June 9, 2007 4:48 AM:

i forgot my combination lock for my volume control..how can i reset it?

joseph miria said, on June 25, 2007 9:05 PM:

i lost my code and cannot unlock the volume settin on my ipod. HELP do I need to reset the entire thing and loose all my music?

B said, on June 26, 2007 7:43 AM:

i lost my volume code, how do i reset it?

xbabyrix said, on August 17, 2007 2:24 PM:

I have a an ipod nano and i am not able 2 put anymore songs onto it for some reason, i have plenty of memory space left and i have noticed a little lock symbol on the bottom of the page where it shows the capacity left.
How can i unlock it?

roslee said, on September 28, 2007 3:44 PM:

i lost my volume code,how do i reset it.

wanda said, on October 5, 2007 11:14 PM:

I lost my combination to my volume limit how can i change it?

Victoria said, on October 22, 2007 8:27 AM:

My son (2) was playing with my ipod and somehow set some sort of LOCk code. Now I am locked out of my ipod. What am I to Do??? Do I have to purchase another? Take it to a apple store (if any in myy area) and have them reset it and possibly loose all of my songs. Please advise asap. Thanks.

Dave Taylor said, on October 22, 2007 2:34 PM:

Apple has instructions on how to reset your iPod if you lose your lock code, worst case. You shouldn't lose any music because it should already be synchronized to one of your computers, where a copy of each tune is safely stored. Reset the iPod, resync it with your computer, and it should all be back to normal!

Here's the relevant quote:

“To change a combination you’ve already set:
1 Choose Extras > Screen Lock > Change Combination.
2 On the Enter Old Code screen, enter the current combination.
3 On the Enter New Code screen, enter a new combination.
Note: If you can't remember the current combination, the only way to clear it and enter a new one is to restore the iPod software. See “Updating and Restoring iPod Software��?
on page 50 for more information.“

steve said, on December 3, 2007 3:04 PM:

hi
I have a psp, psp model 1006. I think this is china and japan.
I recently purchased some umd movies from my local video gaming shop, region 2 movies.
For some reason, when i insert the movies, it comes up saying "cannot load disc. region code is not correct." when I purchased the psp unit in hong kong, i was under the impression it was region free. What i am asking is do you know if I can change the region code, or do anything to watch my region 2 movies.
Thanks
Steve

rosa said, on January 15, 2008 10:44 PM:

I DON'T KNO MY VOLUME LIMIT CODE HOW 2 CHANGE IT WITOUT LOSING MUSIC PLZ HELP

jay said, on March 16, 2008 7:55 AM:

I lost my combination to my volume limit how can i change it?

Trish Mckenzie said, on March 16, 2008 7:15 PM:

I forgot my combination, how can I get back to my volume control settings.

use google said, on April 28, 2008 8:09 PM:

1. Enable hidden folders.
Go to "Tools", "Folder Options". Then click on the tab called "View", and under "Hidden Files and Folders", click "Show Hidden Files and Folders". I honestly do not know how to do this on a mac. I'm simply stupid.
2. Navigate to the hidden folder named "iPod_Control", and once there click on the folder "Device". Once there, delete the file named "_volumelocked".
3. Eject your iPod. Then, restart your iPod. You can do this by holding down the center and menu button for at least 6 seconds.
4. Once your iPod has rebooted, check and make sure that it worked. Simply go into "Settings", "Volume Limit". If it asks for a PIN, you did it WRONG. Retry the above procedure.

pumpas said, on July 25, 2008 4:36 AM:

i i cant unlock my volume and i dont have any password

john said, on September 20, 2008 11:35 PM:

hi there this is john her & im using apple ipod 4GB frm past 01 year . There is problem with my set one of my friend lock the valume controller.
So pls kindly advise me to how operate the controller & how to open the code .

Thanks in Advance
regard
john

chastity said, on October 13, 2008 12:10 PM:

my sister locked her volume limit how do you unlock it?

black said, on December 25, 2008 4:50 AM:

my bhau bhau (dog) was listening music on ipod touch..dunno wat he did nw m nt able to increase volume ...sob :-(

solomontetteh said, on January 24, 2009 3:56 AM:

i lock my ipod volume and frogotten the code how can i unlock it

Brandie said, on January 30, 2009 2:45 PM:

My 2 year old got hold to my Ipod and changed the code now i cant get in . What do I do?

Deepak said, on February 1, 2009 7:11 AM:

i dont now my volume limit password how can i get that.

lily said, on March 29, 2009 2:35 PM:

My mom was listeninq to my musickk on my ipod and wen I came backk from skool there waz a lockk how do I un lock itt/it is the volume lockk

_Noddyx said, on April 21, 2009 12:57 PM:

I need some help I put a screen lock on my ipod and i can't remember the code and is said that if you plug it into your computer it will go away but i has'nt PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!

Brandi said, on June 9, 2009 12:22 PM:

what do i do if i forgot my four digit combonation for my iPod nano

t said, on September 27, 2009 11:02 PM:

1. Enable hidden folders.
Go to "Tools", "Folder Options". Then click on the tab called "View", and under "Hidden Files and Folders", click "Show Hidden Files and Folders". I honestly do not know how to do this on a mac. I'm simply stupid.
2. Navigate to the hidden folder named "iPod_Control", and once there click on the folder "Device". Once there, delete the file named "_volumelocked".
3. Eject your iPod. Then, restart your iPod. You can do this by holding down the center and menu button for at least 6 seconds.
4. Once your iPod has rebooted, check and make sure that it worked. Simply go into "Settings", "Volume Limit". If it asks for a PIN, you did it WRONG. Retry the above procedure.

Harry said, on September 30, 2009 10:02 PM:

what do i do if i forgot my four digit combonation for my iPod nano

josh said, on February 25, 2010 8:05 PM:

I lost my volume code to unlock....any clues

davis said, on April 26, 2010 1:35 PM:

reset you volume restriction by resetting your ipod and resyncing your songs again, no other ways to be found.

Mike said, on September 7, 2010 4:19 PM:

Hi Dave,

How does one remove the games from the iPod (Classic)?

Thanks,
Mike

Dave Taylor said, on September 8, 2010 8:40 PM:

Interesting that you'd ask that, Mike. I looked at the same thing on my son's iPod and as far as I could tell, you can hide the "Games" item on the menu, but you can't remove the games, and I figure my son would figure out the menu edit and fix it soon enough anyway.

Ken said, on November 19, 2010 10:00 AM:

Hey so i'm wondering How loud the Maximum setting of an ipod (US made) actually is everytime i try to google it i just get the EU sound limit and cannot find any site that says how many decibels an ipod turned up all the way is

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

How do I limit the volume on my son's Apple iPod?

Reader Comments To Date: 39

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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