How to Take the Battery Out of a Nano

The iPod Nano battery is soldered onto the device's motherboard. It is recommended that you allow a professional or Apple to replace the battery. If you want to replace the Nano battery yourself, you can order a battery from a third-party supplier. Battery kits come with a case opener tool, but the tools required to solder the battery will have to be acquired separately. Before beginning the task, plug in and warm up the soldering iron.

• 1

  Power off the iPod Nano.

• 2

  Wrap tape around the sides of the metal back case, if using anything other than a plastic pry tool. This protects it from scratches as you take apart the Nano. Apply tape around every side of the Nano, where the metal backing meets the plastic front case.

• 3

  Wedge the pry tool into the groove that separates the front and back metal case to disconnect the clips that hold the front and back case together.

• 4

  Work the pry tool around all sides of the iPod Nano. As the pry tool moves around, continue to separate the front and back case from each other. When the cases have loosened enough, remove the back case. Don't force it. If it's not loose enough, continue to use the pry tool to create more separation between the front and back case.

• 5

  Shake the separate front and back cases to remove any excess debris or filings.

• 6

  Peel up the yellow plastic tape that holds down the three wires connected to the battery. You may need a pair of tweezers to lift up the tape. Notice the arrangement of the wires -- the white wire is on the right, the red wire in the middle, and the black wire on the left, toward the center of the case.

• 7

  Pull the battery out and lay it beside the Nano. The battery is a flat, silver object laying in the battery bay next to the motherboard, connected to the motherboard by the three wires. Don't pull the battery from the motherboard or wires. The wires will have to be soldered off.

• 8

  Grab the first white wire with the tweezers to hold it apart from the other two wires.

• 9

  Touch the tip of the hot soldering iron to the end of the white wire near the lead on the motherboard. The wire should separate. Repeat the process to remove the other two wires.

• 10

  Remove the old Nano battery.

• 11

  Remove any tape around the wires of the new Nano battery and separate the wires a little. Set the new battery into the battery bay and arrange the wires so the ends touch the appropriate lead. The white wire should touch the lead nearest the right edge of the case, the red wire is in the middle and the black wire should touch the lead nearest the center of the Nano.

• 12

  Hold the white wire with the tweezers. Hold the end of the white wire to its lead on the motherboard with the soldering iron until it is firmly in place. Repeat with the red and black wires.

• 13

  Touch the tip of the solder dispenser to each lead with the connected wire to apply a little more solder. Then touch each lead with the soldering iron to further melt the wire into place.

• 14

  Flatten the clips with the pry tool around the interior edges of the metal case. These clips got pushed forward when you pried the case apart. They will have to be pushed back, or flattened, for the back and front case to reconnect.

• 15

  Position the bottom of the back case on top of the bottom of the front case. Push the cases together so they clip back together on every side. Power the iPod Nano on and it should power up.