Need a Manual for Any iPod Shuffle? Get It Here

The iPod Shuffle doesn't come with a manual. These days, that's not unusual. It's pretty common that most products—especially computers and other electronic gadgets—don't come with printed manuals. But that doesn't mean there isn't that iPod Shuffle manuals don't exist. You just need to know where to find it.

The Shuffle is pretty easy to use without having to read a manual. After all, there are only a few buttons on it. But if you prefer a comprehensive user guide that helps you explore everything the Shuffle can do, Apple offers manuals as downloadable PDFs.

Here's a description of each Shuffle model, how-to articles about the iPod Shuffle, and links to download the iPod Shuffle manual for your model.

Apple discontinued the iPod Shuffle in July 2017. It's still possible to find used (or even new!) iPod Shuffles for sale, and millions of Shuffles are still in daily use.

4th Generation iPod Shuffle

Released: 2010 (updated colors in 2012, 2013, and 2015)
Discontinued: July 2017

Colors:

2010: Gray, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue
2012: Silver, Black, Green, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Purple
2013: Space Grey
2015: Blue, Pink, Silver, Gold, Space Grey

The 4th Generation iPod Shuffle is a classic design. With its square shape, buttons on the front, two switches on top, clip on the back, it's not much bigger than a quarter. Be careful not to confuse this model with the 2nd gGeneration. They're both small and have a ring of controls on the front, but the 2nd generation is a rectangle, while the 4th generation is square.

4th Gen. iPod Shuffle Manual

4th Gen. iPod Shuffle User Guide [PDF]
Product Information [PDF]

Learn More About Using the 4th Gen. iPod Shuffle:

3rd Generation iPod Shuffle

Released: 2009
Discontinued: 2010

Colors: Silver, Black, Pink, Blue, Green, stainless steel

The 3rd Generation iPod Shuffle is a bit of a throwback to the original Shuffle, but with a modern spin. Like the 1st generation, it's a tiny stick—about half as tall as a stick of gum. But very much unlike the original, or any other iPod ever made, it doesn't have any buttons on its front at all. Instead, you use headphones to control it via an inline remote control. It was an interesting innovation by Apple, but ultimately one that wasn't entirely successful or popular.

3rd Gen. iPod Shuffle Manual

3rd Gen. iPod Shuffle User Guide [PDF]

Learn More About Using the 3rd Gen. iPod Shuffle:

2nd Generation iPod Shuffle

Released: 2006 (updated 2008)
Discontinued: 2009

Colors:

2006: Silver, Magenta, Orange, Blue, Green
2008: Silver, Light Blue, Light Green, Light Purple, Red

The 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle is similar to the 4th generation model, but wider. You can tell them apart because the 2nd generation model has space to the side of the buttons that the 4th generation lacks. Like the 4th generation, its buttons are arranged in a circle on the iPod's face and it has a clip on the back. It's about the size of a book of matches and was the first Shuffle to come in a variety of colors (the 1st gen. model was only available in white). It also came with a small dock that attached to a computer for syncing.

2nd Gen. iPod Shuffle Manual

2nd Gen. iPod Shuffle User Guide [PDF]

Learn More About the 2nd Gen. iPod Shuffle:

1st Generation iPod Shuffle

Released: 2005
Discontinued: 2006

Colors: White

The 1st Generation iPod Shuffle was a white stick with a small ring of control buttons on the front. The back sported a large switch that could be used to set the iPod to shuffle music or play songs in order. The back switch also allowed users to put the Shuffle to sleep or lock the front buttons. The 1st gen. model also had a removable cover on the bottom. Taking it off revealed the USB connector used to plug the Shuffle into a computer to sync it.

1st Gen. iPod Shuffle Manual

1st Gen. iPod Shuffle User Guide [PDF]

Learn More About the 1st Gen. iPod Shuffle:

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for letting us know!

Tell us why!