A USED 30 DOLLARS IPOD FROM 2004 STREAMS SPOTIFY - THERE'S A RASPBERRY PI HIDDEN INSIDE
A second-hand iPod Classic from 2004 streams Spotify — the click wheel still works, but inside there is a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a colour screen, a battery and a haptic motor.
by Guy Dupont
AudioOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- Apache-2.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE1,038 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · Apache-2.0 · 1,038 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a deeply satisfying rebuild if you want the tactile feel of an iPod click wheel controlling a modern streaming library. The hardest part is not the Pi — it is sourcing a working click wheel from a donor iPod, then hand-wiring it to the GPIO pins without a custom PCB. The repository is clear about what goes where, but you will spend most of your time with a soldering iron making thirty-plus connections in a space the size of a deck of cards. The colour LCD upgrade is optional; the original monochrome screen works too, which simplifies the build. What will trip people up: the Spotify client code requires a Premium account and will not work with the free tier, and the Pi Zero W is still hard to find at list price in 2026. If you have never soldered to a flexible ribbon cable before, this is not the project to learn on — one torn trace and you need another donor iPod. But if you have the soldering patience and a working click wheel in hand, the result is exactly what it looks like: a 2004 iPod that streams your Spotify library over WiFi, with haptic feedback and battery life that outlasts the original.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Full Python source code, wiring diagrams, step-by-step assembly guide and a bill of materials are in the repository.
- —The iPod case, click wheel and headphone jack are salvaged from a used iPod Classic (about $30 on eBay) — you discard the original mainboard.
- —No 3D-printed parts required; the Pi Zero and battery fit inside the original shell with some filing and hot glue.
- —Requires a Spotify Premium account (paid subscription) for streaming to work.
- —Apache 2.0 licence, no restrictions on commercial use.
- —The repository does not include pre-made circuit boards; all wiring is point-to-point soldering following the diagrams.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Videos
Spotify Streaming on a modded 17-year-old iPod Classic (via ...
No official video walkthrough exists; the repository README is the primary build guide.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the full README and wiring diagram before buying anything (The repository is the complete source — no separate build log or video exists, so the README and images are your assembly manual.)
- 2.Source a working iPod Classic with an intact click wheel(4th generation or later; you need the click wheel mechanism and case, not the mainboard. Test the wheel before disassembly if possible.)
- 3.Set up Spotify API credentials and install the Pi software (Requires a Spotify Premium account and registering a developer app for API access.)
- 4.Follow the wiring diagram to connect the click wheel, LCD, battery and Pi (This is the bulk of the work — take photos as you go, because troubleshooting thirty point-to-point connections in a closed case is painful.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
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KNOWN ISSUES
- The Spotify client requires a Premium subscription; free-tier accounts will not authenticate. This is not stated prominently until you hit the software setup.
- Raspberry Pi Zero W stock is still scarce in 2026 — expect to pay above list price or wait weeks for availability.
- The click wheel ribbon cable is fragile; one torn trace means sourcing another donor iPod. Test continuity before soldering.
- There is no custom PCB — all wiring is point-to-point. Budget time for this; the repository shows the connections but each solder joint is your own.
- The original iPod battery connector is discarded; you wire the LiPo directly to a boost converter, so you need basic understanding of battery protection circuits.
- The case fits the Pi Zero but not the Pi Zero 2 W (too thick) — check dimensions before ordering the wrong board.
Will this work with Spotify Free?
No. The Spotify API integration requires a Premium account to stream tracks.
Can I use a Pi Zero 2 W for better performance?
No. The Pi Zero 2 W is thicker and will not fit inside the iPod case without significant shell modification. Stick to the original Pi Zero W.
Do I need to find a specific iPod model?
4th generation or later iPod Classic with a click wheel. The repository was tested on a 4th-gen unit; later models should work but the internal layout may differ slightly.
How long does the battery last?
The 1000mAh LiPo gives roughly 4-6 hours of playback depending on volume and WiFi signal strength — comparable to the original iPod battery when new.
Is there a pre-made PCB or kit available?
No. All wiring is manual point-to-point soldering. The repository does not link to a PCB design or a parts kit.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Guy Dupont wired a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a colour screen and a battery into a 2004 iPod Classic — the click wheel still works, but now it streams Spotify over WiFi. What would you rebuild first: an old iPod, a Nokia, or something else?
Guy Dupont
Guy Dupont is a hardware engineer who builds projects that blend vintage interfaces with modern streaming services. The iPod Spotify client was covered by 9to5Mac, Hypebeast and Hackaday in 2021.
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- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM27d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is the complete source — there is no official video walkthrough, and the wiring diagrams are static images in the README, so you will be referring back to them constantly during assembly. The single biggest time sink is not the code setup, it is the thirty-plus point-to-point solder joints to the click wheel ribbon cable in a space the size of a deck of cards. The Spotify Premium requirement is mentioned in the software setup section but not flagged prominently at the top, and it is a hard blocker — free-tier accounts will not authenticate. If you have never soldered to a flexible ribbon cable before, buy a second donor iPod as insurance.