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clickwheel is a local, single-tenant tool: it runs on your Mac and works with your library and iPod in place. Here’s what it expects.

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System

macOS

macOS only. Mounting and writing the iPod use macOS disk tools.

Python 3.11+

Python 3.11 through 3.14, installed via pipx.

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Supported iPods

clickwheel writes the iTunesDB format used by the click-wheel iPod line, with stock firmware, over USB. The iPod Classic is the primary, tested target; other models from the same era that use the same format should work too:
  • iPod Classic
  • iPod 4th and 5th gen, including photo and video
  • iPod mini
  • iPod nano, 1st through 5th gen
Not sure which you have? See Apple’s Identify your iPod model.
iPod touch and iOS devices aren’t supported, nor the touchscreen nano 6th/7th gen (different on-device database).
clickwheel expects the iPod at /Volumes/IPOD and assumes 64 GB. Override with ipod_mount and ipod_capacity_gb, see Configuration.

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Audio formats

ffmpeg is required only for FLAC conversion. Install it with brew install ffmpeg before running clickwheel convert.

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Optional integrations

Everything below is optional and off until you set it up. The base install, including fix metadata repair, needs none of it.