Play back iPod videos on your TV
May 9th, 2007 by Staff WritersWhat you'll need:
• iPod type: iPod with video
• Hardware required: A/V cable
Connect your iPod to your TV with a cable
The simplest and most direct route is to get a cable that plugs into the iPod and the TV. You use the iPod's controls to start and stop play and use the iPod's screen to navigate the menus and set up the video. The iPod's menus don't appear on the TV screen, but as you're holding the iPod, this isn't a problem.
Your first option is to get Apple's iPod A/V Cable ($30-40). Slide the connector into your iPod's headphone port, connect the yellow, red, and white connectors on the other end of the cable to the corresponding RCA plugs on your TV, and you're in business. If you have an iPod Universal Dock, you can connect the iPod A/V cable to the dock's line-out port instead. You can then keep the A/V cable plugged in when you remove the iPod from the dock.
Connect your iPod to your TV with a DIY cable
The iPod A/V Cable is stylish and handy, but you may feel it's not worth the money; the Belkin cable gives you twice the value per foot but costs the same overall. For a less expensive alternative, find a standard A/V cable with three RCA plugs at one end (coded red, white, and yellow) and a 1/8-inch A/V plug with three bands at the other end.
To set up your iPod for playback, plug the 1/8-inch connector into your iPod's headphone port, and then plug the yellow, white, and red RCA connectors into the RCA jacks on your TV in this non-color-coded way:
Set the iPod to output the signal to the TV
To set your iPod to output the signal to the TV, follow these steps:
1. Scroll to the Videos entry on the main menu, then press the Select button to access the Videos screen.
2. Scroll to the Video Settings entry, then press the Select button to access the Settings screen.
3. Set the TV Out setting to On if you want the iPod always to output the video to TV, or to Ask if you want the iPod to prompt you first. Ask is usually more convenient, as you don't need to switch the setting when you want to play the video on the iPod's screen. The disadvantage to Ask is that you have to deal with the iPod's prompt--TV or screen?--each time you play a video.
4. Make sure your iPod is set to output the right kind of TV signal for your TV: NTSC or PAL. NTSC is primarily used in North America and Japan, while PAL is used in most European countries.
5. For the Wide-screen setting, choose On or Off to suit your TV or your tastes.
6. Press the Menu button to return to the Videos screen.
Start the video playing
To play videos on your iPod, follow these steps:
1. If the iPod is not already showing the Videos screen, scroll to the Videos entry on the main menu, then press the Select button.
2. Scroll to the appropriate category (for example, Movies or TV Shows), then press the Select button to access it.
3. Scroll to the item you want, then press the Select button to access and start it playing.
You can fast-forward through the video file by pressing the Fast Forward button, and rewind by pressing the Rewind button, but these controls are comfortable only for moving short distances. To move farther, press the Select button to display the scrub bar, and then scroll to scrub forward or backward. When you reach the point you want, press the Select button to hide the scrub bar again.
Tip: When you're playing short videos, you may not want to start each of them playing separately. To make your iPod play them for you, create a video playlist in iTunes, add the videos to it in the order you want, then synchronise your iPod. You can then set the playlist playing from the Video Playlists entry on the Videos screen.
Oh this is a good one I have been looking into how to play flac 
Yakko
October 31st, 2007 at 10:32am
I tried this (red to yellow etc) but video-out still didnt work with my iPod Touch. Perhaps it is because my AV cable is an Apple cable for the iPod Classic, not necessarily a "standard" AV cable. Is there a difference? Anyone had success with the method suggested above?
physio
January 16th, 2008 at 1:01am
I've tried this on the iPod Touch as well and it didn't work. I then read elsewhere that the generations of iPod since the Touch came out will not output video this way. You need a special cable that has a chip in it and doesn't plug in to the headphone jack. Disappointing.
Donna
March 16th, 2008 at 9:35am
I am trying to connect my I pod video classic 80gb to my TV. I have followed all of the directions and I keep getting the same response "tv out enabled please connect video accessory" Could you help please. I look forward to your reply.
Cindy
March 17th, 2008 at 12:29pm
I am having the same problem. I followed the directions and am getting tv out enabled please connect video accessory. Do we need to get a dock? What exactly kind of dock??
Vanessa
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:47pm
thanks, this was very helpfull! Now i can watch video's on t.v. from ipod!
Lisa
May 20th, 2008 at 12:45pm
I dont want to play the videos through my TV i want them to play through the ipod and Yes i have converted them to the proper format.. When i upload the same videos to my sisters ipod it works just fine but when i uploiad them to mines it displays this message "TV out enable please connect video accessory" and the both are the exact same same ipod !
Brandi
June 4th, 2008 at 2:17pm
This hack does not work on newer ipods such as the 3rd gen nano because the video is now output on the dock connector not the headphone jack.
pete
July 31st, 2008 at 3:05pm
I have tried this thing changing cable colours is rediculas mate all that does is send the video signal to an audio plug it won't work. I have also purchased the component plug set from apple and it works if you want to watch two pictures at the same time side by side on the tv. sound is beautiful but picture is crap. Apple sort your selves out and mark you accsessories so we know what works with what. I just want to see my pics on the screen.
david adams
September 21st, 2008 at 5:27pm
how do i play movies on a tv from my ipod i bought an av cable and i cant get a picture on tv
Rebecca
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:23pm
Hi, I have the new IPOD Nano and have bought the Apple AR Cable to play music from the IPOD through the TV. I have connected all of the cables and have switched the TV to the normal channel for DVDS but it still isn't working. In the instructions, it suggests ensuring that the IPOD send a video signal out. I can't find this option anywhere in the main menu other than under photos. Any suggestions?
mike
October 24th, 2008 at 6:31am
first time lucky. it works perfectly. picture is good but not great. sd image. you can see the pixel lines. ok thats expected because your blowing the picture up and its an av cable. but its ok. i can now watch films i bought from itunes on my tv since they won't let me burn them to disk. because there copy right protected. having said that i could probably pick up the dvd cheaper at hmv or play.com than what itunes sells them at.
naomi
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:00pm
i just bought an ipod touch and cant play videos on my tv, have searched and searched the web and still no ideas, am very angry have he proper cable to play through tv and still nothing, all ways that people tell u to use done work i pod touch doesnt have the option to turn the tv out on anywhere have looked and looked PLEASE HELP ANYONE.
sarsey
November 5th, 2008 at 6:00pm
So where are the answers. What is the point in this forum if there is no feedback. Someone respond.
ed
November 12th, 2008 at 8:14pm
When i do the whole "trick" everything works but the sound and picture are really fucked up...the noise is static with low volume and the picture barely flickrs
Rene'
December 15th, 2008 at 9:59am
how do I set my iPod to send a video signal out to my TV ?
Ryan
December 29th, 2008 at 7:42pm
I tried the red yellow swap but had no luck. I get a tiny bit of sound and a loud humming noise but no picture. I tried it on a smaller tv and got fuzzy sound and also very fuzzy picure. What am i doing wrong? does the quality of AV cable matter? Can anyone help? This was done with a 30G ipod classic
Julius
January 1st, 2009 at 10:45pm
FYI, the iPod Classics and Nanos will not work with this technique. This method is only good for iPods with Video up to 5.5 Generation. This article was originally posted to address those models, but many new owners are looking for a solution here. In other words, if you have video capabilities and Coverflow on your iPod (or nano) this trick won't work. Apple changed the game so you can no longer access video through the headphone jack, you have to output it through the dock connector, and you have to pay Apple $50 for a cable that will work. They put a verification chip inside the base of the cable where it attaches to the dock connector. Right now only Apple has the chip, but presumably they'll license it to other manufacturer's at some point. I love Apple, but I think this was very, very lame on their part.
Julius
January 1st, 2009 at 10:47pm
I copied the above from a another site apparently I bought the cord for my 80gb for nothing :(
Max
January 4th, 2009 at 9:31am
I seem to be having the same problem as everybody else. I did the procedure correctly and all my Ipod says after i try and play a video is "tv out enabled please connect video accessory" Please help me on this one guys.
Dan
January 11th, 2009 at 12:33pm
^ Im having the same problem. The AV cable i have connects through the ear jack so when it asks me for TV out i have to say no...because i dont have the cable that connects to the bottom of the ipod. My audio is working well but all i can see is black on the screen.
Tina
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:38am
am trying to connect my I pod video classic 80gb to my TV. I have followed all of the directions and I keep getting the same response "tv out enabled please connect video accessory" Could you help please. I look forward to your reply.
sriram
February 7th, 2009 at 9:12pm
plz help me.i purchased new ipod classic 120 gb ,iam not able to viiew videos when i connect it to a tv,i used a standard headphone jack,but the same message comes video out enabled coonnect ur tv cable accesory.has apple locked the tv out format in it?is there any means by which i can hack it??
John
February 11th, 2009 at 9:05pm
FYI, the iPod Classics and Nanos will not work with this technique. This method is only good for iPods with Video up to 5.5 Generation. In other words, if you have video capabilities and Coverflow on your iPod (or nano) this trick won't work. Apple changed the game so you can no longer access video through the headphone jack, you have to output it through the dock connector, and you have to pay Apple $50 for a cable that will work. They put a verification chip inside the base of the cable where it attaches to the dock connector. Right now only Apple has the chip, but presumably they'll license it to other manufacturer's at some point.
bunnie chau
February 19th, 2009 at 6:03pm
i hav a classic ipod and wat price to hav the proper cable, where to find it i dont kno plis help
Joe
March 7th, 2009 at 3:24pm
theres nothing wrong with my ipod but i can't play videos on my tv for more than 10 secs. the ipod keeps turning off. is there a new format for the new ipod classic for videos or what? and yes i have the right cable. can anyone help me?
Dennis
March 15th, 2009 at 8:21am
I am used a 2gen Ipod touch 8G to play Australia through my Sony TV. I use the Apple universal dock and the Apple component cable ($50 each!). I downloaded the movie from ITunes, then transferred to my Touch. The movie is brilliant with great sound. There was a annoying jerkiness for about a second every few minutes or so - almost not noticeable but I noticed. Any ideas why?
stone
March 27th, 2009 at 5:49am
hey i have a tv with a usb input can i use this to veiw videos from my ipod?
Christine
March 29th, 2009 at 1:29pm
I purchased Apple IPOD 120G and today bought a docking unit that has a video out plug (Logitech Pure Fi Express;) in the store I was advised to get this unti and just purchase a video lead to run from this unit to the tv. I have plugged it in, put the tv to AV and nothing! No audio or visual on the television. I have been downloading tv series from I Tunes, I don't want to watch them on my little Ipod screen, I want to watch them on my tv... I don't know what else to do.
KB
March 30th, 2009 at 5:53am
I have an iPOD Touch 2nd Gen, and dropped the coin on the Apple Universal Dock and Apple Composite AV Cable (Red, White, Yellow). The Touch docks fine, as it makes the sound and charges, and the remote works, but I'm getting nothing for sound or video. Have tried several different AV inputs (on tv and receiver), have tried through the dock and with the cable only, have tried swapping cables as suggested on some of these forums (yellow to red, etc). Video settings are for Widescreen and NTSC. Still nothing. Doing a Restore to the iPod now, maybe that will help. Any other suggestions?
Crystal
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:02pm
Argh. i have an ipod classic with 80gb and its got a whole lot of space on it. i want to put video on it and actually WATCH them, but the problem is that it doesnt even PLAY. it says: "TV out enable please connect video accessory. " argh. hekp. help. HELP.
Robert
July 19th, 2009 at 11:49am
Go to Best Buy and get a "rocketfish" connector. I had the same problems and this connects to the ipod touch where you charge the device. It has 4 cables coming off of the main input. 1 red 1 yellow 1 white and 1 usb to charge while you watch your videos on TV. Problem solved.
amy
September 27th, 2009 at 2:04pm
I have bought the non-branded rca cable and connect it to my tv. set my ipod and all that and nothing comes out just noises. Then i tried the colour mismatching connection, and it works!! I have a 5th gen ipod by the way, wouldnt know about ipod touch
andrew
October 21st, 2009 at 4:18am
apple? how much money do you want to make, we are your clients and we love ipod, by adding extra new chips or cable that will play ipod classic to tv. and changing accessories to squeeze more money out of your devoted customers? where are you going with morals?
robbo
October 29th, 2009 at 8:39am
I bought a no brand portable audio cable which says compatible with ipod video however I seem to be having the same problem with everyone above. keeps coming up with please conect video accessory. I have four different types of ipods and does not work on any. It cost me $29.00 for the cable should i just take it back or am i missing out on a step. Very frustrating!! any thoughts Thanks
Liz
December 24th, 2009 at 12:13am
In order to watch a video on our iPod when the tv output is enabled you need to go to videos, scroll down to settings and then select "off".
mil e
December 30th, 2009 at 8:06am
i have an ipod classic and a touch. the classis will play thru the tv with the apple cable. the touch will not. is there a way to play video from the touch thru the tv?
donos
January 1st, 2010 at 3:26am
Standard component cables will not work with Generation 6 (120 gb, 160 gb) iPod Classic models. Only the Apple component cable will work - I guess the validation chip that Apple snuck in is in the cable assembly.
donos
January 1st, 2010 at 3:28am
Re: comment above - Cables To Go has verified this in my question about their iPod dock that I own not working. They do not have a currently available solution for these models. Bummer.
Tassietimber
January 21st, 2010 at 12:12am
Easy - Go to ebay and type in "ipod tv cable". Buy one the cables, (cost about $4.00aud) and plug it in. That's what I did with my 160Gb iPod classic 6th Gen.
molly
March 5th, 2010 at 10:14pm
Hi, I got an ipod touch 16gb (2 gen) and when i plug it on tv i can only see pictures...not movies...i only see the first image but the movie will not start...when i put out the plus, it start...
Antony James
March 11th, 2010 at 3:54am
The cure for the message "TV out enable please connect video accessory" is to go into "Videos" on the ipod. Choose "settings" and change the TV Out setting. Do NOT select "Off" or "Ask". It MUST be set to "On". This sorted the problem for me....
Helen
April 4th, 2010 at 2:55am
I have the 2nd gen. itouch, and av cable- I connected the tv to the standard ipod dock,via the av cable then placed the touch into the cradle- video and audio works PERFECTLY- without the dock the touch did not work directly hooked up to the TV
Sam
April 21st, 2010 at 11:19pm
Apple's greed is disappointing...give me a break...it wouldn't have hurt to let us, the customers, see ipod videos (that we purchased from itunes) on our TV's. How much money is enough folks...I'm going to think twice before buying Apple products again and I'd recommend doing the same...let's cut off their profit so they remember who keeps them in business!
Jonah Clarkson
April 25th, 2010 at 12:48pm
i am able to get video and audio with a crappy av cable on my 30gb ipod but it is black and white. how can i get coloured videos?
deanna douglas
May 22nd, 2010 at 10:29am
I brought my cables from an apple shop so I could play movies straight to the TV from ipod touch, I can get sound but no picture, I have tried everything, $40 wasted and lots of money spent on movies that can only be watched on a small screen,,,,frustrating...I have tried it on various TV's...do I give up???
Duncan
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:02pm
I am trying to connect my I pod video classic 80gb to my TV. I have followed all of the directions and I keep getting the same response "tv out enabled please connect video accessory" Could you help please. I look forward to your reply
Nicole
June 4th, 2010 at 11:52am
Hey, i have a silver iPod Nano, i have alot of videos on it. when i try to watch them, it says ''TV ENABLE OUT'' and i dont know how to fix it; this started happening a month ago. PLEASE HELP ME!! D; im about to cry :(
zoe
June 21st, 2010 at 8:14pm
i have followed all directions but keep getting the same response 'tv out enabled please connect video accessory" i really want to watch my tv episodes on the TV but i cant :(
steve Chamberlain
July 6th, 2010 at 12:27pm
Zoe, make sure that your cable in not connected to your Ipod when you select the movie you want to playback. once you turn playback on it will ask you to connect the cable, that is when you plug it in.
tom redwood
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:31am
what a ripoff! my classic played on my tv (after i bought all my films through itunes) but my new touch doesn't work with the same cable. i can't stand this type of poor customer service so won't buy the planned ipad despite how much i love the hardware....shame on apple
lj
July 30th, 2010 at 10:40pm
i agree apple is a rip off i wouldnot buy another product
Leila
August 7th, 2010 at 2:50pm
I've been experimented the same situation . I bouth a AV cable for my tv & ipod touch from ibay, the cheap one , but still don't works
Lina Horne
September 2nd, 2010 at 5:49pm
I bought to av cable and my ipod classic plays movies on my tv but not my iPod touch! the videos play for like one second and then backs out to the videos menu. Do i really have to buy the cable directly from Apple? How am I having problems with the newer ipod rather than this old 5th generation ipod! Suggestions anyone?
james
October 28th, 2010 at 8:46pm
my tv is samsung and i dont know how to set it up so can someone please help me
Ez
November 25th, 2010 at 12:41pm
Steve Jobs is a such a f'n jew that he made the new ipods connect thru the data jack instead of the headphone jack. There's a chip in the ipod cable that you buy now. Fucking rich Asshole. scam some more money while you're at it.
Ken
December 8th, 2010 at 10:49am
Ok well certail TV to iPod cables are different, newer and older. Read the box or whatever to see which version it works for since some only works up to version 3.0, for an updated ipod you need to make sure it works with your gen/version and can only have the cable plug into the bottom of your iPod
Bonnie
December 26th, 2010 at 8:22pm
Is there actually any solution to this problem?? I have just spent $50 on this cable, which is alot of cash for someone who does not work for apple!
Jack
April 3rd, 2011 at 12:39am
Give me a break. If you ran a major electronics company during a major depression, wouldn't you do what you could to make money? You're all acting like a bunch of five year-olds. Grow up. So your iPod isn't properly connected. Keep experimenting, and quit whining. I don't understand how it is some of the users here figure it out just fine, and some of you give up after five minutes because you expect it to be a cakewalk. Look. Here's a recap of what works and what doesn't: older iPods, such as the iPod Classic, can play videos using the standard A/V cable. Newer iPods, such as the iPod Touch, need an iPod Data Cable.
master
June 5th, 2011 at 12:37am
Well im sorry Mr Jack but thats a load of bollocks what you are saying, i own an itouch AND the 'new' cable. I've spent ages on the internet searching for tips and i still only get a really fuzzy picture and a load of static sound. SO GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE YOU START CALLING FRUSTRATED PEOPLE NAMES, ITS NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST GETTING ONE CABLE OR THE OTHER, ITS TO DO WITH APPLE BEING OVERRATED AND A RIP OFF AND HAVING SHIT COSTUMER SERVICE.
anton
June 16th, 2011 at 8:17am
I have the ipod touch 4th gen and i went and got myself the av leads so that i could watch movies from my ipod on my tv...only later to discover that the the 4th gen ipod touch cannot play on your tv.. Well it does but only for about 1 or 2 seconds then my device says not compatable. So this proves to me for some reason ipod have put a block on this and will need to upgrade the firmware or software, when they do it I don't know ... so come onnnnnn apple sort it out.. or are they going to put this on an app and charge us ... rogue traders if you do ....
Bobby G
July 1st, 2011 at 1:54am
i tried the cable that has the three composite wire can hear sound not see video.i have to use laptop and use the ipod as a driver to watch videos.
michael
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:06pm
where do you get a cable at i want to get one for my i pod touch
Outlaw
October 19th, 2011 at 11:36pm
I give up using av cable or any cable to view my I pod touch movies or songs. I found a better way to view your i pod touch on a tv with out av cable or any cable , but is little more expensive... By a home surround system... Samsue is the best... It should work.. Now another trick is jail break ur I pod or I phone & get application call tv in put & out put. Or just google what application work best. By doing it this way u could not only watch movies but now u could view the Internet & games. In other words everything that shows on ur I pod touch screen. All ur apps on tv... Try it is doo cool... U have so much fun... Trust me my friends...
Outlaw
October 19th, 2011 at 11:56pm
Remember u could force any apple divide to do anything u want. But u need to be extremely smart... Not true all u need is a little of common sence. I have a I pod touch 4thg & using a av cable to watch my movies dost not work. All u need is the following 1.) I pod touch... 2.)Home surround system theater.(SAMSUE) i personally have.. & it work. It has a built in I pod dock. & plus it plays blue ray movie & u could view all ur photo... & best off all u could view ur I pod touch... 3.) jail break... 4.) need a application call split screen, or just google what application is best to view ur I pod touch on flat scree tv. 5.) it work for me... It should work 4r u.
Kate Wilson
December 16th, 2011 at 10:02am
I have an iPod touch how do I get it to play on my tv have a propper cable but it says iPod touch doesn't support this accessory what do I do how do I fix it. Some one please help me xx