Accurate, not guessed
Reads the device's real catalog, not a folder scan.
For Mac
Get the music off your old iPod before it's too late.
BakBeat Rescue reads an iPod's on-device database and copies everything — tracks, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, and playlists — straight to your Mac.
No iTunes. No “erase and sync.” No guessing from a folder scan.
$3.99 · macOS
Why BakBeat Rescue
Old iPods don't talk to modern Macs the easy way, and most “iPod transfer” tools either charge a subscription, bundle junk, or scan folders and guess at metadata. BakBeat Rescue reads the same on-device database the iPod itself uses, so titles, artists, albums, and playlists come across intact — not reconstructed from filenames.
Everything, or just what you pick
Rescue the whole device in one pass, or select individual tracks to extract.
Playlists included
Device playlists are written out as .m3u files alongside your music.
Safe to re-run
Files already at the destination are left alone.
Private by design
No network access, no account, no analytics — nothing ever leaves your Mac.
How it works
- 1
Connect your iPod in disk mode and open BakBeat Rescue.
- 2
Choose the iPod volume and confirm the model.
- 3
Click Read Catalog to load the on-device database if it is not loaded automatically.
- 4
Click Rescue Entire Device, or select specific tracks to extract.
- 5
Your music lands in organized folders, right where you chose.
Supported iPod models
BakBeat Rescue currently supports:
iPod classic / video
- iPod (4th generation, A1059)
- iPod (5th generation with video, A1136)
- iPod classic (7th generation, A1238)
iPod nano
- iPod nano (2nd generation, A1199)
- iPod nano (3rd generation, A1236)
- iPod nano (4th generation, A1285)
- iPod nano (7th generation, A1446) — detected automatically
iPod shuffle
- iPod shuffle (1st generation)
The nano (7th generation) is detected automatically. The others share a database format, so BakBeat Rescue will ask you to confirm which model you have before reading the catalog. Don't see your model? This list grows alongside BakBeat — check back as support for more devices ships.
Requirements
- A Mac running macOS 26 or later
- An iPod connected and mounted in disk mode
- A destination folder with enough free space for what you're rescuing
FAQ
Does this work with iTunes or Music app libraries?
No. BakBeat Rescue reads directly from the iPod's own device database. It doesn't touch your Mac's Music app library.
Will it erase or modify my iPod?
No. BakBeat Rescue only reads from the iPod and writes to the destination folder you choose.
Does it collect any data?
No. BakBeat Rescue has no network access and no analytics — everything happens locally on your Mac. See the BakBeat Rescue privacy page and the BakBeat privacy policy.
What if I run it twice?
Nothing bad happens. Files already at the destination are left in place.