Apple No Longer Offers Personalized Engraving on Replacement iPods - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple No Longer Offers Personalized Engraving on Replacement iPods

by

Apple this week discontinued personalized engraving for replacement iPod devices, according to an internal memo shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers and obtained by MacRumors.

In other words, if you have a damaged iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, or iPod classic with an engraved message on it, and an Apple technician determines that the entire device needs to be replaced, Apple will simply provide customers with a non-engraved replacement from its repair inventory.

engraved ipod touch
Previously, customers had the option of requesting a re-engraved replacement device shipped directly from China.

Given the iPod touch is a niche product in Apple's lineup, and that all other iPod models have been discontinued for years, this change is unlikely to affect most customers. However, if you had a nostalgic message engraved on an iPod several years ago, know that those words will be lost if Apple replaces the device.

This change does not apply to the iPad.

Related Forum: iPod touch and iPod

Top Rated Comments

85 months ago

A jab at the customer that has already paid for engraving.
Isn’t engraving free?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unity451 Avatar
85 months ago

Families with several children might use this if they buy several for their kids AND order the same colours.
Ah! Good call.


I used to have my email address engraved on my iPods, thinking IF I ever lost it and IF the person who found it was honest, that'd give me a chance to get it back.
If I had found your iPod, I would've emailed you. 👍🏼
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
85 months ago

A jab at the customer that has already paid for engraving.
You paid for engraving. Engraving was done.

What more do you think you deserve?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justperry Avatar
85 months ago

I have owned dozens of apple products over the years... not one of them engraved. I could never think of anything clever enough that I'd want to have tattooed to the side of my "small fortune" of a purchase.

EDIT:
But now as I write this... "FROMDWIGHT" would be awesome.
Families with several children might use this if they buy several for their kids AND order the same colours.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unity451 Avatar
85 months ago
I have owned dozens of apple products over the years... not one of them engraved. I could never think of anything clever enough that I'd want to have tattooed to the side of my "small fortune" of a purchase.

EDIT:
But now as I write this... "FROM DWIGHT" would be awesome!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
85 months ago

No. The engraving is included in the cost of the item. You paid for it regardless if you get it done. Opting to not get the engraving doesn’t lower the cost of the item.
LOL. What a convoluted way to try and say it isn’t free. They don’t charge extra for it. You pay the same whether you get it or not. The optional engraving costs nothing. It is free.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Unveiled Four New Products Today

Tuesday August 25, 2026 8:39 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options, a new version of the Polishing Cloth with a lower price, and updated Magic Keyboards for Macs. To learn more about these products, read our coverage below: Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More Apple Unveils New Mac Studio With M5 Max and M5...
apple magic keyboard with glyphs 2026 refresh

Apple Quietly Refreshes Magic Keyboards

Tuesday August 25, 2026 7:22 am PDT by
Apple today quietly introduced updated Magic Keyboard models with revised U.S. English key labeling. On the new keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps are labeled with glyphs rather than edge text. On the full-size models with a numeric keypad, the change goes further, with the home, page up, page down, end, clear, and enter keys also swapping their text labels for...
Apple Logo Gradient 16x9 1

Apple Just Made an Extremely Rare Product Announcement

Thursday August 27, 2026 7:58 am PDT by
The new Mac mini and Mac Studio models unveiled by Apple this week are the company's first new Macs announced in August since 2020. It is extremely rare for Apple to announce new products of any kind in August, excluding smaller things like new color options and accessories. As mentioned, Apple's last notable August product announcement was in 2020, when it updated the 27-inch iMac and a...