I researched this a bit online and the answers I got were a little inconclusive, so I thought I would throw it out here before I take it in to have it looked at.

I have a 5-year old iPod 8G that keeps arbitrarily pausing on me when I run, even when I have it locked. I run with it in my pocket and it's starting to happen every 30-seconds or so now. However, when I take it out and run with it in my hand, it doesn't do it at all.

I just bought a new set of non-Apple ear buds a couple of weeks ago. My guess is it's either the new buds or the device itself. Anybody else ever run into this problem and figure out a fix?

Stop running?

There is a shake to skip tracks feature somewhere maybe it can be shake to pause as well?

Might be something up with the control button on the new earbuds.

I thought of this, but then wondered why it just started happening in the last two weeks, and not the previous five years.

I'm hoping it's something along these lines. I hate them with a passion and was looking for a reason to buy another pair anyway. I just haven't been motivated enough....until now.

5 yrs = End of Life

Also try to clean out the headphone jack with a toothpick see if there is any lint in there.

Maybe, but it was idle for at least three of those years while I used another device.


Thanks, I'll give it a try..

If the new buds have volume control on them, I would definitely try a pair that doesn't and see what happens. Everyone rips on the EarPods (replacement for the original / terrible Apple earbuds), but I have yet to find anything that stays in my ears and sounds nearly as good.

The buds in question don't have volume control, but I do have a separate cord that I use for skiing. It attaches the iPod to a set of speakers embedded in my helmet and has volume control, pause, FF, and RR. I haven't had any issues with it at all, but I haven't used it since these issues started.

I've tried the EarPods and I can't get them to stay put while performing any kind of activity that generates perspiration. I've found that the only ones that do are brands that wrap around the ear.