I've got a bunch of iPods from like 2007-2012 sitting in a drawer - a couple Nanos, an old Classic, and some Shuffles. They still work but the batteries are probably shot. Should I be storing them in cases, keeping them powered on occasionally, or just leaving them alone? I'd rather not have them just die completely since they're getting harder to find now.
Storage environment matters way more than you'd think with older electronics. Keep them somewhere cool and dry - a closet or drawer away from direct sunlight is fine, but avoid basements or attics where humidity and temperature swings will trash the components faster. The batteries are essentially done regardless of what you do, but at least you're not accelerating corrosion on the circuit boards by storing them in damp conditions.
Don't bother powering them on periodically. That's a myth that wastes what little battery life remains. Instead, store them with the battery at maybe 40-50% charge if you can manage it - not fully drained, not topped up. This minimizes stress on the cells. Use soft cases or wrap them in cloth to prevent physical damage, and keep the Nanos and Shuffles separate from heavier items so they don't get crushed.
If you want them to actually stay functional long-term, consider looking into battery replacement services. There are a few outfits still doing this for older iPods, though it'll cost you. Otherwise, you're basically in preservation mode - they'll work until they don't, and that's okay. At least you've got them stored properly when the mood strikes to pull one out.
The battery situation is your biggest concern here, and the hard truth is that those old lithium batteries are probably already degraded whether you use them or not. Leaving them powered off in a cool, dry place actually slows degradation more than anything else, so storing them in cases in a drawer is genuinely your best bet. Don't try to charge them regularly "to keep them alive" - that actually accelerates battery aging. If a battery's already dead, forcing charge cycles through it won't help and could potentially cause swelling or other issues.
For the physical storage, soft cases or even just some foam padding works fine to prevent rattling or accidental drops. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources - a closet shelf beats a sunny windowsill every time. Don't store them in airtight plastic bags where moisture could accumulate; regular cases or just loose in a drawer with some padding is better. If you're really concerned about preserving them long-term, you could drain the batteries completely before storing (let them die naturally), then store them that way. Some people claim storing at partial charge (like 40%) is ideal, but honestly the difference between that and empty storage is minimal at this point.
One thing worth considering: if any of these still work and you actually want to use them eventually, you might get the batteries replaced now rather than later, since finding replacement batteries and technicians who'll do the work is only going to get harder. But if you're collecting them as-is, leaving them alone in cool storage is the right call. They'll outlast you sitting quietly in a drawer.
Don't keep them plugged in constantly or let them sit fully discharged for years - both drain and deeply deplete old batteries faster. I had a 2008 iPod Touch that I left plugged in as a bedside speaker for about three years, and when I finally unplugged it, the battery wouldn't hold a charge at all; meanwhile, I found an old Shuffle in a drawer that I'd left mostly alone, and it still takes a partial charge. Your best bet is to store them in soft cases or sleeves in a cool, dry place, power them down completely, and maybe give them a gentle charge cycle every few months or so if you want to keep the batteries from crystallizing entirely. The ones you're not planning to use regularly will probably lose their battery function eventually no matter what, but at least you'll preserve the devices themselves and avoid accelerating the damage.
If you're attached to keeping them functional, periodic charging cycles - maybe once every few months - actually help more than leaving them completely dormant, since old batteries can get stubborn and refuse to hold charge if they've been sitting flat for too long. Get them into soft cases or pouches so they're not rattling around, and store them in a cool closet rather than anywhere with temperature swings. Here's what I haven't seen mentioned: grab a small desiccant packet or two (the kind that comes in supplement bottles) and toss it in with them - I did this with an old collection of gardening log books and old camera equipment, and it genuinely slows down corrosion on the connectors and circuit boards, which is often what actually kills these things before the batteries do.
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