How do I make my 5th Generation iPod Mac format after being Windows format for it's whole life?

Connect it to your computer in OS X then try hitting the restore button in iTunes. If that doesn’t work, you may have to use Disk Utility to reformat it and then do a restore through iTunes.

it doesn’t show up in itunes in os x. format to what in disk utility? i tried journaled extended and that didn’t show up in itunes either.

When I bought my Mac my iPod was formatted for Windows and it showed up on my Mac when I plugged it in. I just clicked restore and it reformatted it. Soo I’m not sure what to do if it isn’t showing up.

According to Wikipedia it needs to be formatted to a HFS+ filesystem, so you’ll have to find a filesystem formatter that supports it. I just checked the one I always use, GParted, but it only has partial support, partial unfortunately meaning it can’t create it, so you’ll have to find something else. But at least you’ll know what to look for ;-).

itunes supports all major formats, so that’s probably not the problem. if it finds an ipod not formatted in hfs+ it will just ask you to reformat it, press ok and it’s done. i have no idea why it won’t show up in itunes for you. I guess it might be a hardware error or a critical software error. either way it’s probably covered by warranty.

Just an idea. Make sure Fusion is closed and Windows isn’t running. That may be overriding it.

Also make sure you have the latest version of iTunes. Just covering all the bases.

Also try resetting the iPod:
1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
2. Press and hold the Menu and Center (Select) buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 8 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.