The “accessory may not be supported” error on iPhone has been around for a long time. Most of us have experienced this at some point. As the name suggests, the problem here is related to iPhone accessories. However, there are times when this problem arises unexpectedly, leaving you wondering what suddenly went wrong. If you've encountered the "Accessory may not be supported" error on your iPhone or iPad and are looking for a solution, this troubleshooting guide is just what you need.
Causes of the problem on iPhone
The appearance of the message discussed in the article usually signals that something went wrong when connecting an accessory to the charging port (Lightning iPhone). The variability of factors causing this problem is usually as follows:
- Your accessory is not MFi certified;
- The software that supports your iPhone does not work correctly;
- The accessory is dirty, damaged or completely broken;
- The iPhone's Lightning port is dirty, damaged, or completely broken;
- The gadget's charger is dirty, damaged or out of order.
Let's look at the steps that can help us fix the accessory support error on iPhone.
Potential reasons for "This accessory is probably not supported"
Most often, there are several reasons for the appearance of this message - and you will not like any of them.
- Cheap analogue of the original Lightning cable. It is best to use the original Lightning cable to charge your iPhone/iPad, which was supplied in the box with the device itself or was purchased at a specialized Apple store. It’s true, some cheap substitutes can completely easily perform the task assigned to them, but sometimes you can stumble upon the most disgusting Lightning cables that flatly refuse to work normally with your gadget.
- Damaged Lightning cable from Apple. Many owners of Apple devices know that original Lightning cables are an extremely delicate device and are very easy to damage. Perhaps, not so long ago, you sharply pulled this cable or bent it too much, which led to its damage. Unfortunately, this is a very common situation.
- The Lightning connector is damaged or dirty. Ordinary contamination can still be somehow corrected with the help of various hygiene products, for example, an ear stick or a toothpick, but a breakdown of the Lightning connector... such a problem needs to be solved only with certain skills or in a service center.
Step #5. Make sure your device is charging properly
Dysfunction in charging operation may also be the cause of the problem. Inspect the USB port of your charger, make sure there is no dirt, fibers or other unnecessary substances, and if necessary, get rid of them using the tools I described in step 4.
Try using an alternative charger to make sure that the device is not causing the problem. If the other charger doesn't have the problem, then there's a chance that your original charger is damaged and needs to be repaired (or replaced).
Also read: iPhone is not charging, but shows that it is charging - what to do?
“This accessory is probably not supported” - how to fix it?
Normal Lightning cable reconnection
You may only think that you connected the Lightning cable to your device normally. We take and pull out the cable from the corresponding connector, inspect it for damage, and then connect it back again. We see if the error “This accessory is probably not supported” is shown on the display and draw conclusions. No, we don’t think you’re an idiot, but each of us still finds ourselves in this kind of situation from time to time.
Using a different USB port on the computer
Let's imagine that you encounter this error when trying to charge your iPad/iPhone through the USB port of your personal computer. Not a good idea because the charging process will be quite slow in this case, but we all do it periodically out of necessity. Have you ever thought that the problem is not with the Lightning cable, but with the USB port of the computer to which you are trying to connect your gadget? To inexperienced users, a USB port may seem almost indestructible, but in fact, such a thing is very easy to damage. Did you press lightly from above on the USB cable connected to the port? Believe me, this is quite enough for it to break. Connect the Lightning cable to another USB port on your PC and check for the “This accessory is probably not supported” error. If the error disappears... it's time to go to the service center, but only from a PC.
Reboot iPhone/iPad while charging is connected
We're not sure if this trick can be called a real solution, but let's look at it anyway. Some users, who themselves have encountered this problem, recommend that when an error occurs, simply reboot your device without disconnecting the Lightning cable from it. You may be thinking, “What nonsense is this? And what should this fix?” It’s hard to believe, but in some cases you can get rid of this error with just such a stupid decision. So again:
- connect the charger to your iPhone/iPad;
- wait for the error “This accessory may not be supported” to appear;
- restart the device using the power button on the case.
That's all. If you're extremely lucky, this message will disappear and nothing will interfere with the charging process anymore.
Fraud with the “Close” button (another extraordinary solution)
Another frankly stupid solution that surprisingly can work. Okay, an error has appeared on the display of your iPhone/iPad - press the “Close” button with your finger and disconnect the Lightning cable. And... that's all you need to do. It's unclear what exactly this strange manipulation does, but after doing so, the "This accessory may not be supported" error may disappear, according to reports online. Again, try it, because you may be the lucky one...
Making a mess in the Lightning connector
Ok, let's get back to more serious and adequate decisions. The Lightning connector on your iPhone or iPad might be clogged with dust or some other substance. What to do in this case? It’s simple: take a thin and oblong object and carefully clean this connector. Our recommendation: take a toothpick and wrap a piece of cotton wool tightly around the very tip - much better than any ear stick. So, take our tool and lightly clean the Lightning connector. We don’t press anything, we don’t push anything, we don’t poke anything deep anywhere - stick to these simple recommendations and no problems will arise. Once you're done, connect the charger to your device and check if the "This accessory may not be supported" error appears this time.
Smartphone repair
If your iPhone still shows the “This accessory may not be supported” error after doing all the steps above, you will need to either replace the accessory or have your iPhone repaired. As I noted in this article, you can replace the charging cable and charger if your iPhone is covered by AppleCare.
There is also a possibility that the Lightning port on your smartphone is damaged or faulty. In this case, it is recommended to contact your nearest Apple Store for professional help.
Recovery via computer
The first option is to restore the operating system from a backup. To work you will need iTunes:
- connect your phone to your computer and launch the program;
- wait until synchronization is complete, launch the “Browse” section or click on the smartphone icon;
- go down to the “Backups” section and select “Restore from a copy”;
- choose any of the saves that is stable and working;
- Click on the “Restore” button, complete all the required preparatory steps and wait until the procedure is completed.
Recover from iCloud
Before you perform this procedure, you must reset your content and settings. This is done through the “Basic” section.
After that:
- launch your smartphone;
- after appearing on the “Programs and Data” screen, select recovery from an iCloud copy;
- log in to your account;
- select the required copy and, without disconnecting the phone from charging, perform all the actions that the system will require.
If none of the above methods help, contact a service center to have your smartphone checked and subsequently repaired.
Clean the charging port.
If the warning continues to appear, check the connector on the accessory and the port on the device for dirt or debris. You may need to clean the charging port.
Often, dirt buildup in the Lightning port will prevent the accessories from making contact and cause the error warning you receive.
Related: Reasons Why Your Phone Is Charging Slowly
Take a flashlight and take a close look at the Lightning port on your iPhone. If you see any particles or debris inside the Lightning port, try cleaning it.
How to clean iPhone charging port?
Use an anti-static brush, a Q-tip, or a new toothbrush to clear away particles that are clogging your iPhone's Lightning port. Once you have cleaned it, try connecting the accessory again.
Quality checking
This point is not an immediate solution to the problem, but auxiliary advice for the future. Quite often, the lack of charging cable support occurs with accessories that were purchased not in a company store, but in any other retail outlet (even vending machines with various items for smartphones).
In this case, you are absolutely not protected from the regular appearance of the message “This accessory is probably not supported.” Therefore, if this is possible, try to purchase an original cable for charging your smartphone.
Battery does not work
The battery may fail for various reasons; liquid may have gotten under the device’s body; you may have used accessories that are not certified by Apple, which could lead to electrical damage due to frequent fluctuations in the mains voltage
It’s also worth paying attention to the temperature conditions of the phone’s operation.
Temperature required for normal operation of iPhone: from 0 to 35 °C. Storage temperature: –20 to 45 °C.
Using iPhone in cold temperatures (below 0°C) may temporarily reduce battery life. But don’t worry, battery performance will recover as soon as the temperature returns to normal.
It is extremely important not to use your iPhone at temperatures above 35 °C, this can irreversibly reduce the battery capacity. Find out the cost of replacing the battery for iPhone 3g and 3gs | 4 and 4s | 5 and 5c | | 6 and 6plus
Hard launch
This method of troubleshooting the operating system for Apple smartphones is recommended to be performed first. Perhaps the glitch that caused the no support message to appear can be easily fixed:
- if your device is younger than the seventh generation of iPhones, hold down the power key;
- Without releasing it, press and hold the “Home” button;
- continue to hold the combination until the manufacturer’s company symbols appear;
- if your smartphone is the seventh or newer version, then also hold down the lock key;
- Instead of “Home”, press and hold any of the volume rockers;
- also continue to hold until an apple appears on the screen.
This procedure helps fix short-term system glitches, including the “This accessory may not be supported” error. It also cleans the RAM, thus allowing the iPhone to return some performance. But you should not perform this operation too often. This may cause problems with the operating system.
Checking accessory compatibility with iPhone
Sometimes it happens that an accessory works fine on newer iPhone models, but on older ones it causes the error in question. It also happens the other way around. In this case, it is recommended to check the general compatibility of the gadget and the cable or charger. Some accessories may only function correctly on certain models.
This graphics driver is not compatible with this version of Windows 10
It often happens that new models use completely different technologies, and accessories operate on old standards. This causes problems with the inability to determine the connected device.
Important! You can find out all the information about device compatibility in the brochure on using the gadget or by going to the company’s website.
The phone may not charge from the accessory if it is software incompatible with it
How to fix a phone charging cable?
The first way to repair damaged charging wire insulation is to use FUM tape. It is thin, flexible and fixed without glue, and will also not differ in color from the white charger. We wind FUM tape around the damaged wire. We wind FUM tape around the damaged wire.
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Using a non-original and non-certified USB cable
How to sync iPhone with iPhone - instructions
Often people want to save money and when the original charger or USB cable breaks down, they purchase cheap analogues from China. This won't end well. In many cases, phones simply do not support older charging or data transfer methods that are used on non-certified accessories. Sometimes it is even possible that the device’s power connector may break or even be rendered inoperable.
Some high-quality substitutes can indeed work well and for a long time, but in most cases, a cable purchased on the market for 100 rubles under the guise of an original one will not bring anything good to the gadget.
If there is obvious damage to the charger cable, then it is to blame
