How to Fix Getting â€œThis Accessory May Not Be Supportedâ€ on iPhone?

How to Fix Getting â€œThis Accessory May Not Be Supportedâ€ on iPhone?.

Using counterfeit, worn, or damaged accessories on your iPhone may cause the “This accessory may not be supported” warning to appear. Foreign particles on the accessory connector(s) or Lightning port of your device can also cause this error.

Software related failure is another factor worth mentioning. This post provides seven possible solutions to the problem and other similar warnings.

The specific warning may vary depending on your iPhone model or operating system. â€œThis accessory is not supported by this iPhoneâ€, â€œThis accessory may not be supportedâ€, and â€œThe accessory is not supportedâ€ are common variants of this error. But their troubleshooting solutions are the same.

1. Reconnect the Cable

Your iPhone may occasionally display a warning message by mistake. When the warning appears on the screen, click the “OK” or “Reject” button in the pop-up window and disable the accessory. Wait a few seconds and reconnect the cable to your iPhone or iPad.

This may temporarily fix the problem, but the warning may reappear after a while, especially if the accessory is faulty.

Proceed to the next troubleshooting solution if the accessory still doesn’t work on your iPhone and other devices.

2. Shut Down or Reboot Your iPhone

The error can also be related to a temporary software glitch. Restart your iPhone if it keeps showing “This accessory might not be supported” when you connect the charging cable.

Open the Settings app, select General, tap Power Off, and wait 30 seconds for iPhone to turn off completely.

After that, connect the cable to the power adapter and connect the Lightning connector to your iPhone. If your iPhone won’t charge or restart automatically, the charging cable or adapter is likely defective or damaged. Reboot your iPhone manually (press and hold the power button) and try the following troubleshooting solution.

3. Confirm the Accessory Compatibility

Not all Apple accessories will work on your device, especially if you’re using an older iPhone or iPad. If the warning continues to appear, your iPhone does not support the accessory. Connect the accessory to other devices and check if everything is in order.

Contact the manufacturer if you are not sure if the accessory is compatible with your iPhone.

4. Clean Your Charging Cable and Power Adapter

Your iPhone may charge slowly or may not charge due to interference from foreign particles. Inspect both ends of the charging cable and make sure that there is no dirt, debris, lint or dirt on their surface.

Disconnect both ends of the cable from iPhone and power adapter. After that, use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe the Lightning connector of the cable. You can also use a cotton swab or dry paper, but be careful not to leave marks. To clean the USB connector, insert a soft toothbrush and gently stroke the bristles horizontally. This should remove dirt, debris, and other particles from the connector.

You should also check the USB port on the charger (power adapter) for foreign particles. Then clean the USB port of the charger, plug in the Lightning cable, and charge your iPhone. If the warning reappears, plug the charger into a different power source and see if that solves the problem.

Do not clean accessories with any liquid material, even water. Doing so may cause corrosion or damage to the metal pins on the USB and Lightning connectors. For detailed instructions on cleaning Apple products and accessories, see this Apple Support document.

5. Clean Your iPhone Charging Port

Foreign particles in your iPhone’s charging port can cause the “This accessory may not be supported” error. Inspect your iPhone’s charging port with a flashlight and remove any foreign objects you find.

Spray compressed air from a gas sprayer (compressed air) into the port. This is a safer way to remove dirt and grime from tiny holes in electronic devices without damaging fragile parts.

Alternatively, insert a flat toothpick or a pointed cotton swab into the port and gently clean any foreign matter. Try not to clean the port too fast or too hard, so that particles are not thrown further into the port.

Again, don’t use sharp or metal objects (pins, paper clips, needles, etc.) to remove foreign particles from your iPhone’s port. They will damage the metal contacts in the port. Likewise, do not blow air from your mouth into the port. The air you breathe out of your mouth contains moisture or tiny water droplets that can damage your iPhone.

6. Try a Different Accessory

Apple recommends that you charge your iPhone (and iPad) with original accessories. So make sure you use chargers from the Apple online store or offline stores.

If you’re using an original Apple Lightning to USB cable, check if it has any of the following labels:

Designed by Apple in California, assembled in ChinaDesigned by Apple in California, assembled in VietnamDesigned by Apple in California, Brazil.

These labels must also end with a 12-digit serial number. Third party cables are unlabeled. Therefore, look for the Made for Apple (MFI) label or certification on non-Apple charging accessories. The label can be found on the packaging of certified third party accessories.

If there is no serial number or MFI label on the cable, it is fake. There are many third party accessories with fake MFI labels. Therefore, we recommend using Apple’s accessory finder tool to make sure your charger or cable is MFI certified.

Open the tool in your web browser and search for your cable in Apple’s database using its brand name, model number, Universal Product Code (UPC), or European Part Number (EAN). You will find these numbers/codes on the cable packaging or on the product page on the manufacturer’s website.

We also recommend that you read the Apple Support white paper on identifying counterfeit or uncertified charging accessories.

7. Update Your iPhone

Some accessories may require the latest version of iOS to function properly, according to Apple. Install the latest iOS update on your iPhone if none of these troubleshooting solutions fix the error.

Connect to a Wi-Fi network, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and click Download and Install to update your iOS device.

Contact Apple Support

If your iPhone displays a warning without accessories connected, the Lightning port is likely filled with foreign particles. Clearing the port should stop the notification – see instructions in method #4 above. If the problem persists, contact Apple Support or visit your nearest Apple Store.