Did your iPhone cable break? Understand how Apple's accessories warranty works!

A story is circulating on Facebook that says that Apple exchanges chargers and cables from customers that have damaged, free of charge. And if it's on the internet on Facebook, isn't it? Easy there, my people. Not quite like that!

We thoroughly investigated and cleared all these doubts. Check out:

Do accessories and cables have a warranty?

Yes. In a simple and direct way, all the accessories (chargers for notebooks, iPads and iPhones, cables, headphones, keyboards, mice mice, etc.) also have a warranty of one year after the date of purchase / activation of the product.

There are, however, two different scenarios: those accessories that come with a product (thinking about iPhone, for example, we have the wall charger, the EarPods and the Lightning / USB-A cable) and those purchased individually (for example, a Lightning cable / USB-C or a Magic Trackpad 2).

How do I change a defective accessory?

Continuing with the examples above, if your wall charger, your EarPods, or your Lightning / USB-A cable that came inside the iPhone case stops working, you should go to an Apple store or an Authorized Service Center taking both the defective accessory and the smartphone itself. This is because the attendant will need the serial number of your iPhone to prove that the accessory came right inside the box of the device and that it is still under warranty.

In the example of the Lightning / USB-C cable or the Magic Trackpad 2, purchased individually, you need to take the purchase invoice to prove that it is still under warranty.

What the warranty covers

Just like the Mac warranty, iGadgets, Apple TVs and Apple Watches, the accessories section only covers factory defects. If your dog bit the iPhone's Lightning / USB-A cable or your MacBook's wall charger well, it's your fault and Apple has nothing to do with it.

Now, if your Lightning / USB-A cable just stopped working or started showing that iOS compatibility error message, you can and should exchange it at a store / service center. As long as it is obviously still under warranty.

Bent Lightning Cable

a birdie He also told us that that very typical problem with Apple cables (which start to break and twist very close to the connectors) is also seen internally as a factory defect. So, if everything is under warranty, try to change yours!

Some people spread the word that even out of warranty, Apple exchanges these defective cables for free. This, as you can imagine, is * not * actually.

Tip: it is true that Apple cables, for example, are not at all resistant and, consequently, are easily damaged at the ends. If you always have problems with the original Apple cables, then better move on to a more robust solution, like some cables we sell at the MM Store. 😊

I exchanged a defective product / accessory; how is his guarantee now?

Another constant debt that arises on the guarantee of exchanged products. Imagine the following scenario: one month is left to end the warranty on your iPhone 6s (consequently, the accessories that came with it) and your Lightning / USB-A cable, just like that, stops working. You go to an Apple store / assistance and exchange for a new one. And now, how is the guarantee?

The law in Brazil requires that products sold have a minimum of 90 days warranty. Then, in a repair / exchange, if your warranty is less than this period (in the example above, since it is only one month before it expires), the repaired / exchanged product comes with a 90-day warranty. If your cable has stopped working and you have a six-month warranty ahead, this 180-day warranty is still valid.

That is, if your product / accessory warranty is more than 90 days old, this period is valid; if you are under, the 90 days come into force. Therefore, it is misleading to think that the repaired or replacement device / accessory comes with a “new” year warranty or that those 90 days required by law must be added to the remaining product warranty period.

I have AppleCare; Is the warranty for accessories also extended?

MacBook accessories

Yes. If you purchased a MacBook and extended its warranty when purchasing an AppleCare, this also applies to the 29W USB-C Charger and the 2m USB-C Charger Cable that came in the box. The same goes for accessories for an iMac (Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2, power cable, etc.), an iPad, etc.

If you extend the product warranty, the accessories go with you!

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I know you know, but it doesn't hurt to warn you: don't believe everything that comes out interwebs, even more when the thing runs away from common sense. 😉