Lightning cable USB connector stuck!

It's baffling why Apple felt the need to modify the USB end of the cable. Do USB standards not apply to Apple? I have tons and tons of USB cables and of all that I have examined, I have always seen the USB standard adhered to with the internal white section (where the spring fingers apply pressure to keep the cable in) being the same in every single one. The only deviant I've ever seen (here in this discussion) is the Apple Lighting cable. It's simply ridiculous that this has happened in the first place and I feel bad for those who now have damaged hardware (PCs, automotive USB electronics, etc) due to this cable issue.

I have to say ive had the previous problem and spoke to apple care and i have to say they have been nothing but helpful with the problem ive had. needless to say ive broke my laptop in trying to get the cable out which might i add is still stuck in situe my case is ongoing but ive been waiting since friday for a replacement cable so i can charge my phone through the plug instead of through the laptop !! Thankyou apple care for all the support ive received, i suppose its luck of the draw as to who you get and how much they can be bothered about the problem.

Good luck to all who are having problems.

Same deal here with two different cables and two different keyboards. It sticks in the Apple wired keyboard rock solid. It's not near as bad if plugged in the back of the iMac but avoid the keyboard at all costs! There is just no room to grab the connector with the resessed design of the USB port on the keyboard.

The main problem is untill the freaking converters ship this is one fragile/defective cable is the ONLY way to charge! And I see eBay has pulled all the auctions for the Chinese knock-offs yesterday.

You do know you can sync over wifi if the iPhone is plugged in to charge, right? Also, have you tried leverage to resume remove a connector? I would guess a pencil or dowel and a needle nose pliers would "rock" the cable loose.

Yes Robert. I think most folks know about wifi sync. I'm not sure what that has to do with the OP or the problem at hand.

I removed my cable with pliers. I would prefer to never do that again since the risk of damage is high and I only have the one precious cable, my precious cable...

I called apple support this morning with my cable stuck in the back of the imac. I explaned my situation and he incredulously said " So thats why you are calling Apple support: As if it was of no import at all. ****** me off a bit. I only have the one cable so don't need to wreck it! Nor the back port on the iMac. He suggested pulling it with pliers. Well I'm not certain that is a great idea! I would like to contact someone else but do not know who!

My cable is permanently stuck in my laptop and no amount of strength, pliers or screwdriver is able to release it. I now have to break the port on my laptop to get this out. I'm really upset Apple!! Who is going to pay for my damaged laptop motherboard?!?!?!!!

I got mine stuck as well. I noticed that if you slightly wiggle the cable up, you can hear the two metal prongs inside the USB port detach, and you can then pull it out. Be careful as repeating this several times will most likely weaken the USB port. The easiest way to fix this issue is to buy a short USB extension to use with it and wait for the replacement program.

As of today 9/27, apple care phone support claims to know nothing about the issue, but I tried to report it anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions. I did use multiple wedge devices but it was so tight, it felt like it was screwed in. Each pry chipped off more plastic from the sync cable.

I managed to get it out by grabbing the sides of the USB cable with a really strong grib and wiggling it left and right (the wider way) until it finally gave. I heard a crack and I'm not sure if I cracked it off the motherboard or if the internal plastic components broke on the USB cable.

My suggestion to you, the next time you call in for Apple care, is to give them this thread number and have them read this thread. There are thousands of people reporting this problem now and it's even coming up on pages like Gizmodo, CNET, Apple Insider, etc. Just google "USB stuck iphone".

I have no idea how I'm going to replace this cable since all I'm hearing is everyone is out of stock.

I had the same problem but with my packard bell laptop. Plugged my iphone 5 in to sync and it wouldn't budge - it was stuck solid.

Eventually after finding this forum I got a plastic plectrum and put it at the bottom of the usb port. Then with a pair of pliars grabbed both the usb and the plectrum, gently wiggled it up and down until it came out.

I won't be plugging it back into my computer anytime soon!

I have the exactly the same thing. I spoke with the AppleCare sr. Advisor Koda Watts on 9/28.

I am very disappointed that he said they didn't know this problem, can you belive that it has been release for one week and they didn't read this forum and also in the CNET? I pointed that there are a lot of people in the forum like me but he said that he has not found any complains. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57519856-37/some-early-iphone-5-adopters-stuck -by-lightning-literally/

He has a very rude manner and very impatience. He even said my English is sick that I felt very offensive since I have been In US for 15 years and got my master degree here and nobody such offensive to me . I never was treated like that from any tech support company from small to big. I am very surprise that it was from a sr. Advisor from prestigious Apple INC.

When the day I bought my Iphone 5, the Apple store sale was very push me to buy AppleCare. For my experience with their advisor, my opinion is that don't buy AppleCare that just waste your money and time and the people of AppleCare is not proper train.

I have the exactly the same thing. I spoke with the AppleCare sr. Advisor Koda Watts on 9/28.

I am very disappointed that he said they didn't know this problem, can you belive that it has been release for one week and they didn't read this forum and also in the CNET? I pointed that there are a lot of people in the forum like me but he said that he has not found any complains. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57519856-37/some-early-iphone-5-adopters-stuck -by-lightning-literally/

He has a very rude manner and very impatience. He even said my English is sick that I felt very offensive since I have been In US for 15 years and got my master degree here and nobody such offensive to me . I never was treated like that from any tech support company from small to big. I am very surprise that it was from a sr. Advisor from prestigious Apple INC.

When the day I bought my Iphone 5, the Apple store sale was very push me to buy AppleCare. For my experience with their advisor, my opinion is that don't buy AppleCare that just waste your money and time and the people of AppleCare is not proper train.

I have the exactly the same thing. I spoke with the AppleCare sr. Advisor Koda Watts on 9/28.

I am very disappointed that he said they didn't know this problem, can you belive that it has been release for one week and they didn't read this forum and also in the CNET? I pointed that there are a lot of people in the forum like me but he said that he has not found any complains. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57519856-37/some-early-iphone-5-adopters-stuck -by-lightning-literally/

He has a very rude manner and very impatience. He even said my English is sick that I felt very offensive since I have been In US for 15 years and got my master degree here and nobody such offensive to me . I never was treated like that from any tech support company from small to big. I am very surprise that it was from a sr. Advisor from prestigious Apple INC.

When the day I bought my Iphone 5, the Apple store sale was very push me to buy AppleCare. For my experience with their advisor, my opinion is that don't buy AppleCare that just waste your money and time and the people of AppleCare is not proper train.

I have the exactly the same thing. I spoke with the AppleCare sr. Advisor Koda Watts on 9/28.

I am very disappointed that he said they didn't know this problem, can you belive that it has been release for one week and they didn't read this forum and also in the CNET? I pointed that there are a lot of people in the forum like me but he said that he has not found any complains. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57519856-37/some-early-iphone-5-adopters-stuck -by-lightning-literally/

He has a very rude manner and very impatience. He even said my English is sick that I felt very offensive since I have been In US for 15 years and got my master degree here and nobody such offensive to me . I never was treated like that from any tech support company from small to big. I am very surprise that it was from a sr. Advisor from prestigious Apple INC.

When the day I bought my Iphone 5, the Apple store sale was very push me to buy AppleCare. For my experience with their advisor, my opinion is that don't buy AppleCare that just waste your money and time and the people of AppleCare is not proper train.

Same problem here, twice. Both mine and my wife's cables got stuck. Luckily I had a set of these:

http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Metal-Spudger-Set/IF145-017

Insert one of the flatspudgers into the bottom side of the connector and pull both the spudger and cable out at the same time. One of the ports I connected to required the use of two spudgers (one for each side) to get it to work.

Of course, you shouldn't need special tools to unplug a USB cable!