This accessory may not be supported

Hello,

If an alert says that your accessory isn't supported or certified

These alerts can appear for a few reasons: Your iOS device might have a dirty or damaged charging port, your charging accessory is defective, damaged, or non Apple-certified, or your USB charger isn't designed to charge devices.

1. Remove any debris from the charging port on the bottom of your device.
2. Restart your iOS device.
3. Try a different USB cable or charger.
4. Make sure that you have the latest version of iOS.
5. Contact Apple Support to set up service.

More info here:

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't charge - Apple Support

The error is that when the phone interrogates the identity chip in the Lightning connector (there are 4 chips, one of them has information on the model and manufacturer of the cable) it is not getting a valid answer. This can be caused by the power source being noise or out of spec, the cable is bad, the cable is not MFI certified, or the connection to the phone from the cable is not making good contact. Or the circuit in the phone that checks the code has failed. But there is no way to identify which of these it is without further investigation.

Your example of cars is flawed. Yes, a modern car can report many error codes, but, if you have ever read or used a car service manual (I have), when you look up the code there is almost always a lengthy diagnostic procedure the car technician must go through to identify the root cause. The code itself does not convey enough information. Likewise, you must go through a diagnostic procedure to identify the actual problem when the phone reports this error. That includes cleaning the connector, trying a different cable, trying a different power source. If all of those fail to resolve the problem most likely the power management chip in the phone had failed.

If it works now it is coincidence. iOS updates do not cause or cure that symptom. There are a small number of things that can cause it:

• Dirt in the connector on the bottom of the phone (the most common cause)
• Using a Lightning cable that is not certified as Made for iPhone
• A defective Lightning cable, or one that has failed - note that there are 4 microcircuits in the phone end of the cable, and they can be easily "blown" from using a USB power source that is not properly regulated or filtered
• Damage to the Lightning connector on the bottom of the phone.

There are no known software issues that can cause this message to appear.

biffhungwell wrote:

Anyone who says or thinks this is a hardware issue is blind...

Then how com so many peoples' issues are resolved either cleaning out the port or by changing cables?

If you're using a cable that it not Made for iPhone certified, yes, it may stop working after a software update. This is for your and Apple's protection. No one really wants a phone to catch on fire.

You are confusing “opinion” and Fact. It is a fact that using a non-certified cable can damage your phone. Not an opinion. There are 4 microcircuits in the Lightning connector. A MFI certified cable has parts that have met Apple’s specifications. Brand X cables may or may not., but probably not, because if they were the manufacturer could easily get their product certified. You as a consumer have no way of knowing the quality of the components in the cable.

Before you go get a flashlight and look in your Lightning port on your iPhone and see if there is any detritus there. If there is get a toothpick and carefully remove it.

I've never had the popup and my adapter works.

My iPhone 6 plus started with the same issue about a month ago with the original cable. Now, most of the times I must turn on Airplane mode, power off the phone, plug in the cable, reboot and then turn off the Airplane mode. This works every time. I went to the Genius Bar and was told to cough up $550 to replace my phone as this was in their opinion a hardware issue.

Their cables did not work, my cable works all the time when I do the steps above. Therefore, my cable is fine. The connector was checked at the Genius Bar and it is clean. It works all the time as well with the steps above. How is this a hardware issue? Strangely enough, the warranty only expired recently. Quite disappointing overall.

This may not be the solution for everyone, but I did notice a pattern of behavior that seems to hold constant. For me (iphone 5S, late 2013, OS 10.3.3, all Apple brand chargers & cables) the problem seems to be associated with heat from the battery. If I've been using a high-drain app that causes the battery to heat up that's when the error message seems to appear. I let the phone cool down, plug the cable in, and it's likely to charge OK.

I know the phone is old and the battery is near the end of its life. Also, the Lightning port has been used a lot and so may be somewhat worn.

I theorize that, at least with my phone, a combination of wear on the Lightning port plus expansion of metal from heat cause the contacts to be less physically secure. I theorize that the more recent OS's have code that makes them interpret a poor contact as if it were a non-standard accessory.

Unfortunately the Genius Bar advised me that the Lightning port is not a part that can be replaced, so when the connector gets worn the entire phone needs to be replaced. I am disappointed at Apple for designing products that are not repairable, although I suspect part of that decision was to allow the smallest physical size possible for all the components - a replaceable connector would likely be bulkier resulting in a larger, heavier phone. (It's also possible that Apple, like so many companies, includes "planned obsolescence" in their marketing and sales strategies. But I don't think that is the ONLY reason why these phones fail)

• First, try cleaning the Lightning port on the bottom of the phone. Use a bright light and a non-metallic tool such as a toothpick
• Inspect the cable you are using and verify that it is marked Made for iPhone (MFI) if it is not an Apple cable; replace it with a certified cable if it isn't already.
• Try a different cable.
• Inspect the USB power source and verify that it is Apple's or certified as Made for iPhone.
• Try a different certified USB power source.
• Contact Apple Support using the link at the top of this page.

This is most definitely and IOS issue, I have been using an Anker battery case for IPhone 6s for almost a year with no issues at all. As of the IOS 10.2.1 update started getting the unsupported accessory error like others here. The Anker Case is Apple certified, have previously had same thing happen when using a Mophie Case and an IOS upgrade occurred too. To prove it I removed phone from Case today and plugged in with OEM Apple charge and cable that came with this phone and got exactly same error.

Apple stop trying to blame your bad, untested code on third party accessories and admit you have buggy code like usual and fix it immediately.

If you are not using a Made for iPhone certified cable (161 companies make them at last count) or similar accessory then you will get that message. That is not going to change and Apple has a legal right to do that. The situation has been around for awhile now and there has been no huge outcry in the press, no major drop in Apple stock and no lawsuits. It won't be changed with future updates.

I had the same problem. It says this accessory (your charger) so that means you need a new accessory (charger) so you have to buy a new charger. I did and i don't have this problem anymore. If you get a new charger and it still doesnt work idk what to do for that.

viecy_Indonesia wrote:

Hello friends,

i use iphone 6, IOS 10.2.1 and there's a problem while charging always show "this accessoary my not be supported"

please help me, how can i fix this issue?? i have read some article about it in this disscusion forum, but still can't solve it. PLease help me, is it something wrong with the cable? or the phone? or the IOS?

please anyone can help me give me an answer??? 😟😢

Hello,

Before going to the store, I would recommend contacting Apple Support as they can try some troubleshooting steps and guide you in the right direction.

Teechnically that message appears if something is wrong with either the charging cable, charging port or the charger block. In most cases, it requires you to purchase apple-made or apple authorized products, which to some people may seem too expensive, the best solution is to get an apple authorized cable or charger or better yet chuck your iphone in the trash bin and get an android phone where you can use any 3rd party charger.

Alev9891 wrote:

I’m experiencing this issue as well I bought ANOTHER Apple cord since that’s the only brand that seems to work for more than 4 months but I’m getting this message after about 2 months!!! Help Apple.

If you want help from Apple you should make an appointment at the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store. See the Contact Support link at the upper right of every page of these forums.