I broke my Ipad screen 3 days after purchase, if I buy apple care plus now will it cover my broken screen

No. You can't buy AppleCare+ for a device that's already broken. Just like you can't buy life insurance for someone who is already dead.

You'll have to get it repaired first, then you can buy AppleCare+.

Limnos wrote:

Well reading non-Apple sites strongly indicates they do scan a device remotely as part of Applecare signup so it seems they do have a way of checking for damage first.

The AppleCare+ site mentions the required remote diagnostics. It’s always been that way ever since they started offering purchase over the phone.

P.S. I’d imagine they can detect damage simply by checking for abnormal current flow across the conductive screen layer in the absence of a finger or other conductor touching it?

Well reading non-Apple sites strongly indicates they do scan a device remotely as part of Applecare signup so it seems they do have a way of checking for damage first.

Limnos wrote:

I've wondered about this. You can buy Applecare online and there is no mention of verifying device condition before allowing the purchase. What's stopping somebody from damaging a device, buying online, then taking the device into a store a few days later and saying it was broken yesterday?

Hopefully just a sound sense of honesty and ethical adult behavior, but I suppose not.

And the remote diagnostics has always been required if purchasing AppleCare+ over the phone.

AppleCare+ - iPad - Apple

I've wondered about this. You can buy Applecare online and there is no mention of verifying device condition before allowing the purchase. What's stopping somebody from damaging a device, buying online, then taking the device into a store a few days later and saying it was broken yesterday?

I was under the impression that the device would have to undergo a diagnostic test or be inspected by Apple if AppleCare Plus was being added after the purchase.

It is possible Apple has factored this into the cost of buying Applecare since Applecare only reduces the cost for repairing a broken screen and if you are buying it exclusively for this one situation it may not be economical.

KiltedTim wrote:

I was under the impression that the device would have to undergo a diagnostic test or be inspected by Apple if AppleCare Plus was being added after the purchase.

You'd think, but that might deter a lot of people who don't live close to an Apple service provider from buying Applecare. Unfortunately unless the information is buried in one of Apple's myriad online documents, or somebody who has bought online Applecare can tell us, it is hard to find out. If you go to the links to buying Applecare online you get stymied by having to enter a device serial and all mine are too old to see if you do eventually get presented with a notice about having to take it in.

Edit: According to one web site I read (one to which I am guessing they don't like us providing links) Apple can run a remote diagnostic on devices as part of buying Applecare and it can detect broken screens.