How to Fix This Accessory May Not Be Supported on iPhone/iPad

I keep getting the “this accessory may not be supported” message on my phone. Is the phone or cable broken? Is there any fix for it?

There’s a good chance that you have come up against an error message telling you “This accessory may not be supported”. It is a common issue among iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users, and it happens a lot to iPhone 11/X/8/7 and some iPhone 12 users.

This message would appear if this cable or accessory is not certified, and may not work reliably with this iPhone. But even if you are using an Apple accessory, the error can also happen for the firmware problem with the new iOS 15 or older. Here in this post, you can find the reason why the iPhone accessory may not be supported. Also, we will introduce several useful methods to fix this error, getting your iPhone connected and charged.

Also Read: Fix iPhone iPad Charging Issues After iOS Update >

Why Does “This Accessory May Not Be Supported”?

This message usually means that something went wrong with the charging cable, lightning port, charger, or even software system. Here are some possible reasons for why the iPhone says “This Accessory May Not Be Supported”:

• Your accessory is defective, damaged, or not Apple-certified.
• iPhone charger cable or lighting port is dirty and not working.
• Your iPhone’s software is malfunctioning.
• The accessory isn’t supported by your device.
• Your iOS device has a dirty or damaged connector.

How to Fix iPhone Accessory Not Be Supported

Unplug and Plug Back the Lightning Cable

Firstly, when you get the messages like “This Accessory may not be supported” or “The device is not connected”, try to connect it again simply.

Plug your charger in, when you get the error message, hold your finger on the dismiss button and pull your charger out. While still applying pressure to the screen, plug your charger back in and it should work. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the accessory.

Check Accessory’s Certification

If you see Accessory may not be supported alert, probably you’re not using an Apple-certified or not MFi-Certified charging cable. MFi-Certified is an electronic accessory designed to connect specifically to iPhone, iPad, or iPod, which means Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod. It has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.

So, if your device is overheating or not supported at all, check your electronic accessory with MFi logos as the below picture shows, and try to use the original accessory (charging cable or charger) for your iPhone iPad. You can request support from App Store if MFi-Certified charging cable is not working.

Inspect and Clean Your Apple Accessory

If you make sure that the accessory is a certified one but still get the alert, then check the lightning connector end. Make sure there is no discoloration or fraying, or it’s not dirty.

You can change another charging cable or clean out the pocket lint or debris from the charging port. Then insert it into your iPhone or iPad and check if the “This Accessory May Not Be Supported” doesn’t appear again.

Check Your Charger

If charging cable is normal, maybe it’s not the reason for the iPhone accessory not supported. It could be something wrong with your charger, not the Lightning cable. If iPhone is not recognizing the charger, try cleaning out the lint or debris, or use a different charger.

Restart the Device

If you’re using iPhone X and later: Press and hold either the volume button and the side button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off. Then press and hold the side button to turn on.

If you’re using iPhone SE/8 and earlier: Press and hold the side/top button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off. Then press and hold the side/top button to turn on.

Update the iOS System

Usually, the latest iOS versions will fix minor bugs for your device. If the charging issue is caused by software, then update your iPhone to the latest iOS version can solve the issue.

• Go to Settings and click General > Tap Software Update and check for updates. If it shows the newest version, connect the WiFi network, then Download and Install the update.

And you can open Automatic Updates by enabling download and install iOS updates over WiFi. You will receive a notification before updates are installed.

Further Reading: Unable to Check for iOS 15 Update? How to Fix >

Use the Airplane Mode

1. Connect your iPhone to the charging cable.
2. When the error message appears, dismiss or ignore it.
3. Turn on the Airplane mode on your device.
4. Turn off your iPhone and wait for 1 minute and turn it on again.

If none of the above work and your iPhone keeps saying this accessory may not be supported, try contacting Apple.

The Bottom Line

We hope these quick fixes can help you out of the problem, and it is very necessary to clean out the junk file inside your iDevice. If you have any other suggestions on this issue, please share it with us in the below comment section.