How to fix ‘This Accessory May Not Be Supported’ issue

Want to know how to fix ‘This Accessory May Not Be Supported’ issue in this guide. Most of us have had to deal with it at some point. Now, the name of this problem gives it away: it has to do with iPhone accessories. But sometimes this problem pops up out of nowhere, leaving you to wonder what has suddenly gone wrong. As an iPhone owner, you may have seen the frustrating message “This accessory may not be supported” when you tried to connect a third-party accessory or charger to your phone.

This error can happen for a number of reasons, like if the software is out of date or if an accessory is broken. Several Apple iPhone and iPad users have seen an error message that says “This accessory may not be supported” when they try to connect something to their iPhone or iPad. If you see this error message, We’ll show you how to fix ‘This Accessory May Not Be Supported’ issue. If you want to know more information about this issue so you can visit Apple Official Website.

What is the “This Accessory May Not Be Supported” issue?

The “This Accessory May Not Be Supported” problem is an error message that can show up on iPhones and other Apple devices when they are connected to certain accessories, like charging cables, headphones, or adapters. This message means that the accessory you connected might not be compatible or certified by Apple. If that’s the case, the device might not work right or might even cause damage.

The “MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad/Mac)” program on Apple products makes sure that accessories are tested and approved to work reliably and safely with Apple products. The “This Accessory May Not Be Supported” error message could appear if the accessory wasn’t certified through this program. This message can also show up if the device’s charging port is dirty or broken, if the cable or adapter is broken, or if there is a bug in the software.

Causes to the ‘This Accessory May Not Be Supported’ Issue

1. Accessories that aren’t MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad) certified: When you connect accessories that aren’t MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad) certified, Apple devices often show this message. These are accessories that haven’t been through Apple’s process for getting certified.
2. Firmware Incompatibility: If the accessory needs a firmware update that you haven’t installed, it might not work right with your device and show this message.
3. Damage from the outside: If the accessory’s connector or cable is broken, it might not connect properly to your device, which could cause problems.
4. Dirt or Debris: If there is dirt, debris, or corrosion in the accessory’s connector or your device’s port, it could break the connection and cause this error.
5. Software Bugs: Sometimes, software updates or bugs can make it so that accessories won’t work with your device. This message appears when this happens.
6. Problems with the device’s Lightning port: If your device’s Lightning port is broken or not working right, it might not be able to talk to accessories.

Fix ‘This Accessory May Not Be Supported’ issue

Update your device

You can update your iPhone or iPad as one of the last things you can do. Check to see if there are any new software updates, and if you can, update your device. Follow the steps below to get your iPhone or iPad up-to-date:

1. Open the app for Settings.
2. Go to the “General” settings.
3. Tap “Software Update”
4. Wait while your device looks for new software. Tap “Download and Install” if any are found.

Restart Your iPhone

The “accessory not supported” message could also be caused by small software problems. These software problems might be fixed if you restart your iPhone.

To restart an iPhone with a Home button:

1. Press and hold the Side (or Top) button.
2. Slide the power slider from left to right.

To restart an iPhone with Face ID:

1. Press and hold the Side button and the Volume (Up or Down) button at the same time.
2. Continue holding until the Slide to power off option shows up.
3. Wait about 30 seconds, then turn your iPhone back on and try again to connect your accessory.

Clean the Lightning Port

If you haven’t cleaned your iPhone in a while, dust or other particles could be stopping the charger from making a strong connection. So, the error message “Accessory not supported” shows up. Don’t worry, the dust buildup in the Lightning port is easy to get rid of.

1. First, ensure your iPhone is turned off.
2. Then, insert a toothpick into the Lightning port and gently move it around to loosen the debris.
3. Then, clean up the mess. Also, clean the charger’s connector to remove any hidden dust.
4. Next, plug your iPhone’s charger into it to check if the accessory popup has disappeared.

Perform a Device Firmware Update

The Device Firmware Update (DFU) will delete everything on your device and fix any errors that could have messed up the operating system. This mode is a lot like the Mac’s Recovery Mode. Make sure you have a backup of all your important data before running DFU, because everything will be lost. Follow the steps below to use DFU:

1. Connect your device to a PC or Mac.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up button, then let it go. Then quickly press the Volume Down button and let go of it.
3. Now, press and hold the side button for about 10 seconds, or until the screen goes black. Don’t let it out!
4. Hold down the side button and press the Volume Down button at the same time for about 5 seconds.
5. Let go of the side button after 5 seconds, but keep holding the Volume Down button for another 10 seconds.
6. When you see Your computer has found an iPhone in recovery mode. If you see “This iPhone needs to be restored before you can use it” in Finder or iTunes, release the Volume Down button.
7. Press “OK” and then choose “Restore iPhone.”

Enable USB Accessories from iPhone settings

In the last few years, when my iPhone is locked and we try to charge it, we have seen the “Accessory may not be supported” message more than once. We’ve never used a cable that wasn’t real. All of our Lightning cables came with our iPhones and were bought from Apple. One of our cables is from Belkin and is MFi-certified. At first, we couldn’t figure out why this kept happening. But after looking through the iOS settings, we were able to figure out how to fix the problem.

1. Open Settings and then tap Face ID [or Touch ID] & Passcode.
2. Scroll down to the section called “Allow Access When Locked” and turn on the switch for “USB Accessories.”
3. Once you do this, the “accessory isn’t supported” message will almost certainly stop showing up.

Conclusion

When you connect an accessory to your iPhone and see “This accessory may not be supported,” it usually means that the accessory is not compatible. But that doesn’t always happen! You may see this pop-up even if you’ve been using the same adaptors, cables, or other accessories with your iPhone for a long time. Most of the time, the error goes away on its own, but sometimes the alert stays. Don’t be afraid! We’ve gone over every way to get rid of the error on your iPhone or iPad. But first, let’s figure out why it’s happening.

Questions and Answers