The iOS 10.3.1 and 10.3.2 updates from Apple shows that Apple is serious when it comes to discouraging people from using cheap, non-Apple certified accessories.
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MFI Now Required for Apple Devices
The recent iOS update came as an unpleasant surprise for ifolks who have been using lightning to headphone connectors with their iPhone 7/7+ devices. Many of these users who were using non-MFi (Made for iPhone) certified cables and splitters found themselves stuck with the “This accessory is not supported by this iPhone” message.
Many Audio Accessories Suddenly Obsolete
This problem is worse for those folks who use connector cables in their car for piping audio. If you have the two-in-one aux cable that also functions as a charging cord, you may run into this issue. Users who use Bluetooth for their audio use or are connecting via the Apple supplied original connector are not experiencing this issue.
This issue did not exist when the iPhone was running the older iOS 10.2.1 update. The problem has surfaced after the iOS 10.3 update was released. The check and error message still exists in the latest iOS 10 updates.
Interestingly, if you put your iPhone into Airplane mode and restart, the problem does not occur. This clearly means that the latest iOS update is checking the accessory against a list of certified accessories that Apple maintains on their database and shows the error if the cable is not compliant or MFi Certified.
Apple Branded 3.5 Lightning Headphone Adapters A Must
If you are facing this issue with your iPhone 7 after the latest iOS upgrade, make sure that you are using the Apple provided Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter. If the old Apple-supplied adapter doesn’t work, you may need to go to the Apple Store and get a new one.
For those users, who use auxiliary cables to pipe in audio in their cars, the best way to solve this issue is to get a Male-to-Male 3.5mm Aux cable and use that to connect to the Apple supplied Lightning to 3.5mm cable. It appears that as long as the iPhone is connected to an Apple-supplied cable, the problem doesn’t occur.
At the time of writing, many Amazon and eBay retailers that sell cable accessories are clearly indicating that their cables will only work on iPhones running iOS 10.2.1 or below.
Fakes Are Everywhere! And Dangerous??
In 2016 October, Apple had also sued an Amazon supplier for selling fake Apple accessories. The company declared at the same time that 90% of Apple accessories sold on Amazon are fake, untested and potentially hazardous. Your best bet as an Apple product user is to stick with accessories that are MFi certified and not use cheaper cables from any third-party that are not MFI certified.
Think Again before you buy that cheap accessory for your iPhone!
Dave says
Hey. It’s not a “cheap” solution. I upgrade to an iPhone 7. Can’t use my beloved headphones to listen to music anymore and the only solution I find is disabled by apple despite them not having an actual solution themselves for a problem they created. I shouldn’t have had to spend any extra money to be able to listen to my iTunes catalog never mind having that solution disabled after a day. It wasn’t “cheap”, £10 isn’t cheap for something I shouldn’t have had to have bought in the first place. Buying something you should never have had to buy in the first place isn’t being “cheap” it’s annoying and inconvenient and insane.
Tim says
Just let me have a headphone jack. Wireless headphones are a pain in the ass. To not be able to charge and listen is user hostile. Ok, I’ll try the pixel. Material design is looking better.
Will says
I am done. I hope another company comes and completely take their business away this is uncalled for it’s just an adapter now I have to go and buy another one? Bullshit I am done buying any Apple products.
Hermes says
Hi.
This complaint checker is just on the cables?
I mean, if I buy an original lightning X usb cable to conect the digital camera it’ll work normally? Or apple ia validating que device connected to the cable too? (Cameras, phones, pendrive…)
Paul says
The Airplane mode/restart workaround does not work under iOS 10.3.2. My 3rd party adapter works again for maybe a minute and then I get the error message. So either airplane mode allows some communication through to verify the adapter or if the attempt to verify times out, it gets cut off.
This sucks.
What Haveyou says
So now there’s no way to listen to music and charge your phone. That’s a rip-off.
This basically means you can’t listen to music while using navigation in your car, since this will kill the iPhone’s pathetic battery.
Apple = no good
Andras says
Hahaha, Apple just wants my money, not enough that they got 1000 bucks for the iPhone 7 now they want me to buy for 10 more dollars that 5 cm long zero complexity shitty adapter so I can maybe plug in my headphones.
I'm Done says
Was getting ready to buy a new MacBook. But after Apple killing my auxiliary charger adapter, out of spite, I am done with apple. Use to be user-friendly. Not the case. Or not their goal…
Daniel says
Belkin car charger and cable do not work in my car bought them at Apple Store.
Carmen Feld says
I have an ipad air2 and after loading 10.3.1, my Anker 10′ charging cable is prompting an error message. According to Anker they are an authorized Apple
accessory suplier. Apple does not make 10′ cables.
SK says
Hi Carmen,
That sucks! First, try your original charging cable to make sure the problem is the Anker cable and not something else, like your iPad port or the charger itself. If everything works as expected with the original cable, then call Anker and let them know that your cable is defective. As you mentioned, Anker cables are Apple MFi certified and should include an Apple authorization chip to ensure 100% compatibility with any Lightning device including your iPad Air2.
It should work. So hopefully, Anker sends a replacement asap.
Cheers,
SK