Fixing 'This Accessory May Not Be Supported' on iPhone

Quick answer

Unplug everything. Check the Lightning port with a flashlight—if you see lint, pick it out gently with a toothpick or SIM eject tool. Then try a different cable. 9 times out of 10, that’s it.

Why this happens

I’ve seen this error pop up on iPhones from the old 6s to the latest 14 Pro. It’s rarely a software bug. The main culprit? Lint and pocket fuzz crammed into the Lightning port. Your phone can’t make a clean connection, so it assumes the cable is junk. Second culprit: cheap third-party cables that aren’t MFi (Made for iPhone) certified. Third: a bent or damaged pin inside the port or on the cable. I had a client last month whose entire print queue died because of this—well, not literally, but his iPhone kept disconnecting from the printer, and cleaning the port fixed it in 30 seconds.

Fix steps

1. Inspect the port with a bright light. Look for a compacted layer of lint at the bottom. If you see it, don’t stick a metal paperclip in there—you’ll short the pins. Use a wooden toothpick or a plastic dental pick. Gently scrape sideways along the bottom edge, not straight down. Blow out any debris.
2. Try a different cable—preferably an Apple original or a brand you trust like Anker or Belkin. I keep a spare official cable in my bag for exactly this reason.
3. Restart your iPhone. Yes, it sounds basic, but I’ve seen it clear a temporary glitch after cleaning. Hold the side button and volume button until you see the slider.
4. Update iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple occasionally patches accessory detection logic. If you’re on an older version like iOS 15, this can help.
5. Reset all settings (not data). Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete photos or apps, but you’ll have to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords. It kills any corrupted config that might be triggering the error.

Alternative fixes if the main one fails

• DFU restore—only if nothing else works. Connect your iPhone to a computer, put it in DFU mode (different steps per model, look it up for yours), and restore via Finder or iTunes. This wipes everything and reinstalls the OS from scratch. I’ve had one case where a firmware corruption caused the error, and this was the only fix.
• Check for physical damage. Examine the Lightning port’s pins—if any are bent or missing, you need a repair. Same for the cable ends. I’ve seen people bend pins by yanking the cable out by the cord instead of the plug.
• Use a wireless charger if your iPhone supports it (iPhone 8 and later). It’s a band-aid, not a fix, but if you’re stuck, it works.
• Blow out the port with compressed air—short bursts, don’t freeze it. This can dislodge stubborn lint.

Prevention tip

Stop carrying your iPhone in a pocket full of lint, dust, or pocket sand. I’m serious. Use a case with a port cover, or at least blow out the port once a month. Also, buy MFi-certified cables—they’re not much more than cheap ones, and they won’t trigger this error as often. I’ve been using the same two Anker cables for three years without a single popup.