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Apple issues a recall on AC adapters due to a ‘rare’ shock risk

Apple has issued a recall for AC power adapters in five countries and continental Europe for Mac and iOS devices shipped between 2003 and 2015.

The Cupertino company says in a few cases, certain wall plug adapters could break and “create a risk of electrical shock if touched.” Apple says it is aware of 12 incidents worldwide, but didn’t offer specifics as to the countries where the issues arose. It’s the same wall adapter the company included in its $29 World Travel Adapter Kit, so if you bought that as well, you may want to send it back in.

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The countries affected are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, all the nations of continental Europe, New Zealand, and South Korea. The recall doesn’t affect adapters designed for the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Hong Kong, China, or Canada, and does not affect USB power adapters either.

To exchange your adapter, Apple says you can take it to any Apple Store or any authorized Apple service provider. You’ll need the serial number for the device it was used for in order to exchange adapters. You can also contact Apple Support to exchange the adapter, and for more information about identifying the right adapter, the company has added a support page.

“An affected two-prong plug adapter has either four or five characters or no characters on the inside slot where it attaches to the main Apple power adapter,” the company said. If you’re using an adapter that resembles this description in the aforementioned countries, Apple says to stop using it right away.

But Apple isn’t the only tech giant experiencing such issues. Last week, Microsoft issued a recall for Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and certain Surface Pro 3 power cords, after a few customers reported their AC power cords were overheating.

While uncommon, it’s not the first time Apple has issued a recall. Last year, the iPhone maker issued a recall for a small batch of Apple TVs, citing a faulty part, and also for its Beats Pill XL, after users complained of the device overheating.

Julian Chokkattu
Former Mobile and Wearables Editor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
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