Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Apple
  4. Mobile
  5. News

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

Add as a preferred source on Google

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.

Recommended Videos

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…
T-Mobile’s new plans let you pick your own perks instead of a fixed bundle
T-Mobile launches T-Mix plans with customizable perks and three pricing tiers.
t-mobile-logo-on-phone

Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.

The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.

Read more
Apple is investigating cracked screens on the iPhone Duo and replacing broken units
Apple assures that not all units of the iPhone Duo are affected by the display issue.
iPhone Duo screen in the hand.

Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.

Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.

Read more
Apple quietly hopes to end the gizmo right-to-repair war. The iPhone Duo is the latest specimen.
The right-to-repair movement has entered its fine-print era.
iPhone Duo on MagSafe mount with screen half open

Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.

I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.

Read more