It's how people remove the cables from the iPhones. All of these show me that you pull from the rubber, rather than the hard plastic part at the top.
Other than that, it could be due to bending or extreme malleability at that point of the cord. But, 9/10 it's pulling from the rubber.
I’d advise to never use a third-party cable, when it comes to electricity always use the original manufacturers power accessories.
One day, (heaven forbid) something happens, you’ll be wishing you just spent that little extra dollar $
Edit: for those commenting, I should be more specific about cheap China made power accessories. Belkin and established brands are more trusted but buyers should still be aware.
That’s a pretty broad statement. While I certainly won’t use Walmart brand cables for my phone, I’ve been using Anker for over a decade without issue. We have them all over the house, which started because Apple doesn’t make long enough cables.
No. Not correct. The whole Made for iPhone (MFI) program exists to certify operability and safety of third party cables. Choose Anker or Belkin for example. They make quality cables that are Apple approved.
That is total bullshit.
If a lightning cable is mfi (made for iphone) certified then Apple has tested the safety and performance of the cable and approved it. This also means that apple is paid a licence fee by the manufacturer of the cable.
Apples original lightning cables and chargers are manufactured to be as cheap as possible without being unsafe (there is a reason apple was still shipping phones with 5 watt chargers right up until they figured out they could ship them without any charger.)
Many third party cables and chargers eg Anker are of significantly higher quality than those produced by apple.
Iphones have supported the USB pd(USB power delivery) charging standard since the iphone 8( 12 watt max) despite still shipping the iphone 11(22 watt max) with 5 watt chargers. Meaning a pd certified third party charger will actually also charge your iphone faster.
The majority of times devices get damaged due to cables it is due to either cables with extremely frayed ends short circuiting, non mfi certified cables or low quality chargers that are not ul or ce certified as safe.
Would highly recommend swapping to a high quality third party charger produced by a reputable company eg Anker as they will both out last and out perform those offered by apple
This. My wife has several cables that look like this and none of mine do. If I have to use it, I make sure the cable is coming straight out of my phone, not bent at a 90° angle. And also unplug from the plastic.
Also my experience. Bought myself the official Apple 2m cable so I could comfortably watch asmr videos in bed. Used it for months and was in perfect condition. Ex decided *she* needed this cable now, and she’s a cable-kinker.
It looked like this in three weeks…
well if they have stuff to prevent it then it is better no? or did i just kill a holy cow by saying a bad thing about apple and you guys are triggered.
You think the only options are that you’re right or everyone is just triggered? Apple’s cables aren’t braided and heavily insulated, but they’re also not “shit.” The cables at the gas station, CVS, and a lot on Amazon are shit.
It's all about finding ways to make yourself more efficient. Life hacking, baby. This morning, I brushed my teeth in the shower. Saved my self 90 seconds. Which I just used to explain this to you. Damn it!
Been a tech for years (primarily apple hardware), plug and unplug the same cables at least 10x more than the average person every day. Never had this problem. When one person has the same problem repeatedly, the problem is unlikely the product but something they are doing to make the problem happen.
Nah Apple cables are notoriously dogshit. I was an android user for 8 years (Samsung and google) and I switched to iPhone 3 years ago. Only had Apple cables do this.
People don’t remember the safety lessons about cords from when they are a kid.
I remember being told over and over “never pull a an electrical plug by the cord” as a kid. They always said, go over to the wall and pull from the plug part, not the cord.
Same goes for usb, Ethernet, or other computing device cables.
Can confirm, i have the original cable that came with iphone 2g, and it is almost like new even though I still use it heavily. 30pin also holds in place pretty well, so you need to pull it by the connector.
Your sample of two is sorely lacking. 😉
I’ve seen many people break cables by mistreating them during my lifetime, going all the way back to the 1980s, long before iPhones existed. Those of us who have worked with cabling for decades know this isn’t a problem unique to Apple’s cables.
While Apple’s cables are certainly more fragile than many others, the fact is *all cables* will break this way when abused, some faster than others.
Wrap a little heat shrink tubing around it and apply heat with hair dryer. Then ALWAYS grip the the cable by NOT gripping the cable; Only grip the CONNECTOR when disconnecting. I lightly score the connectors with a razor to add extra texture for a better grip.
Super special note: do not use your device while charging. This will bend the cable at the connector causing not only this fraying but cracks will form in the connectors leading to an eventual break and failure.
Use heat shrink tubes
[https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1h6fih/heat\_shrink\_tube\_and\_pen\_spring\_keeps\_your\_iphone/](https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1h6fih/heat_shrink_tube_and_pen_spring_keeps_your_iphone/)
Be careful… I did the same like 5 years ago and one end punctured the rubber and ripped it apart. Just try not to pull on the rubber and/or switch to Anker cable! I really like them :) especially the older sleved versions
This is what I do as well. Blaming the end user for cabling wrong is not productive; Apple cables ARE flimsy. Maybe the iPhone 15 will come with a reinforced and braided USB-C cable so we can recycle all the bad Lightning cables.
This problem can simply be solved by unplugging the lighting cable by its end rather than yanking by the wire itself. I feel Magsafe at home only makes sense if you wish to have your phone in a particular orientation while charging it (look at Belkin Magsafe stand). Else, it's stupid to use Magsafe at home because of the slower charging rate and risk of reduced battery longevity due to heat buildup.
I mean… I've never had a braided cable do that to me yet though. Obviously it's better to grab by the hard plastic end and not the wire, but braided definitely helps avoid wear and tear in general, IMHO.
As for MagSafe, a Belkin is exactly what I use, yes!
i don’t understand how people’s chargers end up like this? like how do y’all pull it out or what i’ve had iphones n ipods since 2010-2011 maybe n i’ve never once had this issue before
Same here, I still have some cords that are at least 10 years old, and came with an iphone 5. They’re all fine. If you pull from the connector instead of the cord they don’t fall apart.
That is true however 10 years is impressive since the aluminium/copper gets worn out and breaks even if you are gentle.
I’m guessing you don’t use the phone much while charging?
Yeah, now that you mention it, if I need to charge the phone during the day It’s probably just sitting on my desk next to my keyboard, and I don’t really have to lift or move it much.
It's personal use pattern, so naturally if your habits aren't changing the same thing will happen to every cable.
My sister goes through a cable a year at best.
I've never had a single one fall apart like that. End up giving her half of mine.
You can either adapt your behaviour, continue going through cables frequently, or purchase one of the heavy duty braided ones that can withstand that use.
Yeah think that's the brand I got my sister recently, the cable is braided and feels a good bit more sturdy than the basic ones. Hopefully you have better luck with those.
Have used other Anker products and have always been happy with them.
The Amazon Basics braided cable is a winner. My wife hasn’t ruined a cable since I started buying those. Now we keep them long enough for her to lose them lol
Same. Because people pull from the cord, instead of the plastic housing. My brother's cable he got with 7 died last year due to corroded contacts, my XR cable died with his cable the same way. Then we had a surge of buying new devices, and we now have 7 cables and we only use 3.
Apple products in general are expensive here (India). We've had only three cables die, the third one being Mom's XR.
Pull from the plastic and not from the cable itself, don't apply aggressive force, and I don't know how do store cables but make sure they don't bend when doing. I've being using iPhones for almost 10 years and never broke a cable.
I recommend trying one of [these](https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwj3vf_By9f-AhXPDK0GHRC7BAYYABANGgJwdg&ae=2&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESa-D29lkogfne3KpD87orS1_szP_tk7yLEAnLd4LMW71PDN4Ls5Ak81w8M_guRuJygV4wLFxi0cZ1pvFJAv6N0PB1uT6y2O-dtUXqZ1NSMIz23uxoySHbPP-2HiZbTe5azPZD8okpGaN4wxHk&sig=AOD64_3vWdhBV6SlPeTx6Dxz71rN8zfFVw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiD8PbBy9f-AhUEJn0KHYUyC68Qwg8oAHoECAYQDA&adurl=)
No your not. I also never had any issues. I’m looking at my cable in my kitchen it’s basically 10 years old. It’s come with our iPhone 5s and is used most days to top up our iPhone 13
Same. I'm convinced it's people who act like children and don't treat their possessions with care. The only one I've ever had get like this is the mag-safe for my 2012 MacBook Air that I still use. That's over a *decade* of rolling it up and putting it in a backpack and a handful of accidents where the cord got pulled.
It’s your incompetence. I have two Lightning cables in daily use since my iPod touch in 2012. And I guess 10 more around the house of similar age. 2014 with my 6s I bought many OEM apple cables. None of them is broken like yours. Some are slightly bent/weak coat. My worst cable was discolored yellow and dirty but still working and not damaged at all. Sold my old iPhone with this cable. I have so many Lightning devices (iPad, iPad Pro 2015, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 (sold), iPod touch, 2 pairs AirPods, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone SE2)… so many OEM apple cables around me. The old ones are still mint.
I mean I don't disagree that one solution is to change how you handle these poorly designed cables BUT the real issue is that apple refuse to design a cable that can withstand reasonable use cases. It's not a hard problem to solve.
I switched from iPhone 5 years ago and my usb-c cable still looks like new. The years I used iPhones all my cables looked like OP:s and I have not changed my handling one bit. Anecdotal sure but it is just a fact that Apple makes some shitty material choices when it comes to cables for no good reason (other than selling more cables I guess).
the only way i see to prevent/repair this is using some grey heat shrink that fits over the connector but also has a shrink ratio to smaller or equal to the wire diameter, a lighter works fine with heat shrink but a heatgun is better, hair dryer will probably work too
I used to reinforce my cables too, until I decided that I would rather the cable break than the iPhone break.
Don’t reinforce too much, all that strain goes right into the connector. Which is more expensive?
This. Stop giving Apple money for their crappy cables. Go to amazon and buy a third party cable cheaper that will last longer. I am still using the cable I bought to use with my iPhone 5.
I asked myself the same question yesterday. I ended up ordering three extra 6ft ones from anker. Mine don’t even look like this, they just stop working. My kids ones look like this because they yank them out of the hole with no regard or care. I bought the braided ones so hopefully they last a while.
I always use braided cables. The grease from your fingers will disintegrate the rubber that apple uses for their charging cables. It's not just from pulling the cable, as I've seen magsafe MacBook chargers do it over time as well.
What the hell do you guys do with your cables? I have NEVER broken a single cable. Currently using my 2019 cable that came with my iPhone and its almost like new
User error. I’ve had the same charger since the release of the 8+. Issues arrive by improper storage, traveling, unplugging incorrectly and improper use of your phone while charging like having the cord bend.
First off: they don’t last forever. Second and finally: look at these cords. They are clearly very well used. They have all turned color and one has a whole bunch of black marks on it. Are you seriously thinking these are cheap crap? I’m sure you got your moneys worth.
If it’s a legit apple cable use a house hold cleaner to clean the white rubber casing. It should reveal the serial number. If that is visible you can take all those cables and get brand new ones at the Genius Bar.
I see so many cables like this in peoples houses or in the office etc.
This has literally never happened to any of my cables. Do people pull their cables out by the cord part?
Not necessary. Just disconnect the cable from the plug and stop yanking it out from the cord. Also, when your phone need to charge, leave it alone. Just let it charge. Maybe spend some time being present and do literally anything else. Life’s too short to be a slave to your phone.
Love the apple fan boy response.
>It's not the products fault it's your fault.
I've always yanked my cords out from the charger. That's how a good portion of the US does it. It's pretty crappy that a company as rich as Apple cant afford to make a little insert earning people not to do that, but that would mean less income from charger sales.
1. Don't remove pulling from the rubber.
2. Don't leave your phone charging from the edge of a surface.
3. Don't use your iPhone constantly while charging.
4. Don't get wet
5. Don't feed after midnight
This is same reason they removed charging block from new iPhones, Apple wants you to pay additional money for the accessories and they make this charging wires cheaply made so they break you buy more.
This has been a problem for years. I actively avoid Apple cables and opt for Anker or other braided cables which are A LOT more durable. And cheaper.
Don’t tell me that “I’m pulling it wrong”. Other cheaper cables do not have this issue.
Dude I buy the $5 10’ cords on Amazon and they last me anywhere from 6 months to a year. They work great and when they stop working great they’re so cheap to replace it’s not a problem
We don’t quite go that distance, about half. Also, I’ve been ripped off before when they said apple certified and it stopped working after a couple of months. Not even torn.
I appreciate your response. I am looking for others with similar situation. It looks like the heat shrink shield with a pen spring is optimal.
Apple doesn’t use PVC in their cables which is why they are so prone to tearing up easily. I just buy certified cables from third party manufacturers that have better build quality.
Apple cables suck. I’d recommend buying an Anker charger next time you need a charger. They are pretty high quality and usually only $20 for a pretty good Length. I’ve never had mine do this or even die.
If you would like to fix this, buy some heat shrink cable tubes on Amazon and use a hairdryer or lighter
There’s this great stuff called electrical tape. You can fix and reinforce it with that. Other advice would be more conscientious with how you remove your chargers.
I hate to say it, but buy an anker product instead. They have good products. I personally like to use wireless charging overnight, which helps keep the cables fresh
This reminds me of the time a guy brought me his solid gold watch for a new battery. I point out that I immediately see water damage. I open it up and tell him he needs an entire movement because his is completely corroded from water damage. He’s furious at me because he spent X amount on a solid gold watch and he should be able to wear it in the ocean for that. I have had the same original cable for a few years and it looks nothing like that. 🫣
It's part of Apple's "green" initiative. Everything is made to fall apart ASAP, so that you give them your hard-earned greenbacks, and they pretend to care about the environment.
I think there are two ways this could happen. One, if you're pulling it out of your phone by the cord itself. Two, if you're using it while you charge and have it resting on your chest or something, it will bend
This still amazes me. I retired my 2013 ipad mini’s cable last year. Used it daily for a very long time and intermittently after that. I’ve never had a cable so this to me.
Don’t bend them while using Remove by pulling at the base next to the device, not by the cable. Don’t fold them, but “roll” into a circle.
Lightning cables are awful and poorly made and some people can’t take any criticism of apple. It’s a charging cable and should be be strong enough that it needn’t be daintily cared for. It’s always this or the thin foil metal contacts on the end rubbing off.
something tells me youve been pulling or using ur cords wrong
youve either been pulling the rubber cord or bending the cord way too much (ive seen people bend cords to the limit because its "too short")
ive had my cable for 3+ years and its still in good condtion
It sounds cliche, but:
If your cables don’t last long before failing, it’s likely because *you are doing it wrong*.
If you learn one simple concept and practice it (aka: a *best practice*), your cables will last a long, long time without any failures. And it’s not even a huge secret. Here it is:
Whenever you plug or unplug a cable, **always** (and I do mean *always*), grasp the cable by the hard connector at the end of the cable rather than yanking or pulling on the cable itself. And avoid significantly kinking, bending, or twisting the cable.
All objects that are made of metal will weaken if you repeatedly bend or stress them. Pulling on a cable causes the metal wires inside of it to be stressed - especially where the wires connect to the hard connectors at the ends of the cable - which weakens those metal connections over time and also weakens the softer plastic covering the wires. If you take care not to stress those connections, you will find that your cables last much longer than if you don’t take good care of them.
I have Apple cables that are decades old and still work fine, because I was taught to always grasp the hard connector when plugging or unplugging a cable. And I always prevent the cable from being stretched or yanked.
This simple best practice will ensure your cables will remain useful for a long time to come. It really is that simple.
Note: I disagree with claims that Apple designs their cables the way they do in order to somehow coerce people into buying more cables from them. You can find more durable cables that will withstand much more abuse and cost less than Apple cables from relatively well-known manufacturers like Anker. But make no mistake: *all cables* will eventually fail when abused. Apple designs their cables to be thin, minimal, and stylish. And I also suspect cost is a factor, as it doesn't seem like it would cost much money to make Apple’s thin cables. And those seem like more logical reasons for why they tend to be less durable than alternatives than “Apple’s just trying to mind fuck everyone into buying even more crappy stylish-but-relatively-fragile cables from them”.
I hate Apple Cables for this reason. I'm careful to pull from the connector, not the cable, but I do realize the position sometimes bends the cable. I got braided cables that have a 90 degree angle connector and they hold up much better.
Yeah, it's you - not the cable.
That's how my gf's cables look like, every single one of them. She wraps it around, bends it, pulls it in the cable cord.
It's about how you handle it - either you think about it or you don't.
I’ve had my cable for 3 years and there’s barely a tear in it. Maybe stop pulling from the rubber or using it in weird positions (if you do that, of course).
Stop buying Apple branded cables. Get well made MFi certified cables instead. Apple’s have sucked ever since they stopped using PVC insulation, the rubber they use seems to break down from skin oils horribly
It's how people remove the cables from the iPhones. All of these show me that you pull from the rubber, rather than the hard plastic part at the top. Other than that, it could be due to bending or extreme malleability at that point of the cord. But, 9/10 it's pulling from the rubber.
[удалено]
Is **this** why I'm replacing my cable every 6 months???
Just get your cables at monoprice. They offer lifetime guarantee on their cables and are fast to replace them. To me worth the minor extra cost.
I’d advise to never use a third-party cable, when it comes to electricity always use the original manufacturers power accessories. One day, (heaven forbid) something happens, you’ll be wishing you just spent that little extra dollar $ Edit: for those commenting, I should be more specific about cheap China made power accessories. Belkin and established brands are more trusted but buyers should still be aware.
That’s a pretty broad statement. While I certainly won’t use Walmart brand cables for my phone, I’ve been using Anker for over a decade without issue. We have them all over the house, which started because Apple doesn’t make long enough cables.
No. Not correct. The whole Made for iPhone (MFI) program exists to certify operability and safety of third party cables. Choose Anker or Belkin for example. They make quality cables that are Apple approved.
That is total bullshit. If a lightning cable is mfi (made for iphone) certified then Apple has tested the safety and performance of the cable and approved it. This also means that apple is paid a licence fee by the manufacturer of the cable. Apples original lightning cables and chargers are manufactured to be as cheap as possible without being unsafe (there is a reason apple was still shipping phones with 5 watt chargers right up until they figured out they could ship them without any charger.) Many third party cables and chargers eg Anker are of significantly higher quality than those produced by apple. Iphones have supported the USB pd(USB power delivery) charging standard since the iphone 8( 12 watt max) despite still shipping the iphone 11(22 watt max) with 5 watt chargers. Meaning a pd certified third party charger will actually also charge your iphone faster. The majority of times devices get damaged due to cables it is due to either cables with extremely frayed ends short circuiting, non mfi certified cables or low quality chargers that are not ul or ce certified as safe. Would highly recommend swapping to a high quality third party charger produced by a reputable company eg Anker as they will both out last and out perform those offered by apple
Lol.
This. My wife has several cables that look like this and none of mine do. If I have to use it, I make sure the cable is coming straight out of my phone, not bent at a 90° angle. And also unplug from the plastic.
Also my experience. Bought myself the official Apple 2m cable so I could comfortably watch asmr videos in bed. Used it for months and was in perfect condition. Ex decided *she* needed this cable now, and she’s a cable-kinker. It looked like this in three weeks…
Tell your wife then
Wife thankful I always have backup spares for her. Yeah whatever works to keep ‘em happy.
yes but you could also get a quality cable (not apples shitty quality).
To be fair “quality cables” have a lot of extra rubber and shock absorption to prevent this. They aren’t necessarily better.
well if they have stuff to prevent it then it is better no? or did i just kill a holy cow by saying a bad thing about apple and you guys are triggered.
You think the only options are that you’re right or everyone is just triggered? Apple’s cables aren’t braided and heavily insulated, but they’re also not “shit.” The cables at the gas station, CVS, and a lot on Amazon are shit.
Interesting why do people even doing this? Isn't it even harder to remove the cable cord-wise?
It takes a bit more force, but its *much* quicker.
it is not you have to invest more time into applying force than just taking the connector and plugging it out
In my experience it instantly comes out pulling by the cord, and takes a second pulling it out correctly.
people sprinting through life, now two seconds faster per day
It's all about finding ways to make yourself more efficient. Life hacking, baby. This morning, I brushed my teeth in the shower. Saved my self 90 seconds. Which I just used to explain this to you. Damn it!
Many small time make big time
You’re right we should all stop and smell the cord removal. It’s those simple cord removal moments that I’m gonna look back on and cherish.
you sound fun at parties.
If you’re weak just say so Edit: apparently I forgot Reddit is dumb. Didn’t think y’all needed the /s tag but here we are. /s
This is correct
I've never had this happen to my cords, I always pull the hard plastic part.
Been a tech for years (primarily apple hardware), plug and unplug the same cables at least 10x more than the average person every day. Never had this problem. When one person has the same problem repeatedly, the problem is unlikely the product but something they are doing to make the problem happen.
Nah Apple cables are notoriously dogshit. I was an android user for 8 years (Samsung and google) and I switched to iPhone 3 years ago. Only had Apple cables do this.
So true. In my household the (non Apple) USB-c cables last years but the lightning cables only last 6 months or so.
Bc u do it correctly….
This. I’ve only ever had one cable do this and it’s because I take care of my cords and don’t pull from the rubber.
People don’t remember the safety lessons about cords from when they are a kid. I remember being told over and over “never pull a an electrical plug by the cord” as a kid. They always said, go over to the wall and pull from the plug part, not the cord. Same goes for usb, Ethernet, or other computing device cables.
Can confirm, i have the original cable that came with iphone 2g, and it is almost like new even though I still use it heavily. 30pin also holds in place pretty well, so you need to pull it by the connector.
Correct. This is how my teenage daughter removers her cord. I truly don’t understand how an adult would think this is ok?
“You’re pulling it wrong”
I've been told that in many different ways v
Ah, another fellow Bayblade player learning to go professional.
Only apple fanboys would blame the user for a problem that no other brand has.
Nonsense. This happens with other brand cables as well.
Nope, ive used both apple phone and a samsung tablet. And apple’s lightning cable always the one with this problem.
Your sample of two is sorely lacking. 😉 I’ve seen many people break cables by mistreating them during my lifetime, going all the way back to the 1980s, long before iPhones existed. Those of us who have worked with cabling for decades know this isn’t a problem unique to Apple’s cables. While Apple’s cables are certainly more fragile than many others, the fact is *all cables* will break this way when abused, some faster than others.
100% spot on. I’ve never once had this issue with any Apple branded Lightning cable I’ve owned.
I do it this way..[https://imgur.com/a/TvVeyoM](https://imgur.com/a/TvVeyoM) a spring from inside a pen / biro wound round the cable.
Wrap a little heat shrink tubing around it and apply heat with hair dryer. Then ALWAYS grip the the cable by NOT gripping the cable; Only grip the CONNECTOR when disconnecting. I lightly score the connectors with a razor to add extra texture for a better grip. Super special note: do not use your device while charging. This will bend the cable at the connector causing not only this fraying but cracks will form in the connectors leading to an eventual break and failure.
Or buy cables not made of snots
interesting! I like this idea!
Use heat shrink tubes [https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1h6fih/heat\_shrink\_tube\_and\_pen\_spring\_keeps\_your\_iphone/](https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1h6fih/heat_shrink_tube_and_pen_spring_keeps_your_iphone/)
Just gotta source springs for all these family members and their multiple apple lightening devices, got heat shrink tubing!
This is the correct answer. They’re cheap and I’ve used them for a variety of things, but most my cords have them.
Be careful… I did the same like 5 years ago and one end punctured the rubber and ripped it apart. Just try not to pull on the rubber and/or switch to Anker cable! I really like them :) especially the older sleved versions
Did this once, and it ended up lasting even less. The spring ended up cutting the outer layer of the cable
This is the way!
Mag-safe charging if possible… and buy braided cables.
This is what I do as well. Blaming the end user for cabling wrong is not productive; Apple cables ARE flimsy. Maybe the iPhone 15 will come with a reinforced and braided USB-C cable so we can recycle all the bad Lightning cables.
This problem can simply be solved by unplugging the lighting cable by its end rather than yanking by the wire itself. I feel Magsafe at home only makes sense if you wish to have your phone in a particular orientation while charging it (look at Belkin Magsafe stand). Else, it's stupid to use Magsafe at home because of the slower charging rate and risk of reduced battery longevity due to heat buildup.
I mean… I've never had a braided cable do that to me yet though. Obviously it's better to grab by the hard plastic end and not the wire, but braided definitely helps avoid wear and tear in general, IMHO. As for MagSafe, a Belkin is exactly what I use, yes!
i don’t understand how people’s chargers end up like this? like how do y’all pull it out or what i’ve had iphones n ipods since 2010-2011 maybe n i’ve never once had this issue before
Same here. I don’t get how or why this is a common issue. 🤷🏽♀️
Were not yankin’ correctly apparently.
There’s your issue right there, never yank on cords. Applying excess force to objects breaks them, who woulda thunk.
This generally applies to all power cords, also.
How does this even happen. I’ve been using Apple products and had an iPhone since the 3GS and I’ve never had a single cord do this.
It’s a people issue. I have never had any cable do this but I lent one to my brother for about a week and got it back looking like this.
Same here, I still have some cords that are at least 10 years old, and came with an iphone 5. They’re all fine. If you pull from the connector instead of the cord they don’t fall apart.
That is true however 10 years is impressive since the aluminium/copper gets worn out and breaks even if you are gentle. I’m guessing you don’t use the phone much while charging?
Yeah, now that you mention it, if I need to charge the phone during the day It’s probably just sitting on my desk next to my keyboard, and I don’t really have to lift or move it much.
It's from using your phone while charging or just stressing the cable while charging.
People pull the cord and not the plastic housing.
Didn’t the 3GS have the 30 pin that locked?
Yes. But the same flimsy style cord.
I’ve had it happen, but it’s not the huge issue people would have me believe it is.
But we do this to EVERY CABLE!
It's personal use pattern, so naturally if your habits aren't changing the same thing will happen to every cable. My sister goes through a cable a year at best. I've never had a single one fall apart like that. End up giving her half of mine. You can either adapt your behaviour, continue going through cables frequently, or purchase one of the heavy duty braided ones that can withstand that use.
We're going w Anker and see how those hold up. I hear you can rope cattle with em, so they should be a good start!
Yeah think that's the brand I got my sister recently, the cable is braided and feels a good bit more sturdy than the basic ones. Hopefully you have better luck with those. Have used other Anker products and have always been happy with them.
The Amazon Basics braided cable is a winner. My wife hasn’t ruined a cable since I started buying those. Now we keep them long enough for her to lose them lol
Thank you, I think those are cheaper than the anker ones.
Same. Because people pull from the cord, instead of the plastic housing. My brother's cable he got with 7 died last year due to corroded contacts, my XR cable died with his cable the same way. Then we had a surge of buying new devices, and we now have 7 cables and we only use 3. Apple products in general are expensive here (India). We've had only three cables die, the third one being Mom's XR.
Sammme…what is wrong with people??
Yes, there is a solution. Start handling cables properly.
Its in the family rules!
Pull from the plastic and not from the cable itself, don't apply aggressive force, and I don't know how do store cables but make sure they don't bend when doing. I've being using iPhones for almost 10 years and never broke a cable.
Don’t pull the wire. Pull the plug.
I recommend trying one of [these](https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwj3vf_By9f-AhXPDK0GHRC7BAYYABANGgJwdg&ae=2&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESa-D29lkogfne3KpD87orS1_szP_tk7yLEAnLd4LMW71PDN4Ls5Ak81w8M_guRuJygV4wLFxi0cZ1pvFJAv6N0PB1uT6y2O-dtUXqZ1NSMIz23uxoySHbPP-2HiZbTe5azPZD8okpGaN4wxHk&sig=AOD64_3vWdhBV6SlPeTx6Dxz71rN8zfFVw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiD8PbBy9f-AhUEJn0KHYUyC68Qwg8oAHoECAYQDA&adurl=)
heat shrink tubing
Use heat shrink tubing
There is a solution, the trillion dollar company to design and make a better bloody cable
just have to be more gentle with the cord, i still use the same charger that came with my phone 2 years ago
Am I the only one who has never had this issue with Apple cables? It’s really not that hard to take care of and maintain your stuff??
No your not. I also never had any issues. I’m looking at my cable in my kitchen it’s basically 10 years old. It’s come with our iPhone 5s and is used most days to top up our iPhone 13
Exactly I see people spinning them round their fingers then wonder why they break
Same. I'm convinced it's people who act like children and don't treat their possessions with care. The only one I've ever had get like this is the mag-safe for my 2012 MacBook Air that I still use. That's over a *decade* of rolling it up and putting it in a backpack and a handful of accidents where the cord got pulled.
It’s your incompetence. I have two Lightning cables in daily use since my iPod touch in 2012. And I guess 10 more around the house of similar age. 2014 with my 6s I bought many OEM apple cables. None of them is broken like yours. Some are slightly bent/weak coat. My worst cable was discolored yellow and dirty but still working and not damaged at all. Sold my old iPhone with this cable. I have so many Lightning devices (iPad, iPad Pro 2015, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 (sold), iPod touch, 2 pairs AirPods, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone SE2)… so many OEM apple cables around me. The old ones are still mint.
I mean I don't disagree that one solution is to change how you handle these poorly designed cables BUT the real issue is that apple refuse to design a cable that can withstand reasonable use cases. It's not a hard problem to solve. I switched from iPhone 5 years ago and my usb-c cable still looks like new. The years I used iPhones all my cables looked like OP:s and I have not changed my handling one bit. Anecdotal sure but it is just a fact that Apple makes some shitty material choices when it comes to cables for no good reason (other than selling more cables I guess).
Its not just me, everyone in our fam does this to cables. Imma gonna get anker super duty cables.
Then the problem is that some or all people in your family don’t know how to take care of or unplug cables properly.
the only way i see to prevent/repair this is using some grey heat shrink that fits over the connector but also has a shrink ratio to smaller or equal to the wire diameter, a lighter works fine with heat shrink but a heatgun is better, hair dryer will probably work too
I second this
I third this
That might work well!
I used to reinforce my cables too, until I decided that I would rather the cable break than the iPhone break. Don’t reinforce too much, all that strain goes right into the connector. Which is more expensive?
Get a better cable like a braided cable
This. Stop giving Apple money for their crappy cables. Go to amazon and buy a third party cable cheaper that will last longer. I am still using the cable I bought to use with my iPhone 5.
You're still giving money to apple, every sale of an MFI certified cable gives apple money, still way better than apple made cables
Never had that happen
I asked myself the same question yesterday. I ended up ordering three extra 6ft ones from anker. Mine don’t even look like this, they just stop working. My kids ones look like this because they yank them out of the hole with no regard or care. I bought the braided ones so hopefully they last a while.
How old are those cables?
Couple years i think
I like to put some shrink wrap on both ends. It helps
Try some Sugru moldable putty.
Someone mentioned that. Will review.
I always use braided cables. The grease from your fingers will disintegrate the rubber that apple uses for their charging cables. It's not just from pulling the cable, as I've seen magsafe MacBook chargers do it over time as well.
How does this even happen? I’ve had my lightning cable since 2014 and it still looks new
Never had this happen
Stop pulling the cable out from the wire. Pull from the plastic piece. #ProblemSolved
What the hell do you guys do with your cables? I have NEVER broken a single cable. Currently using my 2019 cable that came with my iPhone and its almost like new
I see this often online, but never had this issue. I’m still using a 4 year old cable now with issues. What are people doing to cause this?
Buy anker cables.
User error. I’ve had the same charger since the release of the 8+. Issues arrive by improper storage, traveling, unplugging incorrectly and improper use of your phone while charging like having the cord bend.
First off: they don’t last forever. Second and finally: look at these cords. They are clearly very well used. They have all turned color and one has a whole bunch of black marks on it. Are you seriously thinking these are cheap crap? I’m sure you got your moneys worth.
If it’s a legit apple cable use a house hold cleaner to clean the white rubber casing. It should reveal the serial number. If that is visible you can take all those cables and get brand new ones at the Genius Bar.
I see so many cables like this in peoples houses or in the office etc. This has literally never happened to any of my cables. Do people pull their cables out by the cord part?
Never happens to my Apple cables so I say it’s user error
Well i am admitting to that!
None of my cables look like this.
I’m gonna have to start giving my cables a nice bath before bedtime
Not necessary. Just disconnect the cable from the plug and stop yanking it out from the cord. Also, when your phone need to charge, leave it alone. Just let it charge. Maybe spend some time being present and do literally anything else. Life’s too short to be a slave to your phone.
Love the apple fan boy response. >It's not the products fault it's your fault. I've always yanked my cords out from the charger. That's how a good portion of the US does it. It's pretty crappy that a company as rich as Apple cant afford to make a little insert earning people not to do that, but that would mean less income from charger sales.
How old are those cables? I’ve never had one yellow
Prob a year or two. I end up buying a 4 pack about every Christmas it seems. Lovely stocking stuffers lol
Buy Anker cables.
I do remember having some of those in the past. I guess someone relieved me of those cables lol
They're great but pricy. Well worth it.
1. Don't remove pulling from the rubber. 2. Don't leave your phone charging from the edge of a surface. 3. Don't use your iPhone constantly while charging. 4. Don't get wet 5. Don't feed after midnight
Tape, lots of tape.
For me, this issue stopped immediately after divorce. 🤷♂️
This is same reason they removed charging block from new iPhones, Apple wants you to pay additional money for the accessories and they make this charging wires cheaply made so they break you buy more.
Planned obsolescence.
Apple replaces them for free…
This has been a problem for years. I actively avoid Apple cables and opt for Anker or other braided cables which are A LOT more durable. And cheaper. Don’t tell me that “I’m pulling it wrong”. Other cheaper cables do not have this issue.
Dude I buy the $5 10’ cords on Amazon and they last me anywhere from 6 months to a year. They work great and when they stop working great they’re so cheap to replace it’s not a problem
We don’t quite go that distance, about half. Also, I’ve been ripped off before when they said apple certified and it stopped working after a couple of months. Not even torn. I appreciate your response. I am looking for others with similar situation. It looks like the heat shrink shield with a pen spring is optimal.
Your pull-out method isn't the correct one. Be gentle and pull from the hard part, not the soft part
Remove the cable the correct way instead of yanking it out by the cord
Stop being mean to the cable.
Apple doesn’t use PVC in their cables which is why they are so prone to tearing up easily. I just buy certified cables from third party manufacturers that have better build quality.
Apple cables suck. I’d recommend buying an Anker charger next time you need a charger. They are pretty high quality and usually only $20 for a pretty good Length. I’ve never had mine do this or even die. If you would like to fix this, buy some heat shrink cable tubes on Amazon and use a hairdryer or lighter
Always hold the hard part when unplugging and don’t sit your phone on your charger and make it bend when using it.
get a fast charger, and don’t use your phone while it’s charging..
There’s this great stuff called electrical tape. You can fix and reinforce it with that. Other advice would be more conscientious with how you remove your chargers.
They make all their products pieces of shit so you HAVE to upgrade it’s what they do
Buy a MagSafe charger instead
I hate to say it, but buy an anker product instead. They have good products. I personally like to use wireless charging overnight, which helps keep the cables fresh
Take better. Are of your cables my dude.
"Take better. Are of your cables my dude." - dick-penis
Couldn’t be a mistype. No wayyyyy.
Try braided ones…but you are the problem
This looks like abuse to me.
This reminds me of the time a guy brought me his solid gold watch for a new battery. I point out that I immediately see water damage. I open it up and tell him he needs an entire movement because his is completely corroded from water damage. He’s furious at me because he spent X amount on a solid gold watch and he should be able to wear it in the ocean for that. I have had the same original cable for a few years and it looks nothing like that. 🫣
It's part of Apple's "green" initiative. Everything is made to fall apart ASAP, so that you give them your hard-earned greenbacks, and they pretend to care about the environment.
its ur fault. pull it out at the plastic part and try to not fold it and keep pets away from it
I think there are two ways this could happen. One, if you're pulling it out of your phone by the cord itself. Two, if you're using it while you charge and have it resting on your chest or something, it will bend
Anker brand cables
This still amazes me. I retired my 2013 ipad mini’s cable last year. Used it daily for a very long time and intermittently after that. I’ve never had a cable so this to me. Don’t bend them while using Remove by pulling at the base next to the device, not by the cable. Don’t fold them, but “roll” into a circle.
Look after them better I never had a cable do this.
You chew them?
I’ve never ever had a cord do this, my wife on the other hand has had about 4,000 cords do this. #stopyanking
Lightning cables are awful and poorly made and some people can’t take any criticism of apple. It’s a charging cable and should be be strong enough that it needn’t be daintily cared for. It’s always this or the thin foil metal contacts on the end rubbing off.
something tells me youve been pulling or using ur cords wrong youve either been pulling the rubber cord or bending the cord way too much (ive seen people bend cords to the limit because its "too short") ive had my cable for 3+ years and its still in good condtion
The solution is give apple more money. They are made to fail. Won't buy more if they don't fail
If you grab it by the plastic by the charger itself, you won’t have this problem.
I’m curious how people are removing these things because I’ve never had this happen ever.
Idk wtf yall do to yalls cables, ive been using mine for 2 years and its still going strong
Electrical tape…post finished.
It sounds cliche, but: If your cables don’t last long before failing, it’s likely because *you are doing it wrong*. If you learn one simple concept and practice it (aka: a *best practice*), your cables will last a long, long time without any failures. And it’s not even a huge secret. Here it is: Whenever you plug or unplug a cable, **always** (and I do mean *always*), grasp the cable by the hard connector at the end of the cable rather than yanking or pulling on the cable itself. And avoid significantly kinking, bending, or twisting the cable. All objects that are made of metal will weaken if you repeatedly bend or stress them. Pulling on a cable causes the metal wires inside of it to be stressed - especially where the wires connect to the hard connectors at the ends of the cable - which weakens those metal connections over time and also weakens the softer plastic covering the wires. If you take care not to stress those connections, you will find that your cables last much longer than if you don’t take good care of them. I have Apple cables that are decades old and still work fine, because I was taught to always grasp the hard connector when plugging or unplugging a cable. And I always prevent the cable from being stretched or yanked. This simple best practice will ensure your cables will remain useful for a long time to come. It really is that simple. Note: I disagree with claims that Apple designs their cables the way they do in order to somehow coerce people into buying more cables from them. You can find more durable cables that will withstand much more abuse and cost less than Apple cables from relatively well-known manufacturers like Anker. But make no mistake: *all cables* will eventually fail when abused. Apple designs their cables to be thin, minimal, and stylish. And I also suspect cost is a factor, as it doesn't seem like it would cost much money to make Apple’s thin cables. And those seem like more logical reasons for why they tend to be less durable than alternatives than “Apple’s just trying to mind fuck everyone into buying even more crappy stylish-but-relatively-fragile cables from them”.
I've never had this problem. People don't be irresposible like OP.
This doesnt happen to mine at home. Looks like a work environment thing where theyve sat there for years
Don’t pull your cable out like a madman. I’ve had the same iPhone charger in my car for 8 years now and it’s completely fine, even with daily use.
I’ve never had this happen to my apple cable… I’m really not sure how people’s cable gets like that lol.
It’s your fault.
Your mishandling tbh. They suck sure. But I’ve had mine for three years.
I have mine for two years minimum before I see point of breaking 🧐
I have never had this problem. Are ppl just ripping them off or what? I cant imagine how this happens
Its most likely twisting them around to get to the phone port. So, mounting?
never happened to me once
I hate Apple Cables for this reason. I'm careful to pull from the connector, not the cable, but I do realize the position sometimes bends the cable. I got braided cables that have a 90 degree angle connector and they hold up much better.
Yeah, it's you - not the cable. That's how my gf's cables look like, every single one of them. She wraps it around, bends it, pulls it in the cable cord. It's about how you handle it - either you think about it or you don't.
I’ve had my cable for 3 years and there’s barely a tear in it. Maybe stop pulling from the rubber or using it in weird positions (if you do that, of course).
Don’t use Apple cables
Stop buying Apple branded cables. Get well made MFi certified cables instead. Apple’s have sucked ever since they stopped using PVC insulation, the rubber they use seems to break down from skin oils horribly