Apple has now extended the cut-off period for renewing AppleCare+ coverage from 30 to 45 days after the end of your original plan.
The change was reflected on Apple’s support page ten days ago. “Purchase the new coverage within 45 days after your original coverage ends,” it now reads. You can extend expired AppleCare+ coverage by 24 months, 36 months, monthly or on an annual basis until canceled. AppleCare+ plans for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch paid upfront can be renewed as a monthly subscription or yearly payment. Expired AppleCare+ for Mac plans can only be renewed yearly.
The 45-day window for AppleCare+ renewal is live in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, except for China where there’s still the previous 30-day window in place.
How to find out if you’re eligible for AppleCare+
To determine your eligibility for new coverage, go to mysupport.apple.com and follow the onscreen instructions. You can also choose Settings > General > About > AppleCare+ Coverage Available within 30 days of the end date of your coverage. If you don’t see the option to extend your expired coverage, you’ve missed the 45-day cut-off period and won’t be able to renew the plan.
To check when your AppleCare+ expires, go to Settings > General > About > Coverage (iOS/iPadOS) or System Settings > General > About (macOS).
What is AppleCare+ and how does it work?
AppleCare+ is an optional coverage extending your warranty to two years while providing unlimited incidents of accidental damage protection, 24/7 priority access to technical support by chat or phone, and other perks. It’s like any insurance. You basically pay a fee for peace of mind, knowing you won’t have to pay for repairs or replacements out of pocket in case the device breaks.
Each incident is subject to a (low) fee. For example, repairing a cracked iPhone 15 screen without AppleCare+ will set you back $329. With AppleCare+, you only pay $29 for a genuine Apple replacement and service. Any other damage (excluding rear camera, battery, cracked screen and back glass damage) will cost you $649 without AppleCare+ but just $99 with it.
In some countries, Apple also offers the AppleCare+ with a Theft and Loss plan that includes coverage against theft. You can purchase an AppleCare+ plan at the time of device purchase or up to 60 days after. You can pay upfront for your plan or month-to-month as a subscription. You can check the current AppleCare+ plans and pricing on Apple’s website.