Dangerous fruit: Apple recalls specific wall plugs over electric shock risk

Do you have one of these? If so, stop using it immediately. (Image source: Apple)

Did you buy a Mac, iOS device or the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit between 2003 and 2010? If you did, chances are that you received a wall plug too. Turns out that the three-prong adapters sold in certain countries during that period can break and cause an electric shock if touched.

by Alex Alderson, 2019/04/25

Apple has announced that some wall plugs sold with a Mac, iOS device or the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit pose the risk of giving people an electric shock. The ones affected are three-pronged adapters sold between 2003 and 2010 in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom. These plugs are liable to break and reveal metal parts that could give you a nasty electric shock if touched.

Apple is offering to exchange all affected adapters for new ones, the process for which it outlines on its Recall Program notes. Please note that this only applies to wall adapters and not to USB power adapters, which have a similar design.

Affected adapters are all white with no lettering above or in the slot where it connects to a power supply. They also have no indents on their sides as newer versions do. The latest and unaffected adapters have a grey power supply slot with safety and regulatory information printed on it. If you have a two-pronged adapter that you bought with a device or Travel Kit between 2003 to 2015, then we would recommend checking out a separate Recall Program that Apple announced in 2016.

Please contact Apple Support, an Authorized Apple Service Provider or visit an Apple Store if you have an affected adapter bought between those periods. You can find more information on the three-prong and two-prong wall plug recall program notes.