If you just bought a new iPhone and then decided you want to get AppleCare+ for it, you can do so within a limited time period, even if you didn't buy the ‌iPhone‌ directly from Apple. Keep reading to learn how.

applecare iphone 8
Apple offers ‌AppleCare‌+ protection to customers going through the ‌iPhone‌ order process on its online store, but it's perfectly possible to get coverage after you've received your ‌iPhone‌, even if it's a refurbished device.

What is AppleCare+ and How Much Does it Cost?

Apple includes a one-year limited warranty with all hardware and up to 90 days of technical support, so if a manufacturing defect arises within this period, you’re automatically covered.

Buying ‌AppleCare‌+ basically extends your ‌iPhone‌ warranty to two years and also includes protection for physical damage, including up to two incidents of accidental damage, each subject to an excess fee of $29 for screen damage, or $99 for any other damage. In addition, ‌AppleCare‌+ gets you 24/7 priority access to Apple experts via chat or phone.

‌AppleCare‌+ prices depend on the model of ‌iPhone‌ you have. As of writing, Apple's prices are as follows:

  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 – ‌AppleCare‌+ cost $129
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus and ‌iPhone‌ XR – ‌AppleCare‌+ cost $149.
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro – ‌AppleCare‌+ cost $199.

What About Coverage for Theft and Loss?

‌AppleCare‌+ coverage for theft and loss is a separate plan, and theft and loss coverage requires you to have Find My ‌iPhone‌ enabled on your device at the time it is lost or stolen. ‌AppleCare‌+ with Theft and Loss prices depend on the model of ‌iPhone‌ you have. As of writing, Apple's prices are as follows:

  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 – $199
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus and ‌iPhone‌ XR – $249
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro – $299

Theft and loss deductibles are as follows:

  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 – $199
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11, ‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus – $229
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max – $269

How Long Do I Have to Buy AppleCare+?

You can order ‌AppleCare‌+ within 60 days of receiving your ‌iPhone‌, and this applies regardless of whether you bought the phone from Apple or whether you got it from a carrier or another retailer.

You can check how many days you have remaining to add ‌AppleCare‌+ coverage right on your ‌iPhone‌, just below your name banner the Settings app.

Note that ‌AppleCare‌+ coverage starts from the day you originally bought your device, so you won't get 60 days of extra coverage if you wait until the last minute to buy the plan. Also, your ‌iPhone‌ needs to be in normal working condition and not damaged to add ‌AppleCare‌+.

Can I Get More Than 2 Years' of AppleCare+?

If you want coverage beyond the two years offered by a fixed ‌AppleCare‌+ plan, Apple also offers rolling monthly subscription plans that automatically renew until canceled by the customer. So you can pay for the first two years upfront, and then at the end of those two years, you can roll into the monthly plan going forward.

applecare monthly renewal option

‌‌AppleCare‌‌+ renewable monthly plan offered at checkout

You can continue to pay for monthly ‌‌AppleCare‌‌+ coverage for as long as you like, or until Apple can no longer service the device. Bear in mind though that the monthly ‌‌AppleCare‌‌+ plans do cost more than paying an upfront price. For example, upfront ‌AppleCare‌+ pricing for a new ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro is $199, but rolling coverage is $9.99 per month, which works out at $239.76 over two years.

How to Add AppleCare+ to Your iPhone

You can add ‌AppleCare‌+ to your ‌iPhone‌ after purchase in a number of ways. The first series of steps show how to do it directly on your ‌iPhone‌ and are followed by steps for doing so online via a browser.

On iPhone

  1. Launch the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap About.
  4. Tap AppleCare+ Coverage Available.
  5. Follow the onscreen instructions to choose and purchase ‌AppleCare‌+

ios13 iphone xs settings general about applecare

Online

  1. Open a browser and visit the AppleCare+ website.
  2. Choose ‌iPhone‌ from the product categories.
  3. Enter your ‌iPhone‌'s serial number or sign in with your Apple ID.
  4. Follow the instructions to purchase AppleCase. You'll also need to allow a remote diagnostic on your ‌iPhone‌.

Alternatively, you can call Apple Support on 800.275.2273 (800.APL.CARE) or head to an Apple Store and ask to add ‌AppleCare‌+ to your ‌iPhone‌. Either way, you'll need to have proof of purchase handy and you'll have to allow a remote diagnostic or a visual inspection of your ‌iPhone‌ to take place.

Popular Stories

iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 With Bug Fixes, Plus iOS 17.0.2 for iPhone 15 Models

Thursday September 21, 2023 10:28 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 updates for the iPhone and the iPad, adding bug fixes to the new software. The iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 updates come just a few days after Apple launched iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. The software, which is build 21A340, can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. There is a...
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

iPhone 15 Models Feature New Setting to Strictly Prevent Charging Beyond 80%

Tuesday September 19, 2023 2:04 pm PDT by
All of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models feature a new battery health setting that prevents the devices from charging beyond 80% at all times when enabled, as confirmed by The Verge's Allison Johnson during a Q&A session today. The new setting is separate from the pre-existing Optimized Battery Charging feature on iPhones, which intelligently delays charging past 80% until a more...
emojipedia 15 1 emoji

Emoji Coming to Future iOS 17 Update Include Shaking Head, Brown Mushroom, Lime, Phoenix and More

Tuesday September 19, 2023 12:43 pm PDT by
As Apple was announcing new iPhone models last week, the Unicode Consortium was officially approving new emoji characters that are set to be added to smartphones starting in 2024. Mockup of new emoji from Emojipedia Approved Unicode 15.1 emoji include phoenix, lime, an edible mushroom, shaking head vertically (as in a "yes" nod), shaking head horizontally (a "no" head shake), and broken...
iPhone 15 Pro Max 5x Optical Zoom Limit Feature 1

Apple Explains Why iPhone 15 Pro Max is Limited to 5x Optical Zoom

Wednesday September 20, 2023 9:52 am PDT by
In an interview with Numerama's Nicolas Lellouche, Apple's VP of camera software engineering Jon McCormack explained why the iPhone 15 Pro Max's tetraprism lens system is limited to 5x optical zoom, instead of 10x like on Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra. The interview is in French, so quotes below are computer translated. Apple says the Telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max features the...