I have an iPhone that may have gotten a little bit of water in it after the warranty expired.. the result is that the dock connector is fouled up. This page is NOT for people who plug their iPhone into a docking device and get a warning – this is for people who get a random warning for no good reason. Also, if your warranty is still valid, ONLY try the first fix, then take the phone in for a replacement. The second and third fix are for phones that are broken without warranty.
There are two primary symptoms of a faulty dock connector:
1. The external speakers do not click or play music from iPod, but they do make noise when the phone rings.
2. At random times a notice comes up that says, “This accessory is not made to work with iPhone Charging is not supported with this accessory. Would you like to turn on Airplane Mode to reduce audio interference? You will not be able to make or receive calls.”

This accessory is not made to work with iPhone
The bad news is, there is definitely a problem with your dock connector. The good news is that there are 3 fixes to help you on your way.
The first fix is a simple hardware cleaning. The solution entails cleaning the docking area of your phone. I suggest using a dry soft bristled tooth brush. Some people have suggested using compressed air and vacuum tools. The key with this cleaning is to not make the problem worse by being too aggressive, and don’t use water! There may be other solvents that work, but I can’t recommend any (offer suggestions if you like). The idea here is that some kind of debris is in your dock making the iPhone think a device is trying to connect. Remove the debris and fix the device! (maybe)
THIS IS THE INTERNET. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The first fix works if debris caused the error, but not if the dock is actually faulty. My dock was faulty, but I was able to make the error go away with a trick – the trick basically disables the airplane warning inside the firmware. This fix does have risk, but I will make it as easy as possible. This fix works for firmware 2.2.1 and 3.0. If you can confirm that it works for other firmwares please let me know. At the time of this article, The 3GS phone is not jailbroken, so I can’t tell if it works there.
- The phone must be jailbroken. This is a deal-breaker for some, but I highly recommend it. To get details on jailbreaking, check out http://blog.iphone-dev.org. This isn’t a jailbreak tutorial, so do that and come back.
- After the phone is jailbroken, you will need to open up Cydia. There, you will be asked which kind of user you are. Choose “Developer” (it’s okay if you’re not a developer) then run the upgrades in Cydia.
- You’ll need install a package called OpenSSH. The open ssh program allows you to get to the inner workings of your iphone from a regular computer. To find it, go to Search (in Cydia) and search for OpenSSH.
- You’ll also need a program called wget, it’s a program that allows you to download files from the internet on the command line. Search Cydia for wget and install it.
- A choice: If you want to do this directly on the iphone, install MobileTerminal from Cydia, otherwise you’ll need to check your wireless router to find out the ip for your iphone so you can log in with ssh (usually something like 192.168.1.##)
- If you’re going to use SSH: If you’re using ssh you’ll need a computer with a terminal client. Mac has one built in, but for windows you’ll need to download a program called putty.
On mac: open a terminal and type: ssh root@<iphone ip> wait awhile, accept the key, and then enter “alpine” as the password. (<iphone ip> is the ip number for your iphone, it is an ip number like 192.168.1.100)
On a pc: open putty. In the “Host Name” line, type the ip for your iPhone and then hit “Open”. It will take several seconds. Accept the key, then use “root” as the login and “alpine” as the password.
In Linux: same as mac. (I actually do this fix from Linux because it’s easiest, but i wanted to tailor these instructions for the masses) - For MobileTerminal: Simply open the terminal icon on the iPhone and type: su root <enter>, then the password alpine <enter>.
6. You are in! (Aren’t you?)
7. Now all we need to do is replace the file that causes the warning screen and disables the dock when you are plugged in. Type these commands just like you see them – they will work the same for pretty much everyone (hit enter after each line):
cd /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/IAP.framework/Support/
mv iapd iapd.broken
wget http://www.huanix.com/iapd
chmod 755 iapd
chown root:wheel iapd
exit
exit
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There you go! You just disabled the dock warning nag. When you reboot you shouldn’t see the notice anymore. The external speakers generally work, but depending on how bad the dock is damaged it may or may not exit iPod randomly. So this isn’t a PERFECT fix, but it’s free.
IF something went wrong (?) and you have trouble using your phone, you will want to delete the “replacement” iapd and change the name of the backup to the original. I won’t give instructions here because people tend to copy random snippets of any instruction and i don’t want to confuse anyone.
A few useful notes from yyota@hotmail.com:
This iapd under OS 3.0 is not fully compatible, the process crashreporter keeps writting crash logs coming from iapd, it slows down the iphone a lot!!! It takes 50% cpu every few seconds.
To check this, synchronize your iphone with your Mac then check this folder on your computer:
/Users/xxx/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/xxx’s iPhone/
It will be full of iapd crash logs!
Incoming search terms:
- this accessory is not made to work with iphone
- this accessory is not supported by iphone
- iapd iphone
- iphone accessory not supported
- charging is not supported with this accessory fix
- iphone Charging is not supported with this accessory
- this accessory is not made to work with iphone fix
- iphone 3gs charging is not supported with this accessory
- iphone charging is not supported with this accessory fix
- charging is not supported with this accessory
Got scared when i seen the things i had to do to fix this problem but just turned it off and on again everything fine sorted
many many many thnx
Thanks, it worked on mine. Now I have all the sounds and firmware 4.2.1…
Mate…you are unbelieveble…This problem made me crazy and with your simple instructions its now working like charm. Thank you very very very much
Awesome, it worked. Thanks!!! I buyed an iPhone 2g for 30 euro with this error, it was really bugging me but now it’s solved
this work great 3.1.3 firmware
awww man this doesnt work for 3GS ive tried and when I get to this line: “mv iapd iapd.broken” its says that no such file exists =[
Is there some way you can rewrite this for 3GS? Would reeeeaaly appreciate it
ERES UN GENIO HERMANO, ESTABA A PUNTO DE MANDAR MI IPHONE 2G AL TECNICO, PERO ESTA SOLUCION TUYA ESTA FANTASTICA, VARIAS LINEAS ME DIERON ERROR OTRAS NO PERO DE QUE FUNCIONA FUNCIONA!, SOLUCION A ESTE ACCESORIO NO ES COMPATIBLE CON IPHONE
i have fighting with my iphone for days.and finaly it works.I have 4.1 and it works.thank you very much
happens all the time.
The hack works great … my altec Lansing Device (bourt on apple.com) had this error … maybe cleaning would also help. But i hate Apple for forcing their users to hack them. Ok, somehow one
could love them for it.
Advice for Windows users: use WinSCP to rename the file and copy the new one in. Also don’t forget to change the rights of the file to 755 (which the original file has)
@POT
you are probably in the wron directory and are using a terminal the first time … be careful. try “ls” to see the content of the directory and “pwd” so check your current directory
thank you, this worked
how did i live with this msg for so long.
Thanks a lot thanks thanks thanks, it worked!
Wait, does this actually make the phone stop shutting off the audio though? I’ve seen fixes for this error that just get rid of the popup but then you’re left with a phone that only works with headphones.
Why the hell would Apple make a phone that shuts off your speakers against your will just because a meaningless error comes up?
It also shuts off my wifi so I can’t even go to the jailbreak site in time before the popup renders this thing useless.
wooo.. it doesnt work.. tsk.tsk.tsk. nothing change..
To anyone who got a prob with the line:
mv iapd iapd.broken
Dont push enter after the line before and the problem is solved
I have used this fix successfully before on an original iPhone, iPod touch 2G, and iPhone 3Gs. My daughter took our iPad first gen into the tub with her. I managed to dry it out and get it running, but missing the volume slider/no sound like the previously mentioned devices (also wet in some way). This fix does NOT work for the iPad however, it will not restart and sticks at the apple. I am pretty bummed, does anyone have any suggestions?
Solved!
rename or delete:
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.accessoryd.plist
confirmed fixes issue on iPad first gen iOS 4.3.5
@sam thx
this pop up thing is really doing my head in cant cope with it no more i am considering throwing the phone in the bin! ive read what to do but i cant get the hang of it please help!!
hie im gettin an error ‘cannot move iapd’ what should i do
@Sam
You rock! Sometimes, in math, when a solution is perfect, it is called elegant. Elegant!
thanks, turns out my dock was just dirty.
You really rock mate.
You solved a problem which was running for almost 3 years….
now.. the annoying pop up does not come anymore…
and more interestingly.. my sound is working fine..
i am able hear sound without headphones….
+1 Kamesh Kannan
Water on my iPhone, no sound and message comes up !
Set up your tips and…. OMG IT WORKS !!!!
Thousand thanks my friend, you rock !!!!
So many many many thanks mate.
My French iPhone say you : Je t’aime mon pote
Salut et Merci