Apple has issued a recall order for AC wall plug adapters over what the company said is a very rare risk of electric shock from the accessories.
The adapters that are covered by the Apple AC Wall Plug Adapter Exchange Program were designed to be used in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, Korea and New Zealand. The adapters could break which would lead to electrical shock risks when the user touches the device.
Wall plug adapters that were designed to be used in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with Apple's USB power adapters, do not carry the same risk.
According to the company, the wall plug adapters included in the recall where shipped between 2003 to 2015, coming with some iOS mobile devices and Mac computers. The adapters were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit.
Apple has put up a dedicated website for the exchange program, which first has users check if their wall plug adapter is among those that are included in the recall.
Affected devices have four to five characters or no characters at all written in the inside slot where they connect with the power adapter. Adapters that have been redesigned and do not carry the shock risk feature a three-letter regional code in the same slot.
The prong types affected by the recall are also shown in the dedicated website. For Continental Europe, the prongs are round thin pins that are slightly slanted inward, and for Korea, the prongs are round thick pins. For Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, the prongs are flat angled blades, while for Brazil, the prongs are round thin pins.
Apple also noted that the countries and regions that are listed are just some of the locations supported by the affected adapters. It is also possible that an affected adapter is being used in another country, so users are recommended to do the quick check to see if their wall plug adapter is included in the recall program.
Users who determine their wall plug adapter to be affected by the recall are recommended to find the serial number of the device that the recalled device came along with, as it will have to be verified first by Apple.
The wall plug adapters can be exchanged at any local Apple Store, with a reservation for the Genius Bar recommended for the convenience of users. The devices can also be taken to an authorized Apple service provider.
If these options are not possible, customers can also contact Apple Support to see how the exchange can take place.
Apple will be replacing the recalled wall plug adapters with redesigned versions completely free of charge.
