How to check if you have a genuine Apple lightning cable on Windows 10
Apple’s accessories aren’t cheap and save for a few items, you cannot make do with a third-party accessory. You can, for example, use a third-party lightning cable to charge an iPhone, upgrade iOS, or transfer data to/from it but you cannot use a third-party adapter to charge a MacBook.
Apple generally doesn’t block third-party lightning cables but they do not all work the same and poorly manufactured ones can cause problems down the line. If you’ve bought an Apple lightning cable but suspect it may not be a genuine Apple manufactured accessory, there is a simple way to check its authenticity if you have access to a Windows 10 system.
Check genuine Apple Lightning cable
In order to check if you have a genuine Apple lightning cable, you need to install an app called 3uTools. This app is a data and backup manager for iOS devices, it can jailbreak your iPhone, and much more. It also has a tool that can check if your Apple accessories are genuine or not.
3uTools will work with any iPhone, jailbroken or not, and it can check the authenticity of a lightning cable, AirPods, and wired Earpods that connect via a lightning port.
- Download and install 3uTools from the official website.
- Connect your iPhone to your Windows 10 system via the cable you want to check.
- If you see a prompt on your iPhone asking to trust the computer, tap Trust.
- Open 3uTools.
- Click Toolbox at the top.
- Select the Genuine Accessories tool.
- Select Test Data Cable.
- A window will open telling you if the cable is genuine or if it was made by a third-party manufacturer.
Checking other accessories
3uTools can check two other accessories; Airpods, and Earpods. The process is more or less the same but for Airpods, you have to connect the charging case to your PC. To test the Earpods, you will have to connect them to your iPhone and the iPhone will have to be connected to your system via WiFi.
Conclusion
The lightning cable doesn’t have to be genuine to work in most cases. Almost any type of cable will be able to charge your iPhone. The only time you may run into problems is when you’re transferring data e.g., taking a backup but again, it’s rare. Most third-party lightning cables work great. More importantly, some of them even cost more than a genuine Apple lightning cable but they’re sturdier. A genuine Apple lightning cable has an unfortunately small life span.
