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

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

iPhone Foldable Display Said to Feature iPad-Style 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Friday March 28, 2025 3:44 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming "iPhone Fold" will feature a foldable screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, according to a Chinese leaker who previously leaked the book-style device's display dimensions. The Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station claims that Apple will adopt a "roughly" 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display in order to achieve consistency between the outer display, as well as to ensure parity...