What Is AppleCare+ for AirPods and Apple Watch

AppleCare+ is Apple's paid coverage plan that adds accidental-damage repairs, battery service below 80% capacity and priority support to a device's standard warranty.

With AppleCare+, Apple lists a $29 fee for accidental damage to AirPods, including liquid damage, and $0 for battery service once capacity drops below 80%. Apple Watch accidental damage starts at $69, and Apple Watch plans with Theft and Loss charge $119 per theft or loss claim. The standard warranty covers manufacturing issues for one year, not accidents or normal battery wear.

Service fees from apple.com/applecare and the AppleCare estimates on Apple's AirPods and Apple Watch service pages, US, checked September 27, 2026. Fees and plan terms change and vary by country or region. We leave plan prices off this page; Apple lists them on its AppleCare page.

Before you file a claim for a pairing, charging or battery drain problem, try AirPods pairing and battery fixes. A fix in Settings costs nothing, while an AppleCare+ repair can carry a service fee.

When the problem is damage or a worn battery, your coverage decides what you pay. This explainer sits with our repair guides, and owners who want to replace an Apple Watch battery without a plan will find Apple's out-of-warranty figures there.

What AppleCare+ Covers Compared With the Warranty

AppleCare+ changes five things compared with the Apple Limited Warranty, which covers manufacturing issues for one year from the date you bought the device:

What happened	Apple Limited Warranty	AppleCare+
Manufacturing issue	Covered for one year from purchase	Extended warranty coverage for hardware issues
Accidental damage, including liquid	Not covered	Unlimited repairs, with a fee each time: "drops and spills" for AirPods and their charging case, "drops or bumps" for Apple Watch
Battery wear	Not covered: "batteries that wear down from normal use"	Battery service at no extra charge below 80% capacity
Loss or theft	Not covered	Apple Watch with AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss: up to two claims per year. AirPods: not included
How you get service	In person or by mail	Express Replacement too: Apple sends a replacement before you send yours back

Apple says its warranty is in addition to your rights under consumer law in your country or region. Every AppleCare plan also covers the in-box cables and power adapters that came with the covered product, and the AirPods and Apple Watch plans include 24/7 priority support from Apple experts.

Lost AirPods fall outside both columns: Apple sells a replacement AirPod or case at its out-of-warranty price, and the page on how to get your AirPods battery replaced lists those lost-part prices by model.

What You Pay per Repair With AppleCare+

AppleCare+ fees are flat per repair. Apple's estimate tools list them for all 17 AirPods models and 129 Apple Watch configurations (our count of the tool's entries):

Service	AppleCare+ fee (US, September 27, 2026)
AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max: accidental damage	$29
AirPods battery service, capacity below 80%	$0
Apple Watch accidental damage	$69 on most models; $79 on every Apple Watch Ultra, Hermès and Edition model
Apple Watch theft or loss (Series 7 and later, SE and Ultra, with Theft and Loss)	$119
Apple Watch battery service, capacity below 80%	$0

Apple says, "For service covered by an AppleCare plan, your service fee is the same at Apple and all Apple Authorized Service Providers." Fees may be subject to tax. Series 3 to Series 6 watches show no theft or loss line in Apple's tool. For a cracked or dark watch display, Apple Watch Screen Repair covers the screen checks and out-of-warranty prices.

How to Check If You Have AppleCare+

Apple gives three places to look up your plan:

1. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, tap AppleCare & Warranty, then tap your device. On a Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty.
2. On Apple's coverage page, sign in, or enter a serial number and the on-screen code.
3. At mysupport.apple.com, sign in and choose your device to see the support you're eligible for, including hardware repairs.

The same Settings screen shows your coverage expiration date, and mysupport.apple.com has a View Proof of Coverage option for the agreement number.

When You Can Add AppleCare+

In the US, you can add AppleCare+ to new AirPods when you buy them or within 60 days of purchase. A new Apple Watch gets AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss on the same 60-day terms. Both renew monthly or annually. You buy it in Settings on an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Vision Pro: General > AppleCare & Warranty, select the device, then follow the onscreen steps. If a plan expires, Apple says you might be able to buy new coverage within 45 days after it ends, with recurring payments. Other countries differ: some allow 30 days, and some sell AppleCare+ only at purchase.

How to Use AppleCare+ for a Repair

AppleCare+ claims start on Apple's service pages, the same way as any repair:

1. On Apple's AirPods or Apple Watch service page, select Get started under "Handled with AppleCare" and sign in to see your coverage and plan benefits. Get Support works too.
2. Choose Express Replacement, the Genius Bar or one of the more than 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers worldwide, or mail-in with Apple's prepaid shipping box.
3. Pay the AppleCare+ fee from the table above if one applies.

For a lost or stolen Apple Watch covered by Theft and Loss, file the claim at mysupport.apple.com/theftandloss. Apple ships the replacement to you; it can't be picked up at a store. Apple's guarantee on the service and replacement parts runs for 90 days or the remaining term of your Apple warranty, whichever is longer.