Apple recognizes wireless charging issue for iPhone 15 in BMWs

Earlier this month, we shared with you the concerns of some iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users who are also BMW owners. They reported issues with their iPhone 15’s NFC chip malfunctioning after using the vehicle’s wireless charger. Now Apple has acknowledged the problem. Better late than never, right? According to Apple InsiderThe tech giant issued a service bulletin through its network of authorized service providers, attributing the issue to the use of a “small number” of wireless chargers supplied with certain BMW and Toyota Supra vehicles.

If you encounter this issue, expect to see an “Unable to set up Apple Pay” error message on your device, even if Apple Pay has already been set up. Apple suggests fixing the problem by resetting the iPhone’s NFC chip using Apple Service Toolkit 2, a software utility used in Apple stores and authorized service providers.

As a temporary measure, Apple is advising customers to refrain from using wireless charging in these vehicles until a software patch is released. Although Apple assures that the problem will be fixed in an upcoming software update, the exact release date remains undetermined.

iOS 17.1 was just rolled out, but it didn’t fix the NFC chip issue. Keep an eye out for a solution in future releases.

NFC, or Near Field Communication, is a short-range wireless communications technology that facilitates the exchange of data between nearby devices, usually within a few centimeters. Widely used for contactless payments, access control systems and data sharing, NFC plays an important role in mobile payments, enabling transactions with a simple tap or bringing the device closer to a compatible terminal.

Since iPhone15 The series has landed in the hands of users, it has been a roller coaster of problems. Apple has tackled some, left others unresolved, and is crossing its fingers that a future software update arrives to save the day.