4 ways to put your old Apple Lightning cables to good use

When Apple launched the iPhone 15 series in 2023, it made a significant change that would impact all future iPhones. It changed the phone’s charging port from Lightning to USB-C. While this was a welcome update that made charging more convenient, it left many people with a collection of old Lightning cables that suddenly became useless. Additionally, AirPods now rely on USB-C, and iPads have been using USB-C for years, making Lightning cables further obsolete.

Chances are, if you’ve been using an iPhone for awhile, you have a bunch of old Lightning cables lying around from all the years Apple used it as its proprietary charging port. Even if you’re not using an iPhone, iPad, or AirPods with a Lightning connector anymore, there are plenty of ways to reuse your old Lightning cables instead of throwing them in the garbage. Here are four easy ways to breathe new life into your old Lightning cables.

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Donate them to those in need

Your family and friends might want them, or local community groups

One simple way I got rid of some of my old Lightning cables was by giving them away to people who could use them. I have friends and family with iPhones that still use Lightning for their devices, so I was able to give away a few of my cables to them for good use. Not everyone upgrades their iPhone every few years; some people I know keep theirs for four or five years, so Lightning cables will still be useful for them for a while. Another easy way to get rid of your old Lightning cables is to offer them to coworkers who might still be using older iPhones as well.

Even if you don’t know anyone who needs Lightning cables, you can still donate them to local charities, schools, community groups, or shelters that might be in need. Since Apple switched to USB-C on the iPhone two years ago, many iPhones in use still rely on Lightning cables, and this trend is likely to persist for years to come. Donating your old Lightning cables is a simple way to give them a new life and keep them out of the trash.

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Keep them in your car

A passenger may need one

Another handy way to reuse old Lightning cables is to always carry a few in your car. I still have many friends with iPhones that use Lightning ports, so when I’m driving them somewhere, I often get asked, “Can I charge my phone?” Thanks to my friends and family, I always keep a couple of Lightning cables in my car in case someone needs a charge. One of my friends is still using a third-generation iPhone SE because he’s not giving up the home button, so it looks like I’ll need to keep at least one Lightning cable in my car for a long time. And your car is just one example — you can also keep an old Lightning cable at your desk at work or in your travel bag, in case you or someone else needs one suddenly.

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Repurpose your old Lightning cables

Try using an adapter, or get creative with arts and crafts

If you have a few Lightning cables you wouldn’t mind keeping for yourself, you can easily repurpose them for your other devices using adapters. Apple sells a Lightning to USB-C adapter that supports charging, data, and audio, but it costs $30, which is a bit steep just to repurpose an old cable. You can find many inexpensive adapters on Amazon that simply convert Lightning to USB-C, allowing you to reuse your old cable. This is an easy way to reserve a Lightning cable for yourself if you ever need to power up an old iPhone someday, while still keeping the cable in use with your newer devices, instead of letting it gather dust.

Aside from using an adapter, you can also get creative with your old Lightning cables. I have an old Lightning cable that’s no longer working, so I’ve turned it into a toy for my cat when I want to keep it entertained. My cat is obsessed with anything string-like, and they’ll chase it around and bat it for hours (just be careful not to leave it out for them to chew on). There are tons of other creative ways to reuse an old Lightning cable, like turning it into a bookmark, an ornament, or even crafting funky shoelaces if it’s long enough. You could also incorporate it into arts and crafts projects, like making jewelry or cosplay gear.

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You can always just recycle them

If you don’t need them, recycling is a good option too and helps the planet

Lastly, if you have a bunch of old Lightning cables that you can’t get rid of or repurpose, your best option is to recycle them instead of throwing them away. Doing so helps reduce waste and protects the environment. Recycling old Lightning cables allows the raw materials inside, like aluminum and copper, to be reused for making new cables rather than ending up in a landfill if thrown in the trash.

If you’re looking to recycle your old Lightning cables, there’s a good chance a local e-waste recycling center will accept them. There’s a handy site called Earth911.com, which features a search function that lets you select the item you want to recycle, like cables, and enter your ZIP code to find nearby recycling centers that accept it. If you have a Best Buy nearby, that might be the easiest way to recycle e-waste, since most locations accept up to three items per household per day, including TVs, laptops, cellphones, cables, and other electronic devices. So next time you need to recycle old batteries, consider bringing your old Lightning cables as well, and let them be reused.