Apple has officially phased out one of its long-standing accessories—the 3.5mm Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter—by listing it as “sold out” on its online stores in the US and most other countries. This move signals the end of an era for users who relied on the adapter to connect their wired headphones to newer iPhones that lack the traditional headphone jack.

The adapter, which was introduced in 2016 after Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone port from the iPhone 7, provided a simple solution for users with wired headphones who were affected by the shift to Lightning-only ports. Despite initial backlash from users, the adapter allowed iPhone owners to continue using their wired audio devices without the need to switch to Bluetooth alternatives, such as Apple’s AirPods.

For several years, Apple included the adapter with new iPhone models (from the iPhone 7 to iPhone XS), but by the time the iPhone XS was released in 2018, many users had already adopted wireless headphones like Apple’s AirPods or the wired Lightning EarPods. As wireless audio gained dominance, the adapter was no longer included in the box and was sold separately. Now, Apple seems to be quietly removing the adapter from its official store altogether.

This move aligns with Apple’s broader strategy to move away from its proprietary Lightning connector in favor of the more universal USB-C standard. With the iPhone 15's adoption of USB-C in 2023, Apple has officially shifted to the new standard, further cementing the obsolescence of the Lightning port and related accessories like the 3.5mm adapter.

Interestingly, while the adapter has been discontinued in markets like the US, UK, and Australia, it remains available for purchase in select countries including France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. It can also still be found through third-party retailers like Amazon, offering users a last chance to get their hands on the accessory.

As Apple transitions fully to USB-C, the company continues to push users toward wireless audio solutions, marking the end of an era for the 3.5mm headphone jack on iPhones.