Apple announced that it is expanding AppleCare+ theft and loss coverage in Japan to include iPad and Apple Watch, closing a significant gap for owners of those devices in the region. Previously, the program was limited to iPhone in Japan.
Japan is one of only two countries where AppleCare+ theft and loss coverage exists at all, the other being the United States. The reasons Apple has confined this program to these two markets while leaving out Europe, Australia, and Canada remain unexplained, but the expansion at least brings device parity within Japan itself.
What the plan covers
The structure mirrors what iPhone customers in Japan have had access to: up to two replacements per year for lost or stolen devices, plus all standard AppleCare+ benefits. Those include:
- Battery replacement service
- Priority support from Apple specialists
- Unlimited accidental damage repairs using genuine Apple parts, through Apple Stores and authorized service providers
Each theft or loss claim carries a service fee, and Find My must be enabled on the device at the time of the incident and throughout the entire claims process. If Find My is off when the device goes missing, the claim is void.
New subscription options
Alongside the device expansion, Apple is introducing monthly and one-year subscription plans for all three product categories. Coverage begins immediately upon purchase. Customers can buy through the Settings app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, as well as through Apple Stores, apple.com/jp, and authorized retailers.
The shift to flexible subscription tiers follows the same logic as AppleCare One, which Apple launched in July 2025 to cover multiple devices under a single plan. That program also marked the first time theft and loss protection became available for iPad and Apple Watch globally, though rollout was limited to certain markets. Today’s Japan announcement extends that protection to individual device plans in the region.
Kaian Drans, Apple’s Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing Vice President, said:
AppleCare+ delivers the peace of mind of Apple protection and dedicated specialist support. Starting today, Japanese customers can access Apple’s most comprehensive theft and loss plans for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with even more flexible support options to choose from.
For Japan, the expansion removes a real barrier to protecting iPad and Apple Watch against loss or theft.
