Apple tree's products aren't known for beingness piece of cake to repair - in fact you lot could accuse Apple of making them difficult to repair past gluing and soldering components into place and using special security fixtures which make them difficult or impossible to remove.

In add-on, the visitor has e'er indicated that only authorised service providers should open a Mac and perform repairs and upgrades. Changing a broken iPhone screen at home, or replacing a MacBook battery, isn't considered safe for consumers. In fact, merely businesses with an Apple-certified technician are supposed to perform repairs on Apple products.

With no choice merely to pay for an expensive repair or buy a new Mac, iPad or iPhone, consumers frequently choose to replace their Apple product. The problem is that, according to the Right to Repair website, over 53 million tonnes of electronic waste is produced each yr, and only a fraction of this is recycled.

Added to this, the fact that Apple stops supporting software updates for various products afterwards a number of years, and the availability of parts for servicing becomes more scarce the older the product gets, means that the lifespan of Apple tree products isn't equally long every bit it could be. For more information read: How long do Macs last?

Apple tree is by no ways the simply electronics company guilty of making hard to gear up products that end up being thrown away before their fourth dimension, but it can certainly do its part past improving the repairability of its products, and making repairs easier and cheaper.

Whether you are an environmentally witting person looking for a new product that will have a skilful few years alee of information technology earlier information technology becomes landfill, or someone who doesn't want to be landed with an expensive or difficult to repair device, we take details of just how repairable Apple's products are. And if yous are looking to go an Apple tree production repaired nosotros also have advice for yous.

Get Apple products repaired

Can I repair my Apple tree product?

People do attempt repairs and upgrades at dwelling house, simply they risk damaging their machines - and will void their warranty.

If you did want to attempt a repair or upgrade at home you'd need to arm yourself with a range of specialised tools, including heat pads to loosen the adhesive that holds the display in place. You'd also demand to get hold of the correct spare parts. Read: Best Mac and iPhone tools for repairs and upgrades.

Apple sends genuine Apple parts to authorised service providers, and, since August 2022 for iPhone and August 2022 for Mac, independent repair businesses can likewise get admission to genuine parts. Only as a consumer yous won't be able to become concord of these parts. In the by iPhones have shown error messages if non-Apple parts are used, so this isn't an issue you lot can ignore.

Despite this we have a guide to upgrading the components within a Mac, and one of our colleagues on TechAdvisor did in one case supersede an iPhone screen, but these aren't things nosotros would recommend unless you are actually really confident tinkering with electronics.

For the average person we'd recommend making an appointment at an Apple Store or seeking an Apple Authorised Service Provider to carry out the repair for you lot. Nosotros'll talk over who to do that adjacent.

How do I get my Apple tree products repaired?

The next question is where can you lot go to get Apple tree products repaired. The obvious answer is Apple, but that'southward not your only choice. We'll run through your options below:

Apple offers you 3 different ways to get a product repaired, you tin can:

  1. Visit an Apple Shop.
  2. Send your product to Apple.
  3. Use an Apple tree Authorised Service Provider.

Click the links higher up to jump to those instructions.

The latter option might exist all-time if you lot don't have an Apple Store nearby and don't want to be without your Mac, iPhone or other Apple production while it'south being fixed.

Some people might be wondering if they can just walk into an Apple Store for a repair. Unfortunately that'southward not an option - even when stores aren't shut due to Coronavirus. We exercise explain how to make an Apple Store appointment at the Genius Bar in a carve up commodity, but we'll summarise the steps below.

Before you begin nosotros recommend that you lot check to encounter if the production qualifies for a gratis repair. We accept a carve up manufactures about the diverse repair schemes and recalls.

  • Read Mac and MacBook recalls and repair programs to observe out if your Mac is included in a recollect?
  • And take a look at iPhone and iPad product recalls & gratuitous repair programmes for details of those recalls.

If your Mac, iPhone or iPad is included in 1 of these recalls or repair programs you may be able to get it repaired for free. Its a practiced thought to check before you arrange a repair, non just to replenish yourself with the knowledge of what should be on offer to you lot, simply also because if you don't go to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised repair shop and so you won't be able to have advantage of the costless repair.

We have a number of articles that offering advice near getting Apple products repaired. Read:

  • How to become a Mac repaired
  • How to get a broken iPhone stock-still or replaced
  • How to fix a croaky iPhone screen
  • How to dry out out a moisture water damaged iPhone
  • How to repair a broken Apple Watch

How to book a repair with Apple tree

  1. Become to Apple's website.
  2. Enter your Apple ID and password.
  3. Choose your product.
  4. Click Start a Service request.
  5. Chose the topic that best represents your problem - for instance, if your Mac won't turn on cull Startup or Power.
  6. You'll somewhen be offered the options to talk to Apple tree Support, Chat, or Bring in to Repair. The latter selection volition allow y'all to make an date at a Genius Bar. Click on that choice.
  7. Enter your Apple tree ID and password again if required.
  8. Enter your serial number (or if you are lucky y'all may be able to choose your actual Mac, if it's associated with your account). Click on the correct model.
  9. The adjacent screen will ask you to Bring in for Repair. You will be able to search for your closest Apple Store or Apple tree Authorised Service Provider (which in our case is an iStore).

How to ship a product to Apple for repair

If you'd prefer not to get to a shop so Apple tree will send you lot a box you can employ to transport it to an Apple Repair Centre. You need to ship it within thirty days.

You lot can arrange aircraft your device to an Apple Repair Heart either over the phone or online. Apple tree says this service is available for most Apple products. It seems that most Macs are exempt (at to the lowest degree in the Uk), but Apple Watches, iPhones, and iPads can exist posted in, for instance.

  1. Become to Apple'south repair website.
  2. Click Offset a repair request.
  3. Choose the product you wish to send to Apple (or enter your serial number if the product isn't listed).
  4. Cull ane of the options, e.g. Ready Upwardly Online or Limited Replacement (which might exist an option for you if you accept AppleCare+).

Does Apple repair or replace?

If you take AppleCare+ you can take advantage of the Express Replacement Service that is available for some Apple products. In this case Apple tree will transport you a replacement product before your damaged or non-working product is returned to them (you lot accept ten days or you will pay the full cost of the replacement). There may be an additional fee and you simply get to use this feature of AppleCare+ for the start ii instances of adventitious impairment. Read: Is AppleCare+ worth it. We also compare AppleCare+ to normal insurance.

How long do Apple repairs take?

If you are able to take your Apple tree production to an Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider they might exist able to set up it there for you, depending on whether they have the equipment.

Even so, some issues may be more than complex and crave beingness sent on to an Apple Repair Centre, in which instance information technology should accept from 6-8 days.

Apple advises that iPhone repairs take between 6-8 days if y'all send your iPhone to an Apple tree Repair Middle, for example.

How much practise Apple repairs cost?

The cost of Apple repairs depends on a number of factors. Generally battery and screen replacements are cheaper than other replacements. And if you have AppleCare+ yous may be able to get your Apple product fixed for nada or just a pocket-size fee - and a replacement production virtually immediately.

How much does an iPhone repair cost?

iPhone screen repair

Starts at £136.44/$129 for an iPhone 6, rising to £316.44/$329 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max (in one case it is out of warranty). You can see all the prices here. If y'all have AppleCare+ the repair is gratis for the first 2 incidences, but you need to pay £25 for any boosted screen repairs.

iPhone bombardment repair

Starts at £49/$49 for iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7, 8 and the 2nd generation iPhone SE handsets. Battery repair for the iPhone Ten, XS, SR, xi and 12 serial iPhones is £69/$69. If your iPhone is even so in the one year warranty period, or you have AppleCare+ the repair is costless. More data here.

Other damage could cost as much every bit £566.44/$599 if your iPhone is out of warranty. More than here.

How much does an iPad repair cost

iPad screen repair

Unfortunately Apple doesn't offering the aforementioned kind of service for replacing iPad screens as it does for replacing iPhone screens. If your iPad screen is accidentally broken, you have the option of replacing your iPad for an out-of-warranty fee. AppleCare+ does include accidental damage protection, but in that location may be an backlog fee.

An out of warranty fee to replace an iPad stretches from £206.44/$199 to £616.44/$649. More information here.

iPad battery repair

A battery replacement on all eligible iPad models price £99/$99 (or is complimentary if its in warranty or you take AppleCare+)

How much does an Apple Scout repair cost

Apple Scout screen repair

As with the iPad, if your Apple tree Lookout screen gets damaged, you accept the option to service your Apple tree Watch for a fee. AppleCare+ gives you accidental damage protection where you may be subject field to an excess fee.

An out of warranty fee to replace an Apple Watch stretches from £156.44 to £476.44/$499. More data here (Actually the toll could exist a lot higher than that, if you had the original Apple Watch Edition, which price £8,000/$ten,000 new, the out-of-warranty service fee is £2,600.44/$ii,800.

Apple tree Spotter battery repair

If your Apple Sentry bombardment holds less than 80 per cent of its original battery capacity and it's covered by AppleCare+, yous will go Apple Scout battery service for no additional charge.

If your sentry is out of warranty so the bombardment service fee is £82.44/$79. More data here.

How much does an Mac repair cost

If your Mac is still in warranty, or you take AppleCare+ your repair will be costless. The price of a repair will vary depending on the nature of the problem.

Mac battery repair

Apple volition repair the battery in MacBook laptops, prices range from £129/$129 to £199/$199. Check this page for details.

For example, a 16in MacBook Pro Battery replacement costs £199.

Mac screen repair

The price of a screen repair depends on whether you have AppleCare+ cover. If you lot purchase AppleCare+ for Mac then for 3 years from your AppleCare+ buy engagement yous will accept cover for ii incidents of accidental damage protection every 12 months, each subject to a service fee which is £79/$99 for screen damage and £229/$299 for other damage. More here.

Tin I become my Apple tree production repaired somewhere else?

You could use an independent repair shop but be enlightened that they cannot provide repairs covered by Apple'south warranty or AppleCare plans.

If yous would prefer to apply an Apple Authorised Service Provider you lot tin locate one here.

Apple has this link to information about Apple-certified repairs of the iPhone.

In 2022 Apple extended a scheme that allows small independent shops to legitimately fix iPhones. At present these workshops can besides set Macs.

Does Apple tree exercise free repairs?

If your production is within warranty - which is ane year from the point of sale (even if you were purchasing a refurbished Apple tree product) - and goes wrong you tin can get Apple to fix it for free.

Other reasons that might help you get a costless repair is if your product has been recalled or qualifies in a repair program. As we mentioned earlier, we take a separate articles virtually the various repair schemes and recalls. Read: MacBook recalls and repair programs - is your Mac included? and Apple product recalls & free repair programmes for iPhone & iPad.

How easy to repair are Apple tree products?

When y'all are choosing a new Apple product you would be wise to have into account how probable it is to become broken and how like shooting fish in a barrel it will be to repair. One of the main killers of smartphones these days are batteries, some other is the ease at which nosotros break the screens - despite all the technical advances of the glass used in the manufacture of smartphones.

Apple has improved the repairability of the iPhone in terms of the screen and bombardment, but what of its other products? Replacing a screen on an iPad is not as simple as on an iPhone, for example, and the price is a lot higher.

Hopefully that will alter. The EU backed Right to Repair movement and is aiming to put in identify laws that will make it compulsory for new devices to be easier to repair due. Hopefully leading manufacturers to build products with removable and replaceable parts.

As a upshot of this entrada, French legislation has already forced Apple to characterization products to show a repairability score. The issue of the changes should pb to more than reparable products with extended lifespans and so that they are less likely to finish upwards in landfill early on.

Apple - and other companies - now have to betoken a 'repairability index on products. Read more than about why Apple's been forced to reveal repairability of products in France.

The repairbility of a production should exist part of the determination when choosing a new product to buy, and thanks to the French legislation Apple tree is at present being forced to reveal this information.

The company includes a repairability score for many of the products it sells on its French Apple tree Store.

Apple'due south scores are based on the following:

  1. Access to documentation.
  2. Disassembly (how easy information technology is, what tools are required, etc).
  3. Availability of spare parts.
  4. Toll of spare parts (compared to buying new).
  5. Admission to software updates, free technical back up and the ability to reset the software.

Apple isn't the only one revealing how like shooting fish in a barrel (or hard) it is to repair Apple products. iFixit is famous for offer guides to the repairability of various Apple products where they highlight the issues that might lead yous to needing a repair in the first identify - for example, the smashable glass on the forepart and back of the iPhone. Luckily the glass front of the iPhone is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive to repair, simply replacing the glass back could be an expensive job.

Another thing to bear in listen is that there comes a fourth dimension in every Apple products life when information technology becomes Obsolete or Vintage. These are terms that Apple tree uses to describe products once they haven't been sold for more than than five or eight years. In one case a product is vintage Apple tree will but repair it if information technology has the parts (so at a price, obviouly). Once a product is Obsolete and so there is no possibility that Apple volition repair information technology.

With Apple adding the 2022 MacBook to the vintage list the listing of unsupported products is growing. Read more here: How long do Macs last?

How piece of cake to repair is the iPhone?

Wondering what is the easiest iPhone to repair? Unfortunately the iPhone isn't getting any easier to repair, although the two things most likely to need repair - the screen and the battery - are easy enough to access (although even those aren't repairs you could perform at home).

However, since launch of the iPhone XS and XR, repair companies and home fixers accept found that information technology is no longer possible to change the bombardment without finalising the change using System Configuration, an online tool Apple makes available to its own stores and authorised repair companies.

iPhone 12 series repairability

iFixit gives the iPhone 12 serial a score of 6/10 for repairability. In favour of the 2022 range of iPhones is the easy admission for screen and bombardment replacement and the fact that most components are modular. The main criticism is the glass back - the trouble existence that if the back glass breaks, it is necessary to remove every component and replace the unabridged chassis. iFixit reports that the replacement of the screen and camera of the iPhone 12 series must be activated via the Organization Configuration app - which again counts our home-fixers.

Apple's own scoring (which you can come across on the French version of its website) sees the iPhone 12 series awarded half dozen/10.

iPhone SE 2022 repairability

iFixit hasn't scored the iPhone SE 2022, just Apple has - in that example it gets 6.2/10.

iPhone xi repairability

iFixit as well gave the iPhone xi serial 6/10 for like reasons to the iPhone 12 serial, noting that replacing the bombardment had been simplified, only again criticising the fact that the rear drinking glass can but be fully replaced with a complete housing swap.

Apple tree'southward scoring sees the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro getting iv.6/10, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max gets four.5/10.

iPhone XR repairability

The iPhone XR gets the same score of 6/10 from iFixit, with the the ease of replacing the screen and bombardment highlighted, and the same problem with replacing the glass back highlighted.

Apple tree gives the XR four.five/10.

iPhone XS series repairability

The iPhone XS is the same, gaining a score of vi/10 from iFixit for the same reasons. Apple gives the XS Max 4.5/10, and the XS 4.seven/ten.

iPhone X repairability

The iPhone X was besides given 6/10 by iFixit who noted the accessibility for display and battery repairs, but criticised "Fussy cables tie unrelated components together into complex assemblies - expensive and troublesome to replace". Apple tree gives the iPhone X 4.8/10 on the French Apple Store.

iPhone eight repairability

The iPhone eight was given six/ten, with the glass back being highlighted as a potential problem. Apple tree gives both the 8 and 8 Plus 6.half-dozen/10.

iPhone seven repairability

The iPhone 7 - introduced back in 2022 - marked the concluding time an iPhone got a score of 7/ten from iFixit. Here the improvements offered past the solid country domicile button was noted every bit a point in favour, because the old mechanical button was a common point of failure in older models. Apple gives the iPhone 7 6.half-dozen/x while the 7 Plus gets six.seven/ten.

How easy to repair is the Mac?

Looking for a new Mac and wondering what is the easiest Mac to repair? The problem with many Mac laptops is the fact that Apple uses a lot of glue and solder to stick components down. By soldering or gluing components into place Apple makes admission to faulty components impossible. Aside from meaning you might non have been able to get a broken MacBook Air repaired, this isn't great news for the environment as Macs that tin can't exist fixed mostly end up in landfill.

Merely as with the iPhones, Apple is now revealing the repairability scores for some of its Macs. iFixit also offers this information for some Macs.

MacBook Air repairability

iFixit hasn't yet given the M1 Macs a rating. Apple nonetheless has: the M1 MacBook Air gets 6.5/10, which is the same score as information technology awards the 2022 MacBook Air.

The 2022 MacBook Air gets 3/10 from iFixit. Here the criticism is the keyboard existence integrated into the top case, making replacement difficult and expensive (a particular issue given the keyboard issues of the 2022-2020 MacBook Airs). These laptops are likewise held back by the fact that storage and RAM is soldered on. In the Air's favour, iFixit does note that the ports, fan, speaker and another components are straightforward to access.

iFixit also noted that Apple made changes to the layout of the components within the early on 2022 MacBook Air to make servicing and repair easier.

However, the old design of the pre-2017 MacBook Air actually had a improve score awarded past Apple tree - 7/ten.

MacBook Pro repairability

The M1 MacBook Pro gets 5.6/x from Apple, while the older 2022 ii.0GHz model gets half-dozen.3/ten.

To become an thought of how that might translate to iFixit's scores, the 2022 13in MacBook Pro (the entry-level model, merely the repairability nigh probable applies to all models) was given a score of two/10 by iFixit. The negatives they note include Apple'south use of Proprietary pentalobe screws, the glued in battery, and the soldered-down RAM.

The ii/10 score is a slight improvement on the 2022 model at least: here iFixit criticises the fact that the processor, RAM, and wink retentivity are soldered to the logic board and the keyboard, battery, and speakers are glued together. The Touch ID button is also highlighted due to information technology being paired with the T2 bit. Apple awards the 2022 13in MacBook Pro a score of 5.6/ten, while the 2022 model scored 6.2/10.

According to iFixit the 16in MacBook Pro is non one to recommend. They give information technology just 1/10 for repairability, noting that the processor, RAM, and flash memory are all soldered to the logic board, making replacement difficult. They also note that glue and/or rivets secure the keyboard, battery, speakers, and Bear on Bar, so those repairs would also be difficult. Also the Touch ID sensor is the power switch and locked to the logic board and paired with the T2 chip, which would make repairs of that component difficult.

The older 15in MacBook Pro was no better, also scoring 1/ten, for essentially the same reasons as the 16in model. Apple tree awards the 16in MacBook Pro 6.three/ten.

iMac repairability

Equally for desktops, the 2022 27in iMac gets 4/ten from iFixit. Here the criticism is the fact that Apple tree makes it then hard to remove the screen to access the components - and it;'s difficult to return information technology to the country you lot started. Once you are inside, the exposed power supply is a business organisation. And altering the internal storage is impossible. Apple hasn't rated these models yet.

The iMac Pro gets iii/10. Here the criticisms are that key components are buried backside the logic board, requiring a lot of disassembly for admission, the loss of the external RAM admission hatch - a feature of other 27in iMac models - means RAM is a more than difficult upgrade, and the GPU is soldered in identify. Apple tree hasn't rated these models yet.

Mac mini repairability

The 2022 Mac mini got a repairability score of 6/x from iFixit. Here the criticisms were that the CPU and storage are both soldered to the logic board and not user-upgradeable and the fact that If any of the many ports is damaged or worn, the entire logic board will need replacing. In its favour the Mac mini components aren't held in place with agglutinative and RAM tin can be easily upgraded. Apple hasn't rated these models notwithstanding.

How easy to repair is the iPad?

Information technology'due south disappointing really that the iPad isn't as easy to repair every bit the iPhone. In fact the difficulty of replacing the screen and the bombardment are emphasised by the fact that both these repairs are relatively like shooting fish in a barrel on the iPhone. Nosotros retrieve it's time Apple made the iPad easier to fix.

What is the easiest iPad to repair?

The iPad from 2022 gets a repairability score of 2/10 from iFixit. Here the criticisms are the barrier of very potent adhesive making getting within almost impossible, and the overuse of adhesive once y'all do become inside. The Lightning port - noted equally a "mutual indicate of failure" is unfortunately difficult to replace considering it is soldered to the logic board.

The iPad Air from 2022 besides scores 2/10 from iFixit. Here the bombardment replacement is at least noted as being possible but they complain that it is "unnecessarily difficult". Again, at that place is too much agglutinative holding parts and cables in place. The lightning port is hard to supervene upon because its soldered to the logic board. But at to the lowest degree other components are modular and tin therefore exist replaced independently (once you become within).

The 2022 iPad mini is similar. It scores two/10 with iFixit noting how difficult battery replacement is, and how there is adhesive holding down parts and cables. They besides annotation that removing the domicile button is hard and a necessary role of brandish replacement if you wish to proceed Touch ID functionality.

The 2022 iPad Pro does get a slightly better score - 3/10. Here the criticism is once more all the glue that Apple uses inside the case. Merely at least here the battery is secured with piece of cake-to-remove tabs. Some other indicate in its favour is the USB-C port which is modular and tin can be independently replaced.

How piece of cake to repair is the Apple Watch?

Like the iPhone the Apple tree Watch screen is probable to be the affair that breaks, although, dissimilar the iPhone we aren't and then likely to drop our Apple Watches. Only just how like shooting fish in a barrel is information technology to fix an Apple tree Sentinel?

What is the easiest Apple Spotter to repair?

The Apple Spotter Series half dozen gets a repairability score of 6/10 from iFixit. The screen and bombardment are reasonably straightforward to replace. The chief complaint is that many of the component cables are mounted directly to the S6 and require skilled microsoldering if they are damaged.

The Series 5 as well scores 6/ten for the same reasons.

The Series four and 3 scored 6/10 simply in both cases there was the additional criticism that the "resin-encased S4 arrangement makes most board-level repairs impossible."

iFixit hasn't nonetheless scored the repairability of the Apple Watch SE.

So to wrap upwardly, Apple tree products aren't easy or inexpensive to fix. Apple tree has fabricated it easier to supercede the screen and battery in the iPhone, which is a bonus, but given that they are the things most likely to become wrong, an essential bonus. We hope that the new European union legislation coming in will hateful that Apple and other companies are more focused on the repairability of their products, extending their lifespans.