Apple's products aren't known for being like shooting fish in a barrel to repair - in fact you lot could charge Apple of making them difficult to repair by gluing and soldering components into identify and using special security fixtures which brand them difficult or impossible to remove.

In addition, the company has always indicated that only authorised service providers should open a Mac and perform repairs and upgrades. Irresolute 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 option but to pay for an expensive repair or buy a new Mac, iPad or iPhone, consumers often choose to supervene upon their Apple tree product. The trouble is that, according to the Right to Repair website, over 53 million tonnes of electronic waste matter is produced each year, 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, ways that the lifespan of Apple products isn't equally long as it could exist. For more than information read: How long practice Macs terminal?

Apple is by no ways the only electronics company guilty of making hard to fix products that end up being thrown away before their fourth dimension, but information technology tin certainly practise its part by 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 accept a skillful few years ahead of it before it becomes landfill, or someone who doesn't want to be landed with an expensive or difficult to repair device, nosotros have details of but how repairable Apple'southward products are. And if you lot are looking to go an Apple product repaired we also have advice for yous.

Get Apple products repaired

Can I repair my Apple production?

People do attempt repairs and upgrades at abode, but they chance damaging their machines - and volition void their warranty.

If you lot did desire to effort 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 need to get agree of the right spare parts. Read: Best Mac and iPhone tools for repairs and upgrades.

Apple sends genuine Apple parts to authorised service providers, and, since Baronial 2019 for iPhone and Baronial 2020 for Mac, independent repair businesses can as well get access to 18-carat parts. But as a consumer you won't exist able to get concord of these parts. In the past iPhones have shown error letters if non-Apple parts are used, and then this isn't an issue you tin ignore.

Despite this we have a guide to upgrading the components inside a Mac, and 1 of our colleagues on TechAdvisor did in one case supersede an iPhone screen, but these aren't things we would recommend unless you are really really confident tinkering with electronics.

For the average person nosotros'd recommend making an date at an Apple Store or seeking an Apple Authorised Service Provider to carry out the repair for you. We'll hash out who to do that next.

How exercise I become my Apple products repaired?

The next question is where can y'all become to go Apple products repaired. The obvious answer is Apple, just that's not your only choice. Nosotros'll run through your options below:

Apple offers you 3 unlike ways to become a product repaired, you can:

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

Click the links above to jump to those instructions.

The latter option might be best if you don't take an Apple Store nearby and don't want to be without your Mac, iPhone or other Apple product while it's beingness fixed.

Some people might be wondering if they tin can only walk into an Apple tree Shop for a repair. Unfortunately that's not an option - even when stores aren't shut due to Coronavirus. Nosotros do explain how to make an Apple Store appointment at the Genius Bar in a divide article, but we'll summarise the steps below.

Before you begin we recommend that you check to run across if the product qualifies for a free repair. We have a separate articles nearly the various repair schemes and recalls.

  • Read Mac and MacBook recalls and repair programs to notice out if your Mac is included in a recall?
  • And accept a expect at iPhone and iPad production recalls & free repair programmes for details of those recalls.

If your Mac, iPhone or iPad is included in one of these recalls or repair programs you may be able to get information technology repaired for free. Its a expert idea to check earlier you lot conform a repair, not but to furnish yourself with the cognition of what should exist on offer to you, simply also because if y'all don't go to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised repair store then you lot won't exist able to have advantage of the complimentary repair.

We have a number of manufactures that offer advice about getting Apple products repaired. Read:

  • How to get a Mac repaired
  • How to go a broken iPhone fixed or replaced
  • How to set a croaky iPhone screen
  • How to dry out out a wet water damaged iPhone
  • How to repair a broken Apple Spotter

How to volume a repair with Apple

  1. Go to Apple tree'south website.
  2. Enter your Apple tree ID and countersign.
  3. Choose your product.
  4. Click Start a Service request.
  5. Chose the topic that all-time represents your trouble - for example, if your Mac won't turn on choose Startup or Ability.
  6. You lot'll somewhen be offered the options to talk to Apple Support, Chat, or Bring in to Repair. The latter pick volition allow you to make an date at a Genius Bar. Click on that option.
  7. Enter your Apple tree ID and countersign once again if required.
  8. Enter your serial number (or if you are lucky you may be able to cull your actual Mac, if it's associated with your business relationship). Click on the correct model.
  9. The next screen will ask y'all to Bring in for Repair. Y'all will exist able to search for your closest Apple tree Store or Apple tree Authorised Service Provider (which in our case is an iStore).

How to ship a product to Apple for repair

If y'all'd prefer not to get to a shop then Apple volition send you a box you can employ to ship information technology to an Apple Repair Eye. Y'all demand to send information technology within 30 days.

Y'all can accommodate aircraft your device to an Apple Repair Centre either over the telephone or online. Apple says this service is available for most Apple products. It seems that most Macs are exempt (at to the lowest degree in the United kingdom), but Apple Watches, iPhones, and iPads tin exist posted in, for example.

  1. Get to Apple tree's repair website.
  2. Click Beginning a repair request.
  3. Choose the product you lot wish to send to Apple (or enter your series number if the product isn't listed).
  4. Choose one of the options, e.g. Ready Upward Online or Limited Replacement (which might be an option for you if y'all have AppleCare+).

Does Apple tree repair or replace?

If you have AppleCare+ you lot can accept reward of the Express Replacement Service that is bachelor for some Apple products. In this case Apple volition send y'all a replacement product before your damaged or non-working product is returned to them (you accept ten days or you will pay the total price of the replacement). There may exist an boosted fee and yous only get to use this feature of AppleCare+ for the first 2 instances of accidental impairment. Read: Is AppleCare+ worth it. Nosotros also compare AppleCare+ to normal insurance.

How long do Apple tree repairs take?

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

However, some problems may be more complex and require existence sent on to an Apple Repair Heart, in which case it should have from vi-8 days.

Apple advises that iPhone repairs take between half dozen-8 days if you transport your iPhone to an Apple Repair Center, for example.

How much do Apple tree repairs cost?

The cost of Apple tree repairs depends on a number of factors. By and large battery and screen replacements are cheaper than other replacements. And if you take AppleCare+ you may be able to get your Apple product fixed for nothing or only a small fee - and a replacement product almost immediately.

How much does an iPhone repair cost?

iPhone screen repair

Starts at £136.44/$129 for an iPhone 6, rise to £316.44/$329 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max (one time it is out of warranty). Yous can meet all the prices here. If you accept AppleCare+ the repair is free for the starting time two incidences, just you need to pay £25 for any additional screen repairs.

iPhone battery repair

Starts at £49/$49 for iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7, viii and the 2d generation iPhone SE handsets. Bombardment repair for the iPhone X, XS, SR, eleven and 12 serial iPhones is £69/$69. If your iPhone is still in the 1 year warranty period, or y'all accept AppleCare+ the repair is free. More information hither.

Other impairment could price as much equally £566.44/$599 if your iPhone is out of warranty. More here.

How much does an iPad repair toll

iPad screen repair

Unfortunately Apple doesn't offering the aforementioned kind of service for replacing iPad screens equally 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 adventitious damage protection, but at that place may be an backlog fee.

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

iPad battery repair

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

How much does an Apple Watch repair toll

Apple Lookout man screen repair

As with the iPad, if your Apple Watch screen gets damaged, yous have the choice to service your Apple Sentry for a fee. AppleCare+ gives you accidental damage protection where you may exist subject to an excess fee.

An out of warranty fee to supplant an Apple Watch stretches from £156.44 to £476.44/$499. More information here (Actually the price could be a lot college than that, if you had the original Apple Sentinel Edition, which cost £8,000/$10,000 new, the out-of-warranty service fee is £2,600.44/$ii,800.

Apple Watch battery repair

If your Apple Watch battery holds less than 80 per cent of its original bombardment chapters and information technology's covered by AppleCare+, yous will get Apple Scout battery service for no boosted charge.

If your lookout is out of warranty then the battery service fee is £82.44/$79. More information here.

How much does an Mac repair cost

If your Mac is yet in warranty, or you lot take AppleCare+ your repair will exist gratuitous. The toll of a repair will vary depending on the nature of the problem.

Mac battery repair

Apple will 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 toll of a screen repair depends on whether y'all accept AppleCare+ cover. If you purchase AppleCare+ for Mac then for 3 years from your AppleCare+ purchase appointment y'all will take cover for two incidents of accidental harm protection every 12 months, each subject to a service fee which is £79/$99 for screen damage and £229/$299 for other impairment. More hither.

Can I get my Apple product repaired somewhere else?

Yous could use an contained repair shop but be enlightened that they cannot provide repairs covered by Apple's warranty or AppleCare plans.

If y'all would prefer to apply an Apple Authorised Service Provider you can locate one hither.

Apple has this link to data nearly Apple-certified repairs of the iPhone.

In 2020 Apple extended a scheme that allows pocket-size independent shops to legitimately fix iPhones. Now these workshops can besides fix Macs.

Does Apple tree do free repairs?

If your production is inside warranty - which is one year from the point of auction (even if you were purchasing a refurbished Apple product) - and goes wrong you can get Apple to set up it for free.

Other reasons that might help y'all get a free repair is if your product has been recalled or qualifies in a repair programme. As nosotros mentioned earlier, nosotros have a separate articles about the diverse repair schemes and recalls. Read: MacBook recalls and repair programs - is your Mac included? and Apple product recalls & gratis repair programmes for iPhone & iPad.

How like shooting fish in a barrel to repair are Apple tree products?

When you are choosing a new Apple production y'all would be wise to take into account how likely it is to get broken and how easy it will be to repair. One of the main killers of smartphones these days are batteries, another is the ease at which we 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 battery, but what of its other products? Replacing a screen on an iPad is not as elementary equally on an iPhone, for case, and the price is a lot higher.

Hopefully that volition alter. The Eu backed Right to Repair motion and is aiming to put in place 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 result of this campaign, French legislation has already forced Apple to label products to evidence a repairability score. The result of the changes should lead to more than reparable products with extended lifespans and then that they are less likely to terminate up in landfill early.

Apple - and other companies - now have to indicate a 'repairability index on products. Read more nearly why Apple'southward been forced to reveal repairability of products in France.

The repairbility of a product should be function of the conclusion when choosing a new product to buy, and thanks to the French legislation Apple 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 Shop.

Apple'south scores are based on the following:

  1. Access to documentation.
  2. Disassembly (how easy it is, what tools are required, etc).
  3. Availability of spare parts.
  4. Price of spare parts (compared to buying new).
  5. Admission to software updates, free technical support 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 tree products. iFixit is famous for offering guides to the repairability of various Apple tree products where they highlight the problems that might lead you lot to needing a repair in the first place - for example, the smashable glass on the front and back of the iPhone. Luckily the glass front of the iPhone is pretty unproblematic and relatively inexpensive to repair, simply replacing the drinking glass dorsum could exist an expensive job.

Some other affair to behave in mind is that there comes a time in every Apple products life when information technology becomes Obsolete or Vintage. These are terms that Apple tree uses to draw products once they haven't been sold for more than than five or 8 years. Once a product is vintage Apple will only repair information technology if it has the parts (and and so at a cost, obviouly). Once a production is Obsolete and so there is no possibility that Apple will repair it.

With Apple adding the 2015 MacBook to the vintage list the list of unsupported products is growing. Read more here: How long exercise 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 about likely to need repair - the screen and the battery - are piece of cake enough to access (although even those aren't repairs you could perform at home).

Notwithstanding, 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 battery without finalising the change using Arrangement Configuration, an online tool Apple makes available to its own stores and authorised repair companies.

iPhone 12 series repairability

iFixit gives the iPhone 12 series a score of half dozen/ten for repairability. In favour of the 2020 range of iPhones is the easy access for screen and bombardment replacement and the fact that most components are modular. The main criticism is the glass dorsum - the problem being that if the dorsum glass breaks, it is necessary to remove every component and replace the entire chassis. iFixit reports that the replacement of the screen and camera of the iPhone 12 serial must be activated via the System Configuration app - which again counts our dwelling-fixers.

Apple's own scoring (which yous tin see on the French version of its website) sees the iPhone 12 serial awarded half dozen/x.

iPhone SE 2020 repairability

iFixit hasn't scored the iPhone SE 2020, only Apple has - in that instance it gets 6.2/10.

iPhone 11 repairability

iFixit too gave the iPhone 11 series half-dozen/10 for similar reasons to the iPhone 12 series, noting that replacing the bombardment had been simplified, just once more criticising the fact that the rear glass can only be fully replaced with a consummate housing bandy.

Apple'southward scoring sees the iPhone xi and 11 Pro getting 4.6/10, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max gets four.5/x.

iPhone XR repairability

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

Apple gives the XR iv.v/10.

iPhone XS series repairability

The iPhone XS is the same, gaining a score of half dozen/10 from iFixit for the same reasons. Apple gives the XS Max iv.5/10, and the XS 4.7/10.

iPhone X repairability

The iPhone Ten was also given 6/10 past 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 gives the iPhone X four.8/10 on the French Apple Store.

iPhone 8 repairability

The iPhone viii was given 6/10, with the drinking glass back being highlighted as a potential trouble. Apple gives both the 8 and 8 Plus six.6/10.

iPhone 7 repairability

The iPhone 7 - introduced dorsum in 2016 - marked the last time an iPhone got a score of 7/10 from iFixit. Here the improvements offered by the solid land home button was noted every bit a betoken in favour, because the old mechanical button was a common indicate of failure in older models. Apple gives the iPhone seven 6.6/x while the seven Plus gets vi.7/10.

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 gum and solder to stick components downwardly. By soldering or gluing components into place Apple makes access to faulty components impossible. Aside from significant yous might not have been able to become a cleaved MacBook Air repaired, this isn't dandy news for the surround equally Macs that can't exist stock-still generally terminate up in landfill.

Just as with the iPhones, Apple tree is at present revealing the repairability scores for some of its Macs. iFixit besides offers this data for some Macs.

MacBook Air repairability

iFixit hasn't yet given the M1 Macs a rating. Apple however has: the M1 MacBook Air gets 6.v/10, which is the same score as it awards the 2018 MacBook Air.

The 2018 MacBook Air gets 3/10 from iFixit. Hither the criticism is the keyboard beingness integrated into the summit example, making replacement difficult and expensive (a particular consequence given the keyboard bug of the 2016-2020 MacBook Airs). These laptops are also held back by the fact that storage and RAM is soldered on. In the Air'due south favour, iFixit does note that the ports, fan, speaker and some other components are straightforward to access.

iFixit also noted that Apple tree fabricated changes to the layout of the components inside the early on 2020 MacBook Air to make servicing and repair easier.

However, the one-time design of the pre-2017 MacBook Air actually had a better score awarded by Apple - 7/10.

MacBook Pro repairability

The M1 MacBook Pro gets 5.vi/ten from Apple, while the older 2020 2.0GHz model gets half-dozen.3/10.

To get an idea of how that might interpret to iFixit's scores, the 2019 13in MacBook Pro (the entry-level model, but the repairability near likely applies to all models) was given a score of two/ten by iFixit. The negatives they note include Apple's apply of Proprietary pentalobe screws, the glued in bombardment, and the soldered-downward RAM.

The 2/10 score is a slight improvement on the 2018 model at least: here iFixit criticises the fact that the processor, RAM, and flash retention are soldered to the logic board and the keyboard, bombardment, and speakers are glued together. The Touch ID push button is also highlighted due to it being paired with the T2 chip. Apple awards the 2019 13in MacBook Pro a score of five.vi/ten, while the 2018 model scored 6.two/10.

According to iFixit the 16in MacBook Pro is not one to recommend. They give it just ane/x for repairability, noting that the processor, RAM, and wink memory are all soldered to the logic board, making replacement difficult. They also notation that gum and/or rivets secure the keyboard, bombardment, speakers, and Touch Bar, so those repairs would also be difficult. Also the Impact ID sensor is the power switch and locked to the logic board and paired with the T2 bit, which would make repairs of that component hard.

The older 15in MacBook Pro was no better, too scoring 1/x, for essentially the same reasons equally the 16in model. Apple awards the 16in MacBook Pro 6.3/10.

iMac repairability

As for desktops, the 2020 27in iMac gets 4/10 from iFixit. Hither the criticism is the fact that Apple tree makes it so hard to remove the screen to access the components - and it;'s difficult to render it to the country you started. Once you are inside, the exposed power supply is a concern. And altering the internal storage is impossible. Apple tree hasn't rated these models yet.

The iMac Pro gets 3/10. Here the criticisms are that primal components are buried behind 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 hard upgrade, and the GPU is soldered in identify. Apple hasn't rated these models nevertheless.

Mac mini repairability

The 2018 Mac mini got a repairability score of 6/ten 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 adhesive and RAM tin be hands upgraded. Apple hasn't rated these models notwithstanding.

How piece of cake to repair is the iPad?

Information technology'south disappointing really that the iPad isn't as easy to repair equally the iPhone. In fact the difficulty of replacing the screen and the bombardment are emphasised past the fact that both these repairs are relatively like shooting fish in a barrel on the iPhone. We think it's time Apple made the iPad easier to ready.

What is the easiest iPad to repair?

The iPad from 2019 gets a repairability score of ii/10 from iFixit. Here the criticisms are the barrier of very stiff adhesive making getting within nigh impossible, and the overuse of agglutinative in one case you do get inside. The Lightning port - noted as a "common point of failure" is unfortunately difficult to supplant considering it is soldered to the logic board.

The iPad Air from 2019 besides scores ii/ten from iFixit. Here the bombardment replacement is at least noted equally being possible but they complain that it is "unnecessarily difficult". Again, there is likewise much agglutinative holding parts and cables in place. The lightning port is difficult to replace because its soldered to the logic lath. But at least other components are modular and can therefore be replaced independently (once you lot become inside).

The 2019 iPad mini is similar. It scores 2/ten with iFixit noting how difficult battery replacement is, and how there is adhesive holding down parts and cables. They also annotation that removing the dwelling house button is hard and a necessary function of brandish replacement if y'all wish to go on Touch ID functionality.

The 2018 iPad Pro does become a slightly better score - 3/x. Here the criticism is again all the glue that Apple uses inside the example. But at least hither the bombardment is secured with easy-to-remove tabs. Another betoken in its favour is the USB-C port which is modular and can be independently replaced.

How piece of cake to repair is the Apple tree Watch?

Like the iPhone the Apple Sentinel screen is likely to be the thing that breaks, although, unlike the iPhone nosotros aren't so probable to driblet our Apple Watches. Merely just how easy is information technology to prepare an Apple Lookout man?

What is the easiest Apple Spotter to repair?

The Apple tree Watch Series vi gets a repairability score of 6/10 from iFixit. The screen and battery are reasonably straightforward to replace. The primary complaint is that many of the component cables are mounted straight to the S6 and require skilled microsoldering if they are damaged.

The Series 5 also scores 6/10 for the aforementioned reasons.

The Series 4 and 3 scored vi/10 only in both cases in that location was the additional criticism that the "resin-encased S4 organization makes most board-level repairs impossible."

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

So to wrap up, Apple products aren't easy or cheap to fix. Apple has made it easier to replace the screen and bombardment in the iPhone, which is a bonus, but given that they are the things most likely to go incorrect, an essential bonus. We hope that the new EU legislation coming in will mean that Apple and other companies are more focused on the repairability of their products, extending their lifespans.