Apple'south products aren't known for beingness easy to repair - in fact you could accuse Apple of making them difficult to repair by gluing and soldering components into place and using special security fixtures which make them hard or incommunicable to remove.

In addition, the company has always indicated that simply 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 safety for consumers. In fact, simply businesses with an Apple-certified technician are supposed to perform repairs on Apple products.

With no choice but to pay for an expensive repair or buy a new Mac, iPad or iPhone, consumers oftentimes choose to supervene upon their Apple product. The problem is that, according to the Right to Repair website, over 53 meg tonnes of electronic waste is produced each year, and but a fraction of this is recycled.

Added to this, the fact that Apple stops supporting software updates for diverse products after a number of years, and the availability of parts for servicing becomes more than scarce the older the production gets, means that the lifespan of Apple products isn't as long as it could be. For more information read: How long do Macs concluding?

Apple is by no means the only electronics visitor guilty of making hard to set products that end up being thrown away earlier their fourth dimension, but it can certainly practice its part by improving the repairability of its products, and making repairs easier and cheaper.

Whether you are an environmentally conscious person looking for a new product that will accept a skillful few years alee of it before it becomes landfill, or someone who doesn't want to be landed with an expensive or hard to repair device, we have details of just how repairable Apple's products are. And if you are looking to get an Apple product repaired we also have advice for you.

Get Apple products repaired

Can I repair my Apple product?

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

If y'all did want to attempt a repair or upgrade at dwelling 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 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 2019 for iPhone and August 2020 for Mac, contained repair businesses tin also become access to genuine parts. But as a consumer you won't be able to get hold of these parts. In the past iPhones have shown error letters if not-Apple parts are used, so this isn't an effect y'all can ignore.

Despite this we have a guide to upgrading the components inside a Mac, and ane of our colleagues on TechAdvisor did one time replace an iPhone screen, merely these aren't things we would recommend unless y'all are really really confident tinkering with electronics.

For the boilerplate person we'd recommend making an appointment at an Apple tree Store or seeking an Apple Authorised Service Provider to carry out the repair for you. We'll discuss who to do that adjacent.

How do I get my Apple tree products repaired?

The next question is where can y'all become to become Apple products repaired. The obvious answer is Apple, but that's not your but pick. We'll run through your options beneath:

Apple offers you lot three unlike ways to go a product repaired, you can:

  1. Visit an Apple tree Store.
  2. Ship your product to Apple tree.
  3. Employ an Apple tree Authorised Service Provider.

Click the links above to bound to those instructions.

The latter option might be best if yous don't have an Apple Shop nearby and don't want to be without your Mac, iPhone or other Apple tree product while it'due south beingness fixed.

Some people might exist wondering if they can just walk into an Apple Store for a repair. Unfortunately that'southward not an selection - even when stores aren't close due to Coronavirus. We practise explain how to make an Apple Shop appointment at the Genius Bar in a split up commodity, simply we'll summarise the steps below.

Before y'all begin nosotros recommend that you check to see if the product qualifies for a gratuitous repair. We accept a divide articles nearly the diverse repair schemes and recalls.

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

If your Mac, iPhone or iPad is included in i of these recalls or repair programs you lot may be able to get it repaired for complimentary. Its a good idea to check before you arrange a repair, not just to furnish yourself with the noesis of what should be on offering to you lot, but likewise considering if you don't go to an Apple Store or an Apple tree Authorised repair shop then you won't be able to accept advantage of the free repair.

We take a number of manufactures that offering advice virtually getting Apple products repaired. Read:

  • How to become a Mac repaired
  • How to get a broken iPhone stock-still or replaced
  • How to gear up a cracked iPhone screen
  • How to dry out out a wet water damaged iPhone
  • How to repair a broken Apple Sentinel

How to book a repair with Apple

  1. Become to Apple tree's website.
  2. Enter your Apple tree ID and password.
  3. Choose your product.
  4. Click Start a Service asking.
  5. Chose the topic that best represents your problem - for example, if your Mac won't turn on choose Startup or Ability.
  6. Y'all'll eventually exist offered the options to talk to Apple tree Support, Chat, or Bring in to Repair. The latter choice will allow you to brand an appointment at a Genius Bar. Click on that option.
  7. Enter your Apple ID and password again if required.
  8. Enter your serial number (or if you lot are lucky y'all may be able to choose your actual Mac, if it's associated with your business relationship). Click on the correct model.
  9. The side by side screen volition ask you to Bring in for Repair. You volition exist able to search for your closest Apple Shop or Apple Authorised Service Provider (which in our instance is an iStore).

How to ship a product to Apple for repair

If you'd prefer non to get to a shop and so Apple tree will transport you a box yous tin use to ship it to an Apple Repair Eye. You demand to ship it within xxx days.

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

  1. Go to Apple'due south repair website.
  2. Click Start a repair request.
  3. Choose the product yous wish to send to Apple (or enter your serial number if the product isn't listed).
  4. Choose one of the options, e.1000. Set Up Online or Limited Replacement (which might exist an option for you lot if you have AppleCare+).

Does Apple repair or replace?

If you take AppleCare+ y'all tin can take advantage of the Express Replacement Service that is available for some Apple tree products. In this example Apple volition ship y'all a replacement product before your damaged or not-working product is returned to them (y'all have ten days or you volition pay the full price of the replacement). There may be an additional fee and you lot just get to utilize this characteristic of AppleCare+ for the first two instances of accidental damage. Read: Is AppleCare+ worth information technology. We also compare AppleCare+ to normal insurance.

How long do Apple repairs take?

If you are able to take your Apple production to an Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider they might be able to fix information technology there for y'all, depending on whether they take the equipment.

However, some problems may be more complex and require being sent on to an Apple tree Repair Centre, in which case it should take from half dozen-8 days.

Apple tree advises that iPhone repairs take betwixt 6-viii days if yous send your iPhone to an Apple Repair Centre, for example.

How much practice Apple tree repairs price?

The toll of Apple tree repairs depends on a number of factors. Generally battery and screen replacements are cheaper than other replacements. And if yous have AppleCare+ you may be able to become your Apple product fixed for nothing or just 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, ascension to £316.44/$329 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max (once information technology is out of warranty). You can see all the prices here. If you lot have AppleCare+ the repair is complimentary for the first two incidences, just you need to pay £25 for any additional screen repairs.

iPhone bombardment repair

Starts at £49/$49 for iPhone SE, 6, 6s, seven, 8 and the 2d generation iPhone SE handsets. Battery repair for the iPhone X, XS, SR, eleven and 12 series iPhones is £69/$69. If your iPhone is all the same in the i year warranty menstruum, or you take AppleCare+ the repair is free. More information here.

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

How much does an iPad repair cost

iPad screen repair

Unfortunately Apple doesn't offer the same kind of service for replacing iPad screens as it does for replacing iPhone screens. If your iPad screen is accidentally broken, you have the choice of replacing your iPad for an out-of-warranty fee. AppleCare+ does include accidental damage protection, but at that place may exist an excess 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 bombardment replacement on all eligible iPad models cost £99/$99 (or is free if its in warranty or yous have AppleCare+)

How much does an Apple Watch repair price

Apple Lookout man screen repair

Every bit with the iPad, if your Apple Watch screen gets damaged, you have the option to service your Apple Watch for a fee. AppleCare+ gives you adventitious damage protection where you may be subject to an excess fee.

An out of warranty fee to supersede an Apple Sentry stretches from £156.44 to £476.44/$499. More than information hither (Actually the cost could be a lot higher than that, if you had the original Apple Watch Edition, which cost £8,000/$x,000 new, the out-of-warranty service fee is £two,600.44/$2,800.

Apple tree Watch battery repair

If your Apple Watch battery holds less than 80 per cent of its original battery capacity and it's covered past AppleCare+, you lot will get Apple Lookout man battery service for no additional accuse.

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

How much does an Mac repair cost

If your Mac is however in warranty, or y'all take AppleCare+ your repair will be free. The price of a repair will vary depending on the nature of the problem.

Mac battery repair

Apple tree volition repair the battery in MacBook laptops, prices range from £129/$129 to £199/$199. Check this folio 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 purchase AppleCare+ for Mac so for iii years from your AppleCare+ purchase appointment y'all volition have cover for two incidents of accidental harm protection every 12 months, each subject to a service fee which is £79/$99 for screen impairment and £229/$299 for other damage. More here.

Can I become my Apple product repaired somewhere else?

You could use an independent repair shop just be aware that they cannot provide repairs covered by Apple tree'due south warranty or AppleCare plans.

If yous would prefer to employ an Apple tree Authorised Service Provider you can locate ane here.

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

In 2020 Apple extended a scheme that allows small contained shops to legitimately fix iPhones. Now these workshops tin also fix Macs.

Does Apple do costless repairs?

If your product is within warranty - which is one year from the point of sale (even if you were purchasing a refurbished Apple product) - and goes incorrect yous can get Apple tree to set up information technology for gratis.

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

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

When you are choosing a new Apple product you lot would be wise to take into business relationship how likely it is to get broken and how easy information technology volition be to repair. 1 of the main killers of smartphones these days are batteries, some other 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, merely 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 college.

Hopefully that will change. The EU backed Right to Repair movement and is aiming to put in place laws that will brand information technology compulsory for new devices to be easier to repair due. Hopefully leading manufacturers to build products with removable and replaceable parts.

Every bit a result of this entrada, French legislation has already forced Apple to label products to testify a repairability score. The issue of the changes should lead to more reparable products with extended lifespans then that they are less likely to end up in landfill early on.

Apple - and other companies - now have to indicate a 'repairability alphabetize on products. Read more than about why Apple's been forced to reveal repairability of products in French republic.

The repairbility of a product should be role of the decision when choosing a new product to buy, and thanks to the French legislation Apple is at present being forced to reveal this information.

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

Apple tree's 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. Cost of spare parts (compared to ownership new).
  5. Access to software updates, complimentary technical support and the power to reset the software.

Apple tree isn't the only one revealing how like shooting fish in a barrel (or difficult) it is to repair Apple products. iFixit is famous for offering guides to the repairability of various Apple products where they highlight the bug that might atomic number 82 yous to needing a repair in the first place - for case, the smashable glass on the front end and back of the iPhone. Luckily the glass front of the iPhone is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive to repair, but replacing the glass back could be an expensive job.

Some other thing to bear in mind is that there comes a time in every Apple tree products life when it becomes Obsolete or Vintage. These are terms that Apple uses to describe products once they haven't been sold for more than 5 or 8 years. Once a production is vintage Apple tree will only repair it if it has the parts (and so at a cost, obviouly). In one case a product is Obsolete so there is no possibility that Apple volition repair it.

With Apple adding the 2015 MacBook to the vintage list the list of unsupported products is growing. Read more hither: How long do Macs terminal?

How easy 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 piece of cake enough to access (although even those aren't repairs y'all could perform at home).

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

iPhone 12 serial repairability

iFixit gives the iPhone 12 series a score of 6/10 for repairability. In favour of the 2020 range of iPhones is the easy access for screen and battery replacement and the fact that most components are modular. The master criticism is the glass back - the problem existence that if the dorsum glass breaks, information technology is necessary to remove every component and replace the entire chassis. iFixit reports that the replacement of the screen and photographic camera of the iPhone 12 series must be activated via the System Configuration app - which again counts our home-fixers.

Apple'south own scoring (which y'all can run into on the French version of its website) sees the iPhone 12 series awarded 6/x.

iPhone SE 2020 repairability

iFixit hasn't scored the iPhone SE 2020, only Apple has - in that example it gets 6.two/10.

iPhone 11 repairability

iFixit too gave the iPhone xi series 6/10 for similar reasons to the iPhone 12 serial, noting that replacing the battery had been simplified, but once again criticising the fact that the rear drinking glass tin can only be fully replaced with a complete housing swap.

Apple tree's scoring sees the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro getting four.6/10, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max gets 4.5/x.

iPhone XR repairability

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

Apple tree gives the XR 4.v/10.

iPhone XS series repairability

The iPhone XS is the same, gaining a score of six/10 from iFixit for the aforementioned reasons. Apple gives the XS Max 4.five/ten, and the XS four.seven/x.

iPhone X repairability

The iPhone X was also given half-dozen/x by iFixit who noted the accessibility for display and battery repairs, just criticised "Fussy cables tie unrelated components together into circuitous assemblies - expensive and troublesome to supersede". Apple gives the iPhone X 4.eight/x on the French Apple Store.

iPhone 8 repairability

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

iPhone vii repairability

The iPhone 7 - introduced dorsum in 2016 - marked the final time an iPhone got a score of vii/10 from iFixit. Here the improvements offered by the solid country home button was noted as a point in favour, because the erstwhile mechanical button was a mutual bespeak of failure in older models. Apple gives the iPhone 7 six.half-dozen/ten while the 7 Plus gets 6.7/10.

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 glue and solder to stick components down. By soldering or gluing components into place Apple makes access to faulty components impossible. Aside from pregnant you might not have been able to become a broken MacBook Air repaired, this isn't great news for the surroundings as Macs that tin can't exist fixed generally end up in landfill.

Just 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 nonetheless given the M1 Macs a rating. Apple tree notwithstanding has: the M1 MacBook Air gets 6.5/ten, which is the aforementioned score equally it awards the 2018 MacBook Air.

The 2018 MacBook Air gets three/ten from iFixit. Here the criticism is the keyboard existence integrated into the top case, making replacement difficult and expensive (a item event given the keyboard problems of the 2016-2020 MacBook Airs). These laptops are besides 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 some other components are straightforward to admission.

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

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

MacBook Pro repairability

The M1 MacBook Pro gets 5.6/ten from Apple, while the older 2020 2.0GHz model gets vi.3/x.

To get an idea of how that might translate to iFixit'due south scores, the 2019 13in MacBook Pro (the entry-level model, just the repairability near likely applies to all models) was given a score of 2/10 past iFixit. The negatives they note include Apple's use of Proprietary pentalobe screws, the glued in battery, and the soldered-down RAM.

The 2/10 score is a slight comeback on the 2018 model at least: hither iFixit criticises the fact that the processor, RAM, and flash memory are soldered to the logic board and the keyboard, battery, and speakers are glued together. The Touch ID push button is as well highlighted due to it being paired with the T2 chip. Apple awards the 2019 13in MacBook Pro a score of five.6/10, while the 2018 model scored 6.2/10.

According to iFixit the 16in MacBook Pro is not 1 to recommend. They give information technology just 1/10 for repairability, noting that the processor, RAM, and wink retentivity are all soldered to the logic board, making replacement hard. They besides annotation that glue and/or rivets secure the keyboard, bombardment, speakers, and Impact Bar, so those repairs would as well be difficult. Also the Affect ID sensor is the ability switch and locked to the logic lath and paired with the T2 flake, which would make repairs of that component difficult.

The older 15in MacBook Pro was no better, also scoring i/10, for substantially the same reasons as 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;'southward hard to return information technology to the state you started. Once you lot 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. Hither the criticisms are that key components are buried behind the logic lath, requiring a lot of disassembly for access, the loss of the external RAM access hatch - a feature of other 27in iMac models - means RAM is a more difficult upgrade, and the GPU is soldered in place. Apple hasn't rated these models yet.

Mac mini repairability

The 2018 Mac mini got a repairability score of 6/10 from iFixit. Hither the criticisms were that the CPU and storage are both soldered to the logic lath and non user-upgradeable and the fact that If any of the many ports is damaged or worn, the entire logic board volition need replacing. In its favour the Mac mini components aren't held in place with adhesive and RAM can be hands upgraded. Apple hasn't rated these models however.

How easy to repair is the iPad?

It's disappointing actually that the iPad isn't every bit easy to repair every bit the iPhone. In fact the difficulty of replacing the screen and the battery are emphasised by the fact that both these repairs are relatively easy on the iPhone. We call back it's time Apple tree made the iPad easier to prepare.

What is the easiest iPad to repair?

The iPad from 2019 gets a repairability score of ii/x from iFixit. Here the criticisms are the barrier of very strong adhesive making getting inside virtually incommunicable, and the overuse of adhesive in one case yous do become inside. The Lightning port - noted as a "common betoken of failure" is unfortunately hard to supervene upon because it is soldered to the logic board.

The iPad Air from 2019 also scores two/ten from iFixit. Here the battery replacement is at to the lowest degree noted as being possible but they complain that it is "unnecessarily difficult". Again, there is too much agglutinative belongings parts and cables in place. The lightning port is difficult to replace considering its soldered to the logic board. Simply at least other components are modular and can therefore be replaced independently (in one case you get inside).

The 2019 iPad mini is similar. It scores ii/x with iFixit noting how hard bombardment replacement is, and how at that place is adhesive property down parts and cables. They as well note that removing the home button is difficult and a necessary function of display replacement if yous wish to keep Bear on ID functionality.

The 2018 iPad Pro does get a slightly improve score - 3/ten. Here the criticism is once again all the mucilage that Apple uses inside the example. Just at least here the battery is secured with easy-to-remove tabs. Another point in its favour is the USB-C port which is modular and can exist independently replaced.

How easy to repair is the Apple Watch?

Like the iPhone the Apple Lookout man screen is likely to be the matter that breaks, although, unlike the iPhone we aren't so likely to drop our Apple Watches. Just just how easy is it to fix an Apple Watch?

What is the easiest Apple Watch to repair?

The Apple Sentry Serial half-dozen gets a repairability score of 6/ten from iFixit. The screen and battery are reasonably straightforward to replace. The main complaint is that many of the component cables are mounted directly to the S6 and require skilled microsoldering if they are damaged.

The Serial 5 also scores vi/x for the aforementioned reasons.

The Series four and 3 scored six/10 but in both cases in that location was the additional criticism that the "resin-encased S4 system makes most board-level repairs impossible."

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

And then to wrap up, Apple tree products aren't piece of cake or cheap to set up. Apple has fabricated information technology easier to replace the screen and bombardment in the iPhone, which is a bonus, merely given that they are the things almost likely to go wrong, an essential bonus. Nosotros hope that the new EU legislation coming in will hateful that Apple and other companies are more focused on the repairability of their products, extending their lifespans.