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

In addition, the company has always indicated that only authorised service providers should open a Mac and perform repairs and upgrades. Changing a cleaved iPhone screen at dwelling, or replacing a MacBook battery, isn't considered safe for consumers. In fact, only businesses with an Apple-certified technician are supposed to perform repairs on Apple products.

With no choice only to pay for an expensive repair or buy a new Mac, iPad or iPhone, consumers oftentimes cull to replace their Apple product. The trouble is that, co-ordinate to the Right to Repair website, over 53 million tonnes of electronic waste is produced each twelvemonth, and just a fraction of this is recycled.

Added to this, the fact that Apple stops supporting software updates for various products later 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 tree products isn't equally long equally it could be. For more than information read: How long exercise Macs terminal?

Apple is by no means the just electronics company guilty of making hard to fix products that end up being thrown away before their time, only it tin can certainly do its part by improving the repairability of its products, and making repairs easier and cheaper.

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

Get Apple products repaired

Tin I repair my Apple tree product?

People do endeavor repairs and upgrades at home, but they adventure damaging their machines - and volition void their warranty.

If yous did want to try a repair or upgrade at home you'd need to arm yourself with a range of specialised tools, including heat pads to loosen the agglutinative that holds the display in identify. You'd besides need to get concord of the correct spare parts. Read: Best Mac and iPhone tools for repairs and upgrades.

Apple tree sends genuine Apple parts to authorised service providers, and, since Baronial 2022 for iPhone and Baronial 2022 for Mac, contained repair businesses can also get admission to genuine parts. But every bit a consumer you won't be able to go hold of these parts. In the past iPhones have shown mistake messages if not-Apple parts are used, so this isn't an consequence you lot tin ignore.

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

For the average person we'd recommend making an appointment at an Apple Store or seeking an Apple tree Authorised Service Provider to carry out the repair for y'all. We'll discuss who to practice that next.

How practice I get my Apple products repaired?

The next question is where tin y'all go to get Apple products repaired. The obvious answer is Apple, but that'south non your just choice. We'll run through your options beneath:

Apple tree offers you 3 unlike ways to get a product repaired, yous can:

  1. Visit an Apple Store.
  2. Transport your product to Apple.
  3. Utilize an Apple tree Authorised Service Provider.

Click the links above to spring to those instructions.

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

Some people might exist wondering if they can just walk into an Apple tree Store for a repair. Unfortunately that's not an selection - even when stores aren't close due to Coronavirus. We practice explain how to make an Apple tree Store appointment at the Genius Bar in a divide article, but nosotros'll summarise the steps below.

Before you brainstorm nosotros recommend that you check to see if the product qualifies for a free repair. We have a separate articles well-nigh the various repair schemes and recalls.

  • Read Mac and MacBook recalls and repair programs to find out if your Mac is included in a call up?
  • And have a look at iPhone and iPad product 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 it repaired for costless. Its a good idea to check before you adapt a repair, not just to replenish yourself with the noesis of what should be on offer to y'all, but also because if you don't go to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised repair shop and then you won't be able to take reward of the gratis repair.

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

  • How to go a Mac repaired
  • How to get a cleaved iPhone fixed or replaced
  • How to ready a croaky iPhone screen
  • How to dry out a moisture water damaged iPhone
  • How to repair a broken Apple tree Watch

How to volume a repair with Apple tree

  1. Become to Apple tree's website.
  2. Enter your Apple ID and password.
  3. Choose your product.
  4. Click Start a Service request.
  5. Chose the topic that all-time represents your problem - for instance, if your Mac won't turn on cull 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 option will let y'all to make an engagement at a Genius Bar. Click on that selection.
  7. Enter your Apple ID and password again if required.
  8. Enter your series number (or if you are lucky you may be able to choose your actual Mac, if it'south 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 tree Store or Apple tree Authorised Service Provider (which in our case is an iStore).

How to ship a production to Apple tree for repair

If you'd prefer not to go to a store and so Apple volition ship you a box yous can utilise to ship it to an Apple Repair Centre. You need to ship it inside 30 days.

Yous can accommodate shipping your device to an Apple tree Repair Centre either over the phone or online. Apple says this service is available for most Apple tree products. It seems that most Macs are exempt (at least in the UK), but Apple Watches, iPhones, and iPads can be posted in, for example.

  1. Become to Apple's repair website.
  2. Click Start a repair request.
  3. Choose the product you lot wish to ship to Apple (or enter your serial number if the product isn't listed).
  4. Choose ane of the options, e.g. Fix Online or Express Replacement (which might be an option for yous if you have AppleCare+).

Does Apple repair or supplant?

If you accept AppleCare+ you tin can have advantage of the Limited Replacement Service that is available for some Apple products. In this case Apple tree will send yous a replacement product before your damaged or not-working product is returned to them (you take ten days or you will pay the full price of the replacement). There may be an boosted fee and you only get to use this feature of AppleCare+ for the offset 2 instances of accidental damage. Read: Is AppleCare+ worth information technology. We also compare AppleCare+ to normal insurance.

How long practise Apple repairs take?

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

However, some problems may exist more than complex and crave being sent on to an Apple tree Repair Center, in which case information technology should take from 6-8 days.

Apple tree advises that iPhone repairs take between six-8 days if you send your iPhone to an Apple Repair Heart, for instance.

How much exercise Apple repairs cost?

The cost of Apple repairs depends on a number of factors. By and large battery and screen replacements are cheaper than other replacements. And if you have AppleCare+ you may exist able to get your Apple product fixed for naught 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 half dozen, rising to £316.44/$329 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max (one time it is out of warranty). You can see all the prices here. If you have AppleCare+ the repair is free for the first ii incidences, but you need to pay £25 for any additional screen repairs.

iPhone bombardment repair

Starts at £49/$49 for iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7, eight and the 2nd generation iPhone SE handsets. Battery repair for the iPhone Ten, XS, SR, 11 and 12 series iPhones is £69/$69. If your iPhone is still in the i yr warranty period, or yous have AppleCare+ the repair is free. More than information hither.

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

How much does an iPad repair cost

iPad screen repair

Unfortunately Apple doesn't offer the same kind of service for replacing iPad screens every bit 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 adventitious damage protection, simply there may be an excess fee.

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

iPad bombardment repair

A battery replacement on all eligible iPad models cost £99/$99 (or is free if its in warranty or you have AppleCare+)

How much does an Apple Picket repair cost

Apple tree Watch screen repair

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

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

Apple Watch battery repair

If your Apple Spotter battery holds less than 80 per cent of its original bombardment chapters and it's covered by AppleCare+, you will become Apple Spotter battery service for no additional charge.

If your watch is out of warranty then the battery service fee is £82.44/$79. More than data hither.

How much does an Mac repair price

If your Mac is still in warranty, or you take AppleCare+ your repair will exist free. The toll of a repair volition 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 cost of a screen repair depends on whether you have AppleCare+ encompass. If you purchase AppleCare+ for Mac and so for 3 years from your AppleCare+ purchase date you will have cover for two incidents of accidental damage 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 go my Apple product repaired somewhere else?

You could utilise an independent repair shop but exist aware that they cannot provide repairs covered by Apple tree'southward warranty or AppleCare plans.

If yous would prefer to use an Apple tree Authorised Service Provider you tin locate 1 here.

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

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

Does Apple practice gratuitous repairs?

If your production is within warranty - which is one year from the betoken of sale (fifty-fifty if you were purchasing a refurbished Apple product) - and goes wrong yous can get Apple to fix it for costless.

Other reasons that might assist yous become a free repair is if your product has been recalled or qualifies in a repair program. As we mentioned earlier, we have a separate articles about the various repair schemes and recalls. Read: MacBook recalls and repair programs - is your Mac included? and Apple production recalls & free repair programmes for iPhone & iPad.

How easy to repair are Apple tree products?

When you are choosing a new Apple product yous would be wise to take into business relationship 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 drinking glass used in the manufacture of smartphones.

Apple tree has improved the repairability of the iPhone in terms of the screen and bombardment, only 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 change. The EU backed Right to Repair movement and is aiming to put in place laws that will get in compulsory for new devices to be easier to repair due. Hopefully leading manufacturers to build products with removable and replaceable parts.

As a consequence of this campaign, French legislation has already forced Apple to label products to testify a repairability score. The result of the changes should atomic number 82 to more reparable products with extended lifespans then that they are less probable to end upwards in landfill early on.

Apple - and other companies - at present have to indicate a 'repairability alphabetize on products. Read more about why Apple'southward been forced to reveal repairability of products in France.

The repairbility of a product should exist function of the decision when choosing a new product to buy, and cheers to the French legislation Apple is now beingness forced to reveal this information.

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

Apple'southward scores are based on the post-obit:

  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 buying new).
  5. Admission to software updates, costless technical support and the ability to reset the software.

Apple isn't the merely one revealing how easy (or hard) information technology is to repair Apple products. iFixit is famous for offering guides to the repairability of diverse Apple products where they highlight the issues that might lead y'all to needing a repair in the first place - for case, the smashable drinking glass on the front 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 exist an expensive job.

Another thing to bear in mind is that there comes a fourth dimension in every Apple products life when information technology becomes Obsolete or Vintage. These are terms that Apple uses to draw products once they oasis't been sold for more than 5 or viii years. Once a product is vintage Apple will only repair it if it has the parts (and and then at a price, obviouly). Once a product is Obsolete then at that place is no possibility that Apple volition repair information technology.

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

How easy to repair is the iPhone?

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

All the same, since launch of the iPhone XS and XR, repair companies and home fixers have found that it is no longer possible to change the battery without finalising the alter using System Configuration, an online tool Apple tree makes available to its ain stores and authorised repair companies.

iPhone 12 serial repairability

iFixit gives the iPhone 12 series a score of 6/x for repairability. In favour of the 2022 range of iPhones is the like shooting fish in a barrel access for screen and bombardment replacement and the fact that most components are modular. The main criticism is the glass back - the problem being that if the back drinking glass breaks, information technology 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 series must be activated via the System Configuration app - which over again counts our home-fixers.

Apple tree'due south own scoring (which yous tin meet 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, merely Apple tree has - in that example it gets half dozen.two/ten.

iPhone xi repairability

iFixit also gave the iPhone 11 serial half dozen/10 for like reasons to the iPhone 12 series, noting that replacing the battery had been simplified, just over again criticising the fact that the rear glass can only be fully replaced with a complete housing bandy.

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

iPhone XS serial repairability

The iPhone XS is the aforementioned, gaining a score of 6/x from iFixit for the aforementioned reasons. Apple gives the XS Max 4.5/10, and the XS 4.seven/10.

iPhone X repairability

The iPhone 10 was as well given half-dozen/x past iFixit who noted the accessibility for brandish and battery repairs, but criticised "Fussy cables tie unrelated components together into complex assemblies - expensive and troublesome to replace". Apple gives the iPhone X iv.8/x on the French Apple tree Shop.

iPhone 8 repairability

The iPhone 8 was given 6/10, with the drinking glass back existence highlighted as a potential problem. Apple gives both the eight and viii Plus 6.6/10.

iPhone seven repairability

The iPhone 7 - introduced back in 2022 - marked the last time an iPhone got a score of seven/10 from iFixit. Hither the improvements offered by the solid land home button was noted as a point in favour, because the old mechanical button was a common point of failure in older models. Apple gives the iPhone 7 vi.half-dozen/10 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 downwardly. Past soldering or gluing components into place Apple makes access to faulty components impossible. Bated from meaning you might not have been able to get a broken MacBook Air repaired, this isn't great news for the environment as Macs that tin't be fixed generally finish up in landfill.

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

MacBook Air repairability

iFixit hasn't yet given the M1 Macs a rating. Apple nevertheless has: the M1 MacBook Air gets 6.v/ten, which is the same score as information technology awards the 2022 MacBook Air.

The 2022 MacBook Air gets 3/10 from iFixit. Hither the criticism is the keyboard being integrated into the top case, making replacement difficult and expensive (a particular issue given the keyboard problems of the 2022-2020 MacBook Arrogance). These laptops are also held back by the fact that storage and RAM is soldered on. In the Air'due south favour, iFixit does annotation that the ports, fan, speaker and some other components are straightforward to access.

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

However, the one-time blueprint of the pre-2017 MacBook Air really had a better score awarded past Apple - 7/10.

MacBook Pro repairability

The M1 MacBook Pro gets five.half-dozen/x from Apple, while the older 2022 ii.0GHz model gets 6.iii/ten.

To get an idea of how that might interpret to iFixit's scores, the 2022 13in MacBook Pro (the entry-level model, but the repairability most likely applies to all models) was given a score of ii/10 by iFixit. The negatives they note include Apple's use of Proprietary pentalobe screws, the glued in bombardment, and the soldered-down RAM.

The two/10 score is a slight improvement on the 2022 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 Affect ID button is also highlighted due to it being paired with the T2 chip. Apple awards the 2022 13in MacBook Pro a score of five.6/10, while the 2022 model scored half-dozen.2/10.

According to iFixit the 16in MacBook Pro is not 1 to recommend. They requite it just i/10 for repairability, noting that the processor, RAM, and flash memory are all soldered to the logic lath, making replacement difficult. They also notation that glue and/or rivets secure the keyboard, battery, speakers, and Touch Bar, and then those repairs would likewise be difficult. Also the Touch on ID sensor is the ability switch and locked to the logic board and paired with the T2 chip, which would brand repairs of that component hard.

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

iMac repairability

Every bit for desktops, the 2022 27in iMac gets 4/ten from iFixit. Hither the criticism is the fact that Apple makes it so hard to remove the screen to admission the components - and it;'southward hard to return information technology to the state y'all started. Once you are within, 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 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 hard upgrade, and the GPU is soldered in place. Apple hasn't rated these models even so.

Mac mini repairability

The 2022 Mac mini got a repairability score of vi/10 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 whatsoever 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 can be hands upgraded. Apple hasn't rated these models yet.

How like shooting fish in a barrel to repair is the iPad?

It's disappointing really that the iPad isn't every bit easy to repair as 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. Nosotros think information technology'due south time Apple fabricated the iPad easier to set.

What is the easiest iPad to repair?

The iPad from 2022 gets a repairability score of ii/x from iFixit. Here the criticisms are the barrier of very strong adhesive making getting inside almost impossible, and the overuse of adhesive once you do become inside. The Lightning port - noted as a "common signal of failure" is unfortunately difficult to replace because information technology is soldered to the logic board.

The iPad Air from 2022 likewise scores two/10 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, at that place is besides much adhesive holding parts and cables in place. The lightning port is difficult to replace because its soldered to the logic board. But at least other components are modular and can therefore be replaced independently (once you go inside).

The 2022 iPad mini is similar. It scores 2/10 with iFixit noting how hard bombardment replacement is, and how at that place is adhesive holding down parts and cables. They likewise note that removing the habitation push is difficult and a necessary part of brandish replacement if you wish to keep Bear upon ID functionality.

The 2022 iPad Pro does get a slightly amend score - three/10. Here the criticism is again all the glue that Apple tree uses inside the case. But at least here the bombardment is secured with easy-to-remove tabs. Another indicate in its favour is the USB-C port which is modular and tin be independently replaced.

How easy to repair is the Apple Watch?

Like the iPhone the Apple tree Watch screen is likely to be the thing that breaks, although, unlike the iPhone nosotros aren't and then probable to drop our Apple Watches. Only but how piece of cake is it to set an Apple Picket?

What is the easiest Apple Watch to repair?

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

The Serial 5 also scores half dozen/10 for the same reasons.

The Series four and three scored half-dozen/ten but in both cases there was the boosted criticism that the "resin-encased S4 arrangement makes most board-level repairs incommunicable."

iFixit hasn't however scored the repairability of the Apple Lookout SE.

So to wrap upwards, Apple products aren't piece of cake or cheap to set. Apple tree has made it easier to replace the screen and battery in the iPhone, which is a bonus, only given that they are the things nearly probable to get wrong, an essential bonus. We hope that the new EU legislation coming in will mean that Apple and other companies are more than focused on the repairability of their products, extending their lifespans.