Apple Expands Self Service Repair to MacBooks With M1 Chips
If you're in the U.S., you’ll soon be able to repair your MacBook yourself using certified Apple parts and manuals.
Apple announced it’s expanding its Self Service Repair program to cover MacBooks with M1 chips, such as newer models of the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. The program allows you to purchase genuine replacement parts that you’ll need for different repair types, including the display, top case with battery and trackpad, among others.
“Every genuine Apple part is designed and engineered for each product, and goes through extensive testing to ensure the highest quality, safety, and reliability,” said the iPhone maker. “Customers can send replaced parts back to Apple for refurbishment and recycling, and in many cases receive credit for their purchase by doing so.”
You can also view repair manuals and either rent or purchase the tools used by the company’s authorised service providers. Rental kits cost US$49 and can be used by customers for one week. This option works best if you don’t want to spend too much on a single repair but still wish to have access to professional tools.
Depending on the issue, sending your MacBook back to Apple for repairs can take time. When you don’t have a replacement, you could be stuck with nothing to use for at least a couple of weeks. This is why the Cupertino company launched the program earlier this year for customers who think they’re savvy enough to do the repairs themselves. The program debuted for iPhone 12, iPhone SE and iPhone 13 models.
However, in case you’re not confident you could repair your MacBook yourself, Apple advises visiting a certified technician or service centre instead, which the company says is still the safest and most reliable way to get repairs. If you’re unsure, you can perhaps try browsing the repair manual first and decide after.
Currently, the Self Service Repair program is only available for U.S. customers, but Apple plans to continue expanding it to other countries soon, starting with Europe. The company also plans to expand the program to cover other MacBook models.
Apple announced it’s expanding its Self Service Repair program to cover MacBooks with M1 chips, which include newer models of the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.
The program allows you to purchase genuine replacement parts and gain access to manuals and tools you'll need for the repair.
For now, it's only available for U.S. customers, but Apple plans to continue expanding to other countries, starting with Europe.