Apple to let customers fix their OWN broken iPhones and Macs by shipping parts and tools to homes

Apple announced Wednesday its new Self Service Repair program that will let customers complete repairs on their own iPhones and Mac computers.

Starting early next year, the tech giant will ship ‘Apple genuine’ parts and tools, the same used at the Genius Bar, to people’s homes to fix their broken devices.  

 The program is set to start with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, Macs to follow later, and allow owners to replace their screen, battery or camera.

The move comes as Apple is facing increased pressure and even regulation regarding its product repair policies, as the tech giant has only allowed its accredited dealers to fix its devices.

However, Apple’s Self Service Repair is a major win for the Right to Repair movement, but will only be useful to those who feel comfortable fixing an iPhone themselves.

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Apple announced Wednesday its new Self Service Repair program that will let customers complete repairs on their own iPhones and Mac computers. Starting early next year, the tech giant will ship ‘Apple genuine’ parts and tools, the same used at the Genius Bar, to people’s homes to fix their broken devices

The Self Service Repair program will first roll out in the U.S. early next year and expand to additional countries throughout 2022. 

Mac computers featuring Apple’s M1 chips will be eligible for the program shortly after it launches for iPhones.

Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said in a statement: ‘Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed.

‘In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, and now we’re providing an option for those who wish to complete their own repairs.’

The move comes as Apple is facing increased pressure and even regulation regarding its product repair policies, as the tech giant has only allowed its accredited dealers, like employees at its Apple Stores, to fix its devices

Customers place orders for parts through Apple’s new Self Service Repair Online Store, which will offer more than 200 individual components and tools. A Repair manual will also be sent along.

Users who return their used parts later for recycling can receive a credit toward their purchase.

Prior to the announcement, Apple tightly controlled how its products are repaired, only having recently expanded its independent repair provider program. 

An Apple spokesperson said in August: ‘We believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using Apple-genuine parts.’

‘We continue to expand Apple’s offerings to better meet our customers’ needs.’

However, President Joe Biden and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are working together to enforced a law that would let customers choose where they want to have their technologies repaired.

In his executive order on competition, Biden directed the FTC to consider rules preventing ‘unfair anticompetitive restrictions on third-party repair or self-repair of items.’

The FTC shared an update in July saying that it had ‘unanimously voted to ramp up law enforcement against repair restrictions that prevent small businesses, workers, consumers, and even government entities from fixing their own products.

‘The policy statement adopted today is aimed at manufacturers’ practices that make it extremely difficult for purchasers to repair their products or shop around for other service providers to do it for them,’ reads the FTC’s website.

‘By enforcing against restrictions that violate antitrust or consumer protection laws, the Commission is taking important steps to restore the right to repair.’