Apple Developing Support iOS App to Streamline Repair and Troubleshooting Process

Apple appears to be working on an iOS app that will provide customers with easy access to Apple support staff, troubleshooting tips, and repair options for their iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. A series of screenshots of the app were provided by Sonny Dickson to uSwitch Tech, revealing key details about the app and what it's capable of.

There are direct options for chatting with an advisor, scheduling an in-store visit (which lists the next available appointment at a local Apple Store), and sending a device in for service, along with a list of support documents and guides to solve common problems like using iTunes to do a restore, maximizing battery life, or upgrading to the latest version of iOS.

supportappapple
According to an "insider," the app is tied to an Apple ID and will automatically list all of the devices that each person owns, giving them direct access to pre-defined troubleshooting problems, much like Apple's support site does now. From there, it walks users through all of the available support options. It's said to be "highly interactive and well integrated."

Having a centralized spot to access support documents and repair options will be hugely useful for many users who may not know the extent of Apple's online support offerings. The app will also further streamline the repair and support process, taking some of the pressure off of in-store Genius employees who work on repairs and potentially cutting down on the number of people coming in to the store for small issues.

It is not clear if the app is a standalone support app that will be added to iOS devices in the future or if this is functionality that will be incorporated into the existing Apple Store app. At this time, the Apple Store app has limited functionality when it comes to support, only allowing users to schedule appointments with Geniuses at their local Apple Stores.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...

Top Rated Comments

ethanwa79 Avatar
113 months ago
The fact that Apple needs to make an app like this with us being on version 9 of iOS is not a good sign. I feel like the quality of Apple's software has taken a nosedive ever since iOS 7 was released.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SlipperySlop Avatar
113 months ago
Good idea, but the people who would actually need this are probably people who will have no idea this app exists (unless it's preinstalled -- and let's hope it's not).
Huh? The app is a good idea according to you. But you say that it will be most useful to people who won't know it exist unless it's preinstalled, but you don't want that to happen. This makes NO sense.

I have plenty of apps I rarely use and some apple apps I don't use. Here's how I handle it. I move all of those apps to the last page of my apps screens. Pretty much out of the way and yet there if I should need them in the future. Very clever of me, don't you think. Wouldn't that be a better way to handle this than to exclude an app that you agree would be useful only because you don't want to see an icon that might ever be useful to you someday?

No more un-removable system apps please!
Why. What is so terrible about having them there. Are they really that offensive to you? See above for my suggestion.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Richardgm Avatar
113 months ago
No more un-removable system apps please!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rorschach Avatar
113 months ago
Good idea, but the people who would actually need this are probably people who will have no idea this app exists (unless it's preinstalled -- and let's hope it's not).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
113 months ago
Let's hope it is not US-only.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DCYorke Avatar
113 months ago
So basically, an app version of https://supportprofile.apple.com
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)