iFixit Lauds Apple's New Self Service Repair Program, Calls It a 'Remarkable Concession'

Apple this morning surprised the world with an unexpected "Self Service Repair" program, which is designed to allow customers access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals for making their own device repairs.


Giving customers this kind of unprecedented access to repair guidelines and hardware is a major win for Right to Repair advocates, and we're starting to hear from repair outlets pleased with Apple's decision.

Well-known device repair and teardown site iFixit says that its team is "excited" about the news, and hopeful that Apple will be providing customers with the same information that it gives to Apple Authorized Service Providers.

iFixit points out that Apple's decision invalidates many of the arguments that it has been making against the Right to Repair movement for years because Apple is acknowledging that repairs can be done without harm to consumers or their devices. Apple has previously argued that customers could injure themselves by accidentally puncturing a battery during a device repair, which is apparently no longer a concern. "We're thrilled to see Apple admit what we've always known: Everyone's enough of a genius to fix an iPhone," reads iFixit's coverage of Apple's announcement.

Kyle Wiens, iFixit founder and CEO, said on Twitter that Apple's decision marks a "total shift in perspective" and that there's hope that this is a step toward making devices last longer.


While this is a major step forward, iFixit points out that there are a number of unknowns and caveats. It's unlikely that Apple is going to allow customers to use parts that are sourced from somewhere other than the online store Apple is building, and the ready availability of official parts could see Apple further lock down ‌iPhone‌ components through serialization, restricting the use of third-party parts or parts salvaged from other iPhones.

Other repair advocates agree that Apple's move is a win for Right to Repair, but there's more to be done. iFixit says it will keep fighting for laws that will "keep Apple and other manufacturers honest," while the Right to Repair Coalition, which represents several repair shops and trade groups, said this is "far off" from the requirements of Right to Repair, but shows legislators are on the right track if Apple has been spooked into allowing for customer repairs.


Nathan Proctor, who heads up the Right to Repair campaign with the United States Public Interest Research Group, called Apple's move a "huge milestone" for Right to Repair, while repair advocate Kevin O'Reilly called it a "huge win," but said concrete reforms are still needed.


Apple's ‌Self Service Repair‌ program will launch in early 2022 in the United States, and it will start with Apple making repair components available to ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 owners. Apple plans to expand to additional countries throughout 2022, and will also work to support more repairs and more devices over time.

Popular Stories

A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...

Top Rated Comments

Blackstick Avatar
47 months ago
Speaking as a former Mac Genius, this is awesome news, but people without electronic repair experience should be careful what they wish for. Fixing some of these mobile devices is very tricky, much more so than a Mac where the space to work is comparably "luxurious."

If you're not comfortable with nylon probe tools (spudger or what Apple calls a "black stick"), ZIF connectors, pentalobe screws and really small, fragile ribbon cables... have someone else fix your expensive Apple product for the same money. Much less headache.
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
randfee2 Avatar
47 months ago
Apple knows what’s coming, laws will enforce this and more, so they didn’t want to get caught with their pants down but instead introduce something before the laws arrive. That will make it look like they’ve been on the right track all along.

Good, but kind of hypocritical, In the end many will forget that it was due to the Louis Rossmann’s of the world that things changed, many forum members will claim here and now that Apple is brilliant and only applaud Apple and think their wisdom got us this, the same people that argued that some will never sell parts because it’s economically stupid. I don’t care about these type of disciples.

Most importantly: if it happens it will be a good thing. Pricing will be super interesting and potentially a rip-off, we’ll see!

Oh and by the way, this doesn’t mean that their products become more repair friendly, they might just claim people lack the skill if they complain about unnecessary degree of fiddling. But maybe it’ll create more pressure for actually good repassier friendly design too ?

It’s a start and I like the direction this is going. I hope sustainability and longevity of products might also lead to upgradable designs again, I have hope and i wish Apple had more courage in this regard. I’m confident the company’s reputation would go through the roof if they’d ACTUALLY acted boldly on sustainability, I’m willing to bet they’d make even more money than they do now if they didn’t glue but screw and made SSDs upgradable etc.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
47 months ago
Yeah, let's see the details - and of course the cost of these parts.

Often the reason for going to 3rd party repair is the outrageous costs of Apple service and genuine parts.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rocko99991 Avatar
47 months ago
Do we have pricing on the parts yet?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
l.a.rossmann Avatar
47 months ago

He’s a businessman selling second rate repairs for a high fee.

I always ask the question: would you get surgery done by a YouTube doctor who complains loudly about the competition being expensive and unfair?
We have a higher google places & yelp rating than our local Apple store, provide longer warranty coverage on many repairs than the Apple store, and have zero logged complaints for over 9 years on the department of consumer affairs website for our public-facing business license number. Further, we demonstrate how we do everything for free, so you can judge whether the reputation we have is earned or based on fluff.

Our reputation, ratings, and licensing status is based on the quality of our work. Your post insulting the quality of work our team does here is based on nothing.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
l.a.rossmann Avatar
47 months ago

Stop speaking like fighting for consumers! It is only benefit the repair shop, not consumers.
Every piece of consumer electronics Right to Repair legislation that I have supported has made no distinction between the repair shop and the consumer. There have been drafts that leave out the consumer, and only make parts available to those with business licenses. I have not supported these bills, publicly or privately, nor have I ever supported any such compromise legislation that makes this a requirement.

If it's made available to me, it should be made available to you. Fair is fair. In each bill I testify in favor of, or lobby on behalf of, I ask they make available to consumers the same that is made available to me. I do not advocate for a world where I am able to buy a manual/schematic/part/tool/chip as a repair shop that you cannot buy as an end user of that device.

For my own business, I do the same. The parts I use I make available ('https://store.rossmanngroup.com/x5-isl9239.html'), and the knowledge I have I make available, via repair.wiki ('https://repair.wiki/w/A1706_2016-2017_13%E2%80%9D_Touchbar_MacBook_Pro'), 600+ educational videos ('//www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkVbIsAWN2lsHdY7ldAAgtJug50pRNQv0'), or our 150+ page instructional guide on board repair ('http://bit.ly/2k6uz84').
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)