Didn't Get AppleCare+? Getting Your iPhone Repaired May Extend Your Eligibility Up to Two Years

Apple in recent months began providing customers in the U.S. with an extended opportunity to purchase AppleCare+ coverage for their iPhone after a qualifying out-of-warranty repair at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, according to internal Apple documentation reviewed by MacRumors.

applecare apple care banner
The so-called "AppleCare+ Enrollment Exceptions" policy began in late 2021, but it was originally limited to one year after an iPhone's original purchase date. Now, the eligibility window has been extended to two years after purchase for iPhones in the U.S. only. Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers can only inform customers that this policy exists after an iPhone has been serviced, and customers have 10 days to act on it.

Normally, a customer has only 60 days after purchasing an iPhone to add AppleCare+ to the device in the U.S., but this policy gives customers who experienced a costly out-of-pocket repair a chance to reconsider AppleCare+ coverage for future repairs. The repaired iPhone must pass a visual and mechanical inspection in order to qualify.

MacRumors confirmed this policy with multiple sources, but given it is not publicly announced by Apple, we cannot guarantee that it will always be honored.

Top Rated Comments

erikkfi Avatar
4 weeks ago
It makes sense. Your repair is a chance for them to look at your iPhone, assess its condition personally, and then offer you an option to make a purchase that nets them a 60+% profit margin.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
4 weeks ago
Apple Care is a huge cash cow for .
That’s why they push it.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
4 weeks ago
Good to have that option but the problem is I upgrade my iPhone every single year since 2008.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
4 weeks ago
The battery replacement under AppleCare+ seems almost like a fraud. My Apple Watch has been conveniently sitting at 80% health for MONTHS and my iPhone also hasn’t dropped from 88% in like forever either. In fact, one Apple Watch update actually had it go up from 81% to 83% again at some point ?‍?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anshuvorty Avatar
4 weeks ago
Services, services, services....ARPU baby!! ARPU (average revenue per user)!!!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StaceyMJ86 Avatar
4 weeks ago

As someone who has had to use AppleCare+ - nothing beats the ability to walk into the Apple Store, show then your borked device (either by your doing or their doing) and walk out with a new device in 5 mins. IMO that's worth all the $ I throw at AppleCare+. Can't get this with a Credit Card warranty.

My wife's MBP battery failed 2 years 10 months into our 3 year AppleCare+ and we got a free battery replacement (and top end case).

AppleCare+ has been good to me as has our local Apple Store. Works for me - I get it on all our devices. I understand why some people would prefer not to spend the $.
I get it for all of my devices as well, and also for my kids 9th generation iPads I purchased last year. It feel good going into an Apple Store and know that Apple will either or replace the device free of charge. I rather have the sense of peace by having AppleCare+.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issues Likely Due to Thermal Compromises, Not 3nm Node

Tuesday September 26, 2023 9:12 am PDT by
Complaints about heat issues with the iPhone 15 Pro models are not related to TSMC's 3-nanometer node that was used for the A17 Pro chip, according to well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that overheating could be caused by "compromises made in the thermal system design" that allowed Apple to cut down on the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro models. Kuo says that the reduced heat...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
macos sonoma 4

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma With New Widget Features, Safari Updates, Screen Sharing Improvements and More

Tuesday September 26, 2023 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS 14 Sonoma, the newest version of the operating system that runs on the Mac. macOS Sonoma has been in beta testing for several months, and it is compatible with the 2019 and later iMac, the iMac Pro, the 2018 and later Mac mini, the 2018 and later MacBook Pro, the 2019 and later Mac Pro, and the Mac Studio. The ‌macOS Sonoma update can be downloaded for free on...