By Nathalie Voit
Apple customers will now be able to repair their own laptops, the company said in a statement on Aug. 22.
Starting Aug. 23, U.S. customers will be able to shop genuine Apple parts and tools for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro notebooks with the M1 family of chips. The certified components will be available to order via the Apple Self Service Repair Store. DIY repair manuals and weeklong rental kits will also be available on the Apple website beginning Tuesday.
“Self Service Repair for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro offers more than a dozen different repair types for each model, including the display, top case with battery, and trackpad, with more to come,” Apple said. “Customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices will be able to complete repairs on these Mac notebooks, with access to many of the same parts and tools available to Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers.”
Customers who wish to repair their own device can access Apple product repair manuals here. The necessary parts and tools to begin a repair can then be ordered from Apple’s online shop.
Apple said it would offer rental kits for customers who do not wish to purchase all the tools for a singular repair. The weeklong rental kits will cost $49 and ship free of charge.
Self Service Repair for Mac notebooks is part of a broader effort by Apple to expand access to DIY repairs. The move comes on the heels of a “right to repair” movement that took off last fall.
Despite the new option, Apple still said that professional repairs are best performed by a certified technician who uses genuine Apple parts for the vast majority of clients.
The company noted that it has nearly doubled the number of existing authorized service providers over the last three years.
