It's now easier to perform out-of-warranty repairs on your MacBook, as Apple expands the devices supported in its Self Repair Program.

Apple’s MacBook lineup has been infamous for its lack of repairability, especially in recent years. As a result, the tech giant has been subject to criticism as a part of the Right to Repair movement. However, the situation is looking brighter, thanks to Apple’s Self Service Repair Program for Mac.

Apple announced its Self Service Repair Program in 2021, but it was available for only some iPhone models. On 22 August 2022, Apple expanded the Self Service Repair to Mac laptops. So, if you want to repair your MacBook, here is everything you should know.

Apple’s Self Service Repair Program allows individuals (and small repair shops) to repair their Apple devices using genuine parts. Before this program, an Apple service center was the only way to get genuine parts for your Apple devices.

Apple says the Self Service Repair Program is for those with sufficient experience repairing electronic devices. As a part of this program, Apple will provide the following things:

As you can see, the program provides access to everything you need for out-of-warranty repairs. The Self Repair program was launched in early 2022 with support for Apple iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone SE (third generation).

Yes! Starting on 23 August 2022, the Self Service Repair program from Apple is available for some MacBook devices. You can use the program to make more than 12 types of repairs, including the display, top case (which includes the battery), and trackpad.

The company says it will add support for more repairs and countries (the program is currently US-exclusive) in the coming months. See our guide to using Apple's Self Service Repair program for more info.

The following MacBooks are supported in the Self Service Repair Program:

As you can see, the program supports MacBooks powered by M1 chips. Unfortunately, the program does not yet support the M2-powered MacBook Air or Pro. However, you can expect Apple to expand the coverage soon.

Here’s how to make use of the Self Service Repair Program for Mac.

Apple provides fully-fledged repair manuals for all supported devices. You can download the repair manual for your device from the Apple Repair Manuals website. These official guides will tell you how to repair your device and detail the necessary tools and parts.

Once you have figured out the tools and parts you need, you can order them from the Self Service Repair Store. You will have to provide the serial number of your MacBook while ordering.

If you do not want to purchase tools, you can rent them from Apple. However, you will have to pay a weekly rent of $49 in addition to the security deposit. You can return the toolkit to Apple once your repair is done. See the Tool Kit Rental page on the Self Service Repair website for more details and to learn what's inside each Apple repair toolkit.

You can repair your MacBook with the help of the tools, parts, and repair manual from the Self Service Repair Store. The store also offers additional support you may need during repairs. For instance, some repairs may require System Configuration, a post-repair tool from Apple. You can get this tool by contacting the support team.

Once you have completed the repair process, you can return the parts and tools to Apple. You will get the security deposit when you return the tools. As for parts, Apple may provide credit when you return a replaced part. However, keep in mind that only some parts are eligible for credit.

Apple’s decision to expand the Self Service Repair Program to MacBooks is great. You can benefit from this program if you have one of the supported M1 MacBooks out of warranty. However, you have to make sure that you are familiar with electronic repairs and that you religiously follow the repair manuals.

Abhijith is a Mac Writer at MakeUseOf. He has a degree in English Literature and has been covering tech and digital lifestyle for more than ten years. He's also interested in Language and Culture.

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