Apple has expanded its Independent Repair Provider Program to include Macs

By Oliver Haslam
published

16-inch MacBook Pro vs. 13-inch vs. Air
16-inch MacBook Pro vs. 13-inch vs. Air (Image credit: Rene Ritchie / iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple has expanded its independent repair shop program.
  • Macs are now included for the first time.
  • Mac users can now visit more repair centers when they need help.

Apple has today expanded its Independent Repair Provider Program to include its Mac computers for the first time, according to Reuters.

The program first launched last year but only included coverage for iPhones. That allowed users to take their iPhones to independent repair shops, but left Mac owners needing to visit Apple Stores or authorized partners. Mac users now have more choice when choosing where to have their Mac repaired, with Apple providing specialist training and official parts to more shops.

"When a device needs repairs, we want people to have access to a safe and reliable solution — this latest expansion joins the thousands of repair locations we've added over the past year," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said in a statement. "We're looking forward to bringing that convenient and trustworthy repair experience to our Mac users."

The program's expansion to include the Mac now means that Apple will sell parts and offer free training to shops who want to be able to provide out-of-warranty work on Apple's computers.

This news will be big for those who don't live near an official Apple Store or authorized repair center. It also gives everyone more options when selecting where to have work carried out while increasing competition, too. The program runs in the United States, Canada, and an additional 32 countries across Europe.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.