Apple has announced a “self-service repair” program so “customers who are comfortable” can fix their own devices.
At launch, in early 2022 in the US, it will cover replacing the batteries, screens and cameras of recent iPhones.
But Apple’s new repair store will sell more than 200 parts and tools.
It comes after months of increasing pressure on Apple from the grassroots right-to-repair movement, which wants individuals and independent repair shops to be able to fix electronics.
“Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices,” Apple said.
But “for the vast majority of customers” visiting a certified professional repair shop would be a better option.
“Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed,” Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams said.
“By designing products for durability, longevity, and increased repairability, customers enjoy a long-lasting product that holds its value for years,” the company said.
Apple has often been held up as one of the fiercest opponents of the right to repair, claiming safety issues.
Independent repair-instructions website iFixit, which recently took Apple to task for making it much harder to repair iPhone screens, tweeted: “We never thought we’d see the day.”
“Apple has long claimed that letting consumers fix their own stuff would be dangerous,” iFixit said in a statement to media.
“Now, with renewed governmental interest in repair markets – and soon after notably bad press… Apple has found unexpected interest in letting people fix the things they own.”
Apple said the self-service repair program would allow individual customers to “join more than 5,000 Apple authorized service providers and 2,800 independent repair providers who have access to these parts, tools, and manuals”.
It had been expanding its authorised repair network, so access to official parts “has nearly doubled” in the past three years, it said.
