Apple is once again expanding its self-repair program procedures and has expanded the ability for consumers to use parts pairing to fully activate used parts in repairs, provided the parts haven’t been harvested from stolen units.
Beginning this fall, the parts-pairing process will maintain an iPhone user’s privacy, security, and safety, while offering consumers more options, increasing product longevity, and minimizing the environmental impact of a repair.” For the first time, the procedure will allow the use of parts that are associated with a device that has Activation Lock enabled.
The change follows up on an issue as to which repair parts Apple historically allows via its software. The practice has been controversial, with repair shops and right-to-repair advocates complaining that it limits options and generates a pile of e-waste. Apple, in turn, has stated that the lockdown on stolen iPhone parts has been requested by law enforcement for some time.
Coming this fall, and presumably, as part of iOS 18 and associated releases, Apple will expand Parts and Service History on devices to show if an installed part is new or used. Apple has also stated that it will begin offering calibration for parts, either new or used after a part has been installed. Apple has confirmed that it will not be selling used parts and donor parts can be scavenged from an otherwise unusable device — assuming that it is not Activation Locked.
Additional changes announced on Thursday include the fact that next-gen iPhone releases will be able to use biometric sensors. Additionally, customers and service providers will no longer need to provide a device’s serial number when ordering parts from the Self-Service Repair Store for repairs not involving the replacement of the logic board.
At present Apple’s Self Service Repair Program supports 35 products, in 33 countries, with materials available in 24 languages.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Apple