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Learn how to get your Mac desktop or Mac notebook fixed and how much it will cost.
Jul 27, 2018 - Here are the MacBook battery replacement options we recommend. Apple replaced my MacBook battery at no cost two weeks before my AppleCare. $129 for a MacBook Air to $199 for a MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
How do I get my Mac fixed?
To get service for your Mac, you can make a reservation at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Make sure you know your Apple ID and password before your appointment. Or, if you have a Mac notebook, contact us and we'll send you a box you can use to ship it to an Apple Repair Center. We'll return your repaired product to you as quickly as possible. Depending on where you get service, you might be able to check the status of your repair online.
How much will it cost?
There's no charge if the issue is covered under warranty, AppleCare+, or consumer law. If your issue isn't covered, the price depends on the type of repair. Ask your service representative for an estimate.
Battery service
If you're experiencing an issue with your battery, your Mac notebook might not require a repair. These tips show you how to maximize your battery performance. If you can't turn on your Mac or if the screen turns black, follow these steps to resolve the issue.
Your Mac notebook battery service might be covered by warranty, consumer law, or AppleCare+. These prices are for out-of-warranty service. We might need to test your product to determine the final service fee.
Product | Battery service |
---|---|
11-inch/13-inch MacBook Air | |
All eligible models | $129 |
13-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro | |
All eligible models | $129 |
17-inch MacBook Pro (vintage) | $179 |
12-inch MacBook | |
All eligible models | $199 |
13-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display | |
All eligible models | $199 |
Pricing and terms might vary at other service providers. All prices are in U.S. dollars ($) and are subject to tax.
Accessories
Apple-branded accessories are covered under the Apple One Year Limited Warranty. Our warranty doesn't cover batteries that wear down from normal use. If your accessory's battery is depleted and your warranty has expired, you can replace the accessory’s battery for a fee.
Product | Accessory battery service |
---|---|
Magic Keyboard | $29 |
Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad | $29 |
Magic Mouse 2 | $29 |
Magic Trackpad 2 | $29 |
Pricing and terms might vary at other service providers. All prices are in U.S. dollars ($) and are subject to tax. If shipping is required, we'll add an additional $6.95 shipping fee.
AppleCare+
AppleCare+ for Mac extends your technical support and hardware coverage up to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date. It also includes up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage. Each incident has a service fee, as shown. If you didn't buy AppleCare+ with your Mac, you can buy it within 60 days of your Mac purchase if your product isn't damaged.
The following prices are for Apple repairs with AppleCare+ accidental damage coverage.
Model | Screen or external enclosure only (with AppleCare+) | Other damage (with AppleCare+) |
---|---|---|
All Mac desktops and Mac notebooks with AppleCare+ | $99 | $299 |
These fees apply in the United States. All prices are in U.S. dollars ($) and are subject to tax.
Apple Limited Warranty and AppleCare+ benefits are in addition to your rights under consumer law.
AppleCare+ does not cover excessive physical damage, including catastrophic damage due to liquid contact or submersion, or damage caused by the presence of hazardous materials. Devices modified by unauthorized service providers are not eligible for AppleCare+ accidental damage coverage unless all original parts are returned to Apple.
See the AppleCare+ Terms and Conditions for complete details.
Get ready for service
Before you return your Mac to us, be sure to enable FileVault and back up your data. You may need the backup if your Mac needs to be reformatted during the repair process. Apple isn't responsible for lost data.
The Apple Limited Warranty
The Apple Limited Warranty covers your Mac and the accessories that come with it against manufacturing defects for one year from the date you bought your Mac. You may also have consumer law rights.
Our warranty doesn't cover damage caused by accidents or unauthorized modifications. You can check your coverage status online and update your proof-of-purchase information if there's an error in our records.
If your repair isn't covered by our warranty, you'll pay out-of-warranty fees.
Our guarantee after service
We guarantee our service, including replacement parts, for 90 days or the remaining term of your Apple warranty or AppleCare plan coverage, whichever is longer. We offer this whenever you get service from us or from an Apple Authorized Service Provider. This is in addition to rights provided by consumer law.
Your MacBook’s battery is likely the first component you’ll need to replace. Apple makes reliable machines, but battery technology means most cells only last a few years before their capacity seriously diminishes.
A battery replacement is a great way to breathe new life into an old MacBook. Here are your options when it comes to replacing it, and how you know it’s time to do so.
Check Your MacBook Battery Status
The easiest way to check the current status of your battery is to hold the Option key and click on your battery percentage icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
You’ll see one of these four notes on the battery’s condition:
- Normal: Your battery doesn’t need replacement.
- Replace Soon: The battery holds less charge than it did when new.
- Replace Now: Your battery hold significantly less charge than it did when new.
- Service Battery: The system has detected a fault with your battery.
That should give you some indication of how necessary a battery replacement is. But you can also view the exact number of charge and discharge cycles. To do this:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select About This Mac, then System Report.
- Click Power and scroll down to Cycle Count.
The number of cycles should give you a good idea of how long your battery has left before requiring replacement. Different MacBooks have ratings for different cycle counts, so you’ll need to cross-reference your result with the ratings on Apple’s Support website.
Finally, if you’ve noticed your battery life has become significantly worse of late, you may decide that it’s time for a service anyway. Use your own judgement to weigh up if the cost is worth it to you.
Option 1: Replace With Your Apple Warranty
If your MacBook is still under warranty, Apple will replace a faulty or degraded battery free of charge. In the US, Apple provides a limited one-year warranty. For those in the EU and Australia, consumer law extends this coverage to two years.
If you purchase AppleCare for your MacBook, this coverage extends to three years. Speaking from experience, Apple replaced my MacBook battery at no cost two weeks before my AppleCare coverage expired, so it’s worth a shot.
You can check your warranty status on Apple’s Service and Support Coverage website using your machine’s serial number. Find your serial number by clicking the Apple icon at the top of the screen and selecting About This Mac.
If you don’t have warranty coverage for a battery replacement, let’s look at your other options.
Option 2: Replace at an Apple Service Center
Apple recommends you use first-party or third-party authorized service centers to replace your battery. This is generally the most expensive option, but it’s also the safest. The procedure is less likely to go wrong, and Apple provides a 90-day guarantee for any work performed.
Assuming the service isn’t covered by warranty or consumer law, the cost of the repairs will vary from $129 for a MacBook Air to $199 for a MacBook Pro with Retina Display. If your MacBook is especially old, you may be better off putting that money toward a replacement instead. Look out for these signs that indicate it’s time to replace your Mac.
Head to Apple’s Mac Service and Repair website and click Start a service request to begin. If there are no Apple stores nearby, the website will suggest authorized third parties who can perform the work instead. These technicians undergo the same training as Apple’s, and provide the same guarantees.
Benefits: Your MacBook is guaranteed against defects resulting from the work, your replacement will be a genuine first party product, and the work shouldn’t take more than a day or so.
Option 3: Replace at a Computer Repair Shop
If you want to save some money, you could always pay a third party to replace your battery for you. Many computer repair shops will source and replace your battery, though the exact cost will vary based on who you approach.
Going this route forgoes Apple’s guarantees, and you may find that they use third-party parts in an attempt to save money. These parts aren’t necessarily inferior, but it’s a risk you take. Check out computer repair repair shops in your area for quotes, then compare them to what Apple offers.
Depending on the model, your local repair shop may refuse service if your battery is glued in place.
Benefits: You’ll probably save some money at the cost of not having an Apple-certified technician perform the repairs. Third parties may also use cheaper parts to reduce cost, meaning they’re more likely to break early.
Option 4: Replace It Yourself
The cheapest option by far, ordering your own battery and replacing it yourselfFix Your Own Mac: A Troubleshooting GuideFix Your Own Mac: A Troubleshooting GuideApple is known for having great customer service and repair technicians, but if you're no longer under warranty that expertise doesn't come cheap. Why not try troubleshooting your own Mac first next time?Read More means you’ll only pay the cost of the parts. You’ll need a set of tools to open up your Mac, an anti-static wrist band, and the replacement battery itself.
Much of the time, you can buy kits that provide everything you need. These come at roughly half the price Apple will charge you for the service. One such retailer is iFixit, which also provides guides to everything from simple fixes to complex teardowns.
Buying the battery alone should cost even less than this, with cheap third-party options available for a fraction of the price. We’d recommend only buying from a company you trust, with a strong reputation for providing quality parts.
If you’re not sure what you’re doing, the risks of something going wrong are much higher. If you’re happy to take the risk and follow how-to guides to the letter, you’ll learn a lot about the inner workings of your computer. You might even enjoy the process!
Unfortunately, some MacBook models have glued-in batteries, making them incredibly difficult to repair yourself. iFixit now has a MacBook Pro with Retina Display battery kit, but warns that it’s for experienced users and comes with some serious work.
Benefits: By taking matters into your own hands, you’ll save a lot of money at the cost of your own time and the risk of something going wrong.
Don’t Forget to Recycle Responsibly
If you do go for this option, make sure you recycle the spent battery responsibly.
Lithium batteries need to be recycled properly to prevent harm to yourself, others, and the environment. Check with your local waste management authorities how best to recycle your old laptop battery—don’t just throw it in the trash or with your regular recycling.
Most local governments will have dropoff points or collection schemes that emphasize safety and sustainability. If you choose to let Apple service your laptop, it will take care of the battery and recycle it for you (but unfortunately doesn’t offer a drop-off service).
Not Sure How to Replace Your MacBook Battery?
If your laptop is old and you’re not sure whether or not it’s worth replacing the internal battery, you could always consider external power solutions. Battery packs that can power your MacBook are now a reality, and you can use them again to power your new MacBook when it’s time for a replacement.
Once you get a battery replacement or a new Mac machine, make sure you know how to improve your Mac battery lifeHow to Improve Your MacBook’s Battery LifeHow to Improve Your MacBook’s Battery LifeWhile the current MacBooks are quite powerful, they have the same battery life as their predecessors. So what can you do? Quite a bit, it turns out.Read More and how to monitor your Mac battery to keep it healthy for some time.
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