Unless you have an obvious problem with your Apple device like a cracked screen, it can be hard to tell if an issue your device is having is something that needs repairing or something software-related that just needs a reinstall. Short of trial-and-error, such an issue requires heading down to the Apple Store for a Genius to diagnose the problem.
Now you can save yourself a trip. Apple announced this week that its Diagnostic troubleshooting suites are available for iPhone and Mac as part of its Self Service Repair program. Apple explains that the tool is “intended for users with the knowledge and expertise to repair Apple devices,” and “will give customers the same ability as Apple Authorized Service Providers and Independent Repair Providers to test devices for optimal part functionality and performance, as well as identify which parts may need repair.”
Along with the new tool (which requires iOS 17 or macOS Sonoma 14.1 and later), Apple also announced that all iPhone 15 models and M2 Macs are now able to be self-repaired. The tools are available in the U.S. and will expand to Europe in 2024.
To use the new tool, you’ll need to put your iPhone or Mac into diagnostics mode and then enter its serial number to check which Diagnostic suites are available for your device.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor
Michael Simon has been covering Apple since the iPod was the iWalk. His obsession with technology goes back to his first PC—the IBM Thinkpad with the lift-up keyboard for swapping out the drive. He's still waiting for that to come back in style tbh.