Apple’s Independent Repair Shop Program Expands to Macs – No Longer Queuing at a Genius Bar

Apple’s Independent Repair Program provides qualified repair shops with Apple Certified tools, parts, service manuals, diagnostics, and free training.

The extension could make it faster and easier to access repairs for the most common out-of-warranty issues with Macs. Apple warranty issues should be resolved at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, such as Best Buy.

More than 140 independent repair companies with more than 700 locations in the United States are now part of the program and this summer Apple announced the expansion of the program to Europe and Canada. Repair shops will complement Apple’s global network of more than 5,000 authorized service providers and will have access to parts and tools at the same price as those providers.

The news comes after Mac sales grew nearly 22% year-over-year in the quarter that ended in June, likely boosted by work-from-home policies during the coronavirus pandemic . And it’s not just Apple – there is a widespread shortage of laptops as remote work continues and many students prepare to go to school from home this fall.

During the pandemic, Apple had to close, reopen and then re-close some of its retail stores as the coronavirus spread across the United States.