Apple announced today that it’s expanding its independent repair program to cover Macs, meaning stores will receive training and real Apple parts to fix Macs. It isn’t clear what kind of repairs stores will be able to conduct on Macs or what parts they’ll be able to buy.
Apple began verifying third-party iPhone repair shops in the US last year. This summer it expanded that repair program to Europe and Canada. A total of 140 businesses with 700 locations have reportedly signed up. Apple has also partnered with Best Buy to offer certified repairs through its stores.
The expanded repair program is a win for right-to-repair advocates, who have long urged Apple to make it easier for third parties to fix its products. The changes should keep Apple products working longer, which is ultimately more sustainable, and it should give customers confidence that they’re getting trustworthy service.
“When a device needs repairs, we want people to have access to a safe and reliable solution this latest expansion joins the thousands of repair locations we’ve added over the past year,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said in a statement to Reuters. “We’re looking forward to bringing that convenient and trustworthy repair experience to our Mac users.”
