M1 MacBook models added to Apple's Self Repair program

In 2021, Apple announced that customers could use its Self Service Repair program to get parts, tools, and detailed repair manuals for Apple products.

The program started in April in the US with parts and instructions for fixing the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone SE 2022. Apple has now just updated its Self Service Repair program to include parts and repair manuals for all M1 MacBook models, including the 13-inch MacBook Air and the new MacBook Pro models.

The repair manuals are pretty long, and they show you how to fix things like the keyboard keycaps, the screen, the trackpad, and individual module boards like the MagSafe, Touch ID, and USB-C parts that may wear out or stop working over time.

Parts for different kinds of repairs are listed and ready to buy, and the right tools can also be found. The manual tells you what tools and parts you might need to fix the problem. Some parts, like the key caps on a keyboard, can only be used once.

Whether you should buy the parts and fix it yourself or let Apple do it depends on what needs to be fixed and how confident you are in your own repair skills. But if you don't already have a full set of tools, you won't save much money on repairs like fixing the screen if you don't already have them.

People with a broken iPhone or Mac should think about the Self Service Repair program, but it is not for the faint of heart. You take on the risk of the repair, and you're responsible for any other damage that happens by accident while you're working on it. Even if you fix some things yourself, you may still need to contact Apple because these parts may be serialised to the logic board.

Still, it's nice to have the choice and to have repair manuals for a MacBook. It's not a huge step forward, but it is a step in the right direction.