Apple has introduced a change that will make repairing iPhones easier and more affordable. As part of an expansion of its iPhone Self-Repair program, starting this fall, Apple will let you use genuine used parts to complete your repairs. Previously, the company only allowed people to perform repairs themselves using new spare parts.
While the move comes after Oregon passed right-to-repair legislation, Apple has long been making its devices more repairable. TechCrunch reports that this particular fix has been in development for two years. The bigger impact of this move is that you will no longer need to purchase spare parts exclusively from Apple. If you're a repair expert or DIY enthusiast, you can theoretically replace iPhone parts yourself, as long as you have the tools and spare parts needed for the job.
While Apple didn't specify which iPhones are eligible for repair using used parts, TechCrunch reports that the repair is limited to the iPhone 15 series. Once these parts are installed on the iPhone, they are calibrated to the device through a process called "part pairing." If the spare part calibration is successful, there is no need to worry. If not, you will see a notification that your iPhone does not have genuine parts and may experience functionality issues.
Another big change as part of this update is that you don't need to provide your iPhone's serial number to order parts from Apple. This means that a repair shop near you can stock spare parts based on demand, rather than providing an iPhone serial number with every order. The only exception is logic board repair - for this the repairman still needs to send the iPhone's serial number to Apple when ordering spare parts.
In terms of security, Apple will also apply the activation lock found on stolen devices to various parts of the iPhone. This means that the parts in a stolen or lost iPhone will be of no use, which prevents thieves from stealing iPhones to obtain parts. If your iPhone has been repaired, you'll be able to check its parts and service history in Settings. Starting this fall, you can also see if your iPhone has been repaired with new or used parts, according to Apple.
