Is your MacBook broken and are you wondering whether it is still under warranty? You can check that in a minute, on the Mac itself or with the serial number on Apple's site. This article explains how to check your MacBook's warranty and AppleCare, the difference between the manufacturer's warranty and your legal rights, and what to do when everything has expired.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. If a repair is still covered by Apple's warranty, we always say so: then Apple or the seller is the first place to go.
Checking on your Mac itself
- Open System Settings and choose General, About.
- Scroll to the coverage section (for example "Limited Warranty" or "AppleCare+").
- Click the info button. You see until when the coverage runs.
Checking with the serial number
Your MacBook no longer starts? The serial number is on the underside of the case in small print, or on the box and the receipt. Enter it on Apple's coverage check page (search for "Apple check coverage"). You then see whether there is still manufacturer's warranty, AppleCare or phone support.
Manufacturer's warranty, AppleCare and legal guarantee
- Apple's limited warranty: one year for manufacturing defects. Damage from a drop or liquid is not covered.
- AppleCare: extra cover you buy at purchase or shortly after, with longer cover and also accidental damage (with a service fee). See AppleCare: what does it cover?.
- Legal guarantee: in the EU you have at least two years with the seller for a product that works as you may expect. In the Netherlands it can be longer for an expensive product. You arrange this with the shop where you bought it, not with Apple.
What is usually not covered?
- Damage from a drop, pressure or spilled drinks (without AppleCare).
- Normal wear, such as a battery with less capacity after years. With AppleCare a battery is covered when capacity drops below a certain limit.
- Damage after a repair by a non-authorised party.
What do you need to make a claim?
Keep your receipt or invoice: it shows the purchase date, which decides how long your legal rights apply. Note the serial number and describe the complaint as precisely as possible. Make a backup, because during a warranty repair Apple may erase or replace the storage.
A known fault on your model
For some models Apple has repair programmes for known faults, even outside warranty. Read Apple repair programmes for your MacBook.
The warranty has ended
Then you pay for the repair yourself. That does not mean you have to accept the first quote. Ask Apple and an independent repairer what the repair costs; the amounts can differ considerably, because Apple often replaces whole parts and a repairer can sometimes repair more precisely. Also read what a MacBook repair costs.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We check with you whether your MacBook is still covered by a warranty or programme. If not, we establish what is wrong and you hear beforehand what a repair costs. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Does a second-hand MacBook still have warranty?
The manufacturer's warranty and AppleCare belong to the serial number and pass to the new owner. The legal guarantee applies with the seller, and not in a private sale.
Do I lose the warranty if I choose an independent repairer?
Damage caused by that repair is not covered by Apple's warranty. The rest of your cover still applies.
Where can I find my receipt?
For online purchases in your account with the shop or in your e-mail. For Apple in your order history.
