How to claim an Apple warranty: what is covered and what is not

Apple products come with a one-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects, plus 90 days of complimentary telephone support. AppleCare+ is a separate paid plan that extends coverage and adds accidental damage protection with a per-incident fee.

Most people contacting Apple support are actually asking one of two questions: is this a defect or damage, and how much will it cost if it is damage.

Check your coverage first

Before anything else, go to Apple’s coverage checker and enter your serial number. It tells you your warranty status, your AppleCare+ status if any, and your expiry date. This takes thirty seconds and determines the entire conversation you are about to have.

Find the serial number in Settings, General, About on iOS, or under the Apple menu, About This Mac on a Mac.

What the limited warranty covers

Defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. In practice: display failures that are not impact-related, unresponsive buttons, charging faults with no visible port damage, unexpected shutdowns, speaker or microphone failures, and swollen batteries.

Batteries are worth a specific note. Apple’s warranty covers a battery that has fallen below a stated percentage of original capacity within the warranty period. Normal gradual capacity loss above that threshold is considered expected wear, not a defect.

Booking service

Apple Support app or getsupport.apple.com. Pick the device, describe the issue, and choose between mail-in, a Genius Bar appointment, or an Apple Authorised Service Provider. Booking online first is faster than walking in.

Genius Bar. Book ahead. Bring the device, your Apple Account credentials, and proof of purchase if the serial number lookup shows an unexpected date.

Mail-in. Apple sends packaging. Back up first and turn off Find My, because Apple cannot service an activation-locked device and will return it unrepaired.

Denial grounds you should know about

Apple’s most common denial reasons are liquid contact, unauthorised modification, and what is classed as catastrophic damage. Each has a nuance.

Liquid contact. Apple devices contain liquid contact indicators that change colour on exposure. A technician checking them will treat a triggered indicator as conclusive. If you believe it triggered from humidity rather than immersion, say so and ask for the finding in writing.

Third-party parts. If a previous repair used non-Apple parts, Apple may decline to service the device or may service it while excluding the affected component. Note that under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the presence of a third-party part is not on its own grounds to deny an unrelated repair, though in practice you may need to escalate to get that recognised.

Catastrophic damage. Where the enclosure is bent or the board is damaged, Apple typically offers a replacement at a set out-of-warranty price rather than a repair.

Out-of-warranty prices are published

This is an underused resource. Apple publishes repair pricing by model for common repairs, so you can find the cost of a screen or battery replacement for your exact device before you book anything.

Get that number first. It tells you whether to pursue the warranty argument, pay the out-of-warranty price, use an independent shop, or replace the device.

If you disagree with the outcome

Ask for the decision to be reviewed by Apple’s customer relations team rather than repeating the request to the same technician. Be specific about what you are disputing and why, and reference your case number.

Beyond that, your state attorney general’s consumer protection office and small claims court are the standard routes. Both are more effective than repeated support calls once a technical decision has been made twice.