iPhones break. The screen might smash when information technology slips from your mitt; yous might drib information technology in the toilet (if and so, accept a look at How to fix a wet iPhone); or the battery might simply start draining more than rapidly than you'd similar. It'southward happened to the best of united states of america.

Whatever has gone wrong with your device, the big question is this: "Will Apple tree replace my cleaved iPhone for complimentary?"

In this commodity we help you to observe out. We explore the insurance and replacement programmes that are available, your legal rights, and the various options you've got for each kind of impairment or mishap that may have afflicted your smartphone.

Y'all may also have heard that Apple doesn't allow third-party iPhone repairs - which may anger you lot if you lot wish to keep the toll of a repair down to a minimum. In this article nosotros mention two cases where Apple's been seen to deter customers from tertiary political party replacements: read more virtually the problems relating to screen replacements and battery replacements below.

However, Apple'due south stance on third-party fixes has changed over time, and it has begun to let more third-party stores mend iPhones, even providing the parts and grooming necessary. But these repairs could still invalidate your warranty or hateful that your iPhone doesn't qualify for a replacement should it go function of an Apple repair programme at a afterwards date.

If you'd adopt a DIY approach, have a look at our guide to the All-time tools for repairing & upgrading Macs & iPhones.

Should Apple replace or mend your iPhone?

It's really quite unusual to expect a visitor to supersede a production when you lot interruption it. Simply when it comes to the iPhone, people seem to have high expectations, either because they spent so much on the telephone in the commencement place, or considering when you sign upwards to a contract for a year or 2 you look the phone to terminal the journeying.

Your likelihood of getting a replacement iPhone - or at least a fix - depends in part on whether your iPhone is in warranty, is part of a remember, or if you have insurance.

Apple offers its ain insurance chosen AppleCare+ in the UK and U.s.. Apple tree's coverage costs from £79/$79 for the iPhone SE to £199/$199 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max for two years of cover. If you have this insurance Apple volition replace or set an iPhone that has suffered accidental impairment. Y'all only get ii chances for a replacement - and there's a chance you'll be charged an excess fee too - £25/$29 for screen damage and £79/$99 for other damage. (And in the US $149 for theft and loss).

You don't have to pay Apple for insurance though. Yous may already have insurance that covers your belongings, or y'all may cull to take out phone insurance from some other provider. For more information nearly whether to take out iPhone insurance read our article: Is iPhone insurance worth it? We also help you decide which iPhone insurance policy is best for yous and we likewise compare AppleCare+ vs telephone insurance to discover out which is better.

Even without insurance there is still a chance that the problem y'all are encountering is commonplace. In that case in that location is a chance that Apple has a gratis repair or replacement program. Take a look in our Apple replacement programmes commodity to encounter if your consequence is covered by that.

But what if your iPhone isn't part of one of these replacement programmes, and you lot haven't got insurance or warranty coverage? Can you expect Apple to replace your iPhone for free? To answer this question there are a few other things that demand to exist considered.

What are your legal rights?

First things first: if you've just had your iPhone for a yr or 2 there are really laws that may mean Apple, or the company that sold it to y'all, have to replace your iPhone.

If you're going to exercise your consumer rights it'south worth giving Apple tree'south warranty conditions the once-over, along with the legal requirements Apple would have to abide by in the United kingdom. (In that location are likely to be similar rules in the U.s. and elsewhere).

How to get a broken iPhone repaired or replaced: AppleCare+

What does Apple tree's warranty include?

Every iPhone comes with complimentary telephone technical support for xc days from your iPhone buy and a ane-year express warranty.

Specifically, Apple'southward warranty covers the post-obit: "Apple tree warrants the Apple tree-branded iPhone, iPad or iPod hardware product and accessories contained in the original packaging ("Apple tree Product") against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accord with Apple's published guidelines for a period of 1 (one) Year from the appointment of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Flow"). Apple's published guidelines include but are not express to information independent in technical specifications, user manuals and service communications."

See How to get a Mac repaired.

What doesn't the warranty include?

While the Apple warranty means that your iPhone is covered for a year from the twenty-four hour period you buy it, Apple states that its Limited Warranty for iPhone excludes coverage for "damage resulting from accident, disassembly, unauthorized service and unauthorized modifications." The warranty may too exist void if the Liquid Contact indicator in your product has been triggered.

Apple states in the legal document that the warranty does not apply in the following cases: "(a) to consumable parts, such every bit batteries or protective coatings that are designed to diminish over fourth dimension, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic impairment, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports; (c) to damage caused by use with another product; (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, burn, convulsion or other external cause; (e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Production exterior Apple's published guidelines; (f) to damage acquired by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is non a representative of Apple tree or an Apple Authorized Service Provider ("AASP"); (g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or adequacy without the written permission of Apple; (h) to defects acquired by normal wearable and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product, or (i) if whatsoever serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Production."

However, Apple does note that even an iPhone that is ineligible for warranty service may exist eligible for Out-of-Warranty (OOW) Service (for a price). That is as long every bit it meets the requirements of the OOW service. Certain damage is ineligible for OOW service notes Apple, including: "Catastrophic harm, such as the device separating into multiple pieces, and inoperability acquired past unauthorized modifications."

What does AppleCare+ include?

Apple sells AppleCare+ protection to extend the warranty support that comes with your iPhone to two years. You lot have to purchase this within threescore days of your iPhone purchase.

AppleCare+ provides expert technical support, upwardly to two years of additional hardware coverage and upwards to two incidents of accidental impairment coverage in each of the two years. In add-on to existence able to take the iPhone into an Apple tree Store to be stock-still or replaced, nether AppleCare+ information technology is possible to become an express replacement service.

The cost of AppleCare+ varies depending on which model of iPhone you've got, from £79/$79 for the iPhone SE to £199/$199 for the iPhone 12 Pro or Max.

Nether AppleCare+ you lot are able to drop or accidentally damage your iPhone and get it replaced twice in each of the ii years. In that location may be other insurance plans that will replace your iPhone more times should anything happen to it so information technology is worth shopping around. Read: How to option the best iPhone insurance.

With AppleCare+ you also get additional hardware coverage that covers the battery (battery depletion of fifty per cent or more than from original specification) and the included USB cable and power adapter that came with the iPhone.

Also worth because: you may not even demand the 2nd twelvemonth'south additional coverage. Apple emphasises that its I-Year Limited Warranty and AppleCare+ Protection Plan benefits are in addition to rights provided under consumer police. (This is because Apple has got in trouble with various courts effectually Europe for selling two years of coverage without making information technology clear to customers that at that place are local laws that may give them sufficient coverage anyway).

We examine the question of What is AppleCare Plus, and is information technology worth it? in a separate article.

What practise consumer laws say well-nigh broken iPhones?

Apple tree notes the following on its website: "When you purchase Apple products, European Matrimony consumer law provides statutory warranty rights in improver to the coverage you receive from the Apple One-Twelvemonth Limited Warranty and the optional AppleCare Protection Program."

This European union Consumer Police ensures that you will receive free repair or replacement coverage for defects present when you lot take delivery (Apple's warranty includes defects arising after you took delivery). The key message here is that if a defect was present when you took delivery (such equally a faulty antenna) the device should be repaired or replaced. Replacement of a device that had a mistake when yous bought is not limited to ii years; it could exist even longer. Yous're start bespeak of contact should be the seller, which may or may not exist Apple tree.

Consumers in the UK have the right to enquire the retailer to replace or repair any faulty detail for up to half-dozen years later on an item is purchased (five years in Scotland). The only drag is you lot may take to prove that the fault was present when yous bought the detail and not something that was the result of normal wear and tear.

UK Specific information about the Sales of Appurtenances Act from 1979 tin can be plant here. The act indicates that consumers tin can expect that goods will be: every bit described; of a satisfactory quality; fit for the purpose made known.

This terminal clause is pregnant if your error wasn't at that place when you bought the iPhone. Chances are you bought your iPhone on a contract, if this is the case you lot could go back to your mobile network provider and fence that the iPhone failed to meet the terms of the contract due to the fault.

You may fifty-fifty exist able to use the Auction of Appurtenances Act to debate that issues arising from wearable and tear were due to a manufacturing defect, although to exercise this you may need an proficient's written report from an engineer or a mechanic.

The main problem with the Auction of Goods Act is it's much harder to get a refund subsequently the first half-dozen months. During the beginning six months after the buy, it is up to the retailer to show that any fault is down to the actions or misuse of the heir-apparent, rather than an inherent fault in the product. After the showtime six months it'due south up to the buyer to bear witness that the fault was pre-existing.

However, equally well every bit the Auction of Goods Deed there is likewise an European union directive that gives consumers actress rights. EU directive 1999/44/EC states that: "A ii-yr guarantee applies for the auction of all consumer goods everywhere in the EU. In some countries, this may be more than, and some manufacturers too choose to offer a longer warranty period."

Crucially a key point in this directive is that it doesn't require the buyer to prove the fault is inherent in the product and non down to their actions, unlike the Sale of Goods Act. There is more info here, plus Which? has loads of information about what to do if you want to return faulty goods.

Out-of-warranty iPhones

Apple offers a service for out-of-warranty iPhones then while it is unlikely you can get it stock-still for free you lot may be able to get a replacement for a knocked down price. In its out-of-warranty terms Apple states: "Certain damage is ineligible for out-of-warranty service, including catastrophic damage, such as the device separating into multiple pieces, and inoperability caused by unauthorised modifications. Even so, an iPhone that has failed due to contact with liquid may be eligible for out-of-warranty service."

In other words if y'all driblet your iPhone and it smashes into a g pieces Apple isn't going to aid you, nor will information technology aid if you have drowned it in tea, however, if you turn upwardly with a broken, out-of-warranty iPhone Apple may be able to offer you a replacement, at a price. For more information read: Apple repairs - price guide and how long repairs take.

However, yous may still exist able to utilize one of the laws described higher up. For case, if your iPhone is not "fit for purpose" but you withal take a year left on your contract go to your network and quote the Sales of Goods Act at them. If you believe that a fault in manufacturing has caused an issue that you are only experiencing at present you may need to get help to prove this is the instance, but yous don't need to worry if it'south been longer than two years since you bought the device.

How can I get Apple tree to supplant my iPhone?

And so, assuming you can use one of the reasons above to go Apple to replace or repair your phone, what do you lot need to do and what can you expect to happen?

It is our experience that returning an iPhone to Apple for a replacement is a stress-free experience and you lot may not need to follow any of the advice in a higher place.

On the next page nosotros will wait into what happens side by side.

Will Apple replace my broken iPhone: iPhone 6s Plus

Next section: What happened to your iPhone?