Other IPhone Battery Replacement Process At Apple Store?

[Francobarry]

I know you have to book an appointment online for one. I had a battery replacement one for an old iPhone but this was a while back. I remember they ask you if you backed up everything and I believe I said no and I didn't mind if all my information got wiped out. That is very bad right? The thing is I don't pay for icloud is I obviously am using more than the 5gb of icloud that is free. If I want to get a battery replacement for an iPhone at an Apple Store, I should sign up for the icloud storage right for a month? Could I sign up for a month and then cancel it after a month? I just want to back it up for when I do a battery replacement and that is all.


The thing is if your iphone doesn't even turn on or the battery is very poor where when you bring the phone there and show it to them, say the phone lags so much and unusable, would they replace the battery for you? I do believe they ask you to make sure your find iphone is turned off right? So if your iphone has battery issues even staying on, do that before you bring your iphone to the apple store? But does the phone need to at least power on for them to do a diagnostic test? They do that right? Or if they do require it, what if your phone doesn't turn on? Well it would if you connect a charger to it. The other issue is you have a passcode for it, so would they need you to unlock it first for them to check on it before they lock it back?


I know by default, an iPhone resets after 10 tries of a passcode. So once you give the iPhone to someone at apple, they only have 10 tries to unlock it right? The other thing I'm confused is do people bother wiping your phone first before bringing it to apple or they don't do that? If you have it backed up, you back it back at home. But you would prefer it be the way it is right? The other thing is what about your sim card? Do people normally leave that in or you take it out before you give your iphone to them? Could someone at employee do something malicious to your iphone if the sim card is inside but can't get inside your phone because of the passcode?

 

[bob_zz123]

If you go to an Apple Store and ask for a battery replacement they will run a diagnostic on the phone (in front of you) so you will have to unlock your phone for that to be able to take place, but you will be there, supervising the technician who is running the diagnostic. The phone will need to be able to power on, if it doesn't power on (completely black screen) then it is less likely that it is a battery problem and more likely another component (although not impossible).

If you go ahead with a repair, then you will need to disable Find My iPhone. They will switch the phone off, get you to sign the paperwork, take the phone off you and replace the battery in their back of house area. They can put the phone into a special diagnostic mode to confirm the repair worked without needing your passcode. This does not give them access to your data, all it does it boots the phone to the diagnostic mode and lets them run the post-repair test. When you come to collect the phone, they will power it on in front of you and hand it over. Replacement batteries are not shipped to the store fully charged (for safety reasons) so, depending on how quickly you return to the store, you will need to be prepared that your phone will not have 100% charge and you will have to charge it at home.

Obviously it is worth backing your phone up either to a computer or to iCloud. Apple is not responsible for loss of data in case anything goes wrong during the repair process and/or the entire phone has to be replaced (which can happen). You can subscribe to iCloud+ for a month and cancel before renewal. You don't need to wipe the phone beforehand because of the security measures I mentioned in the previous paragraph don't allow the employees access to your phone's data. If you would prefer to wipe the phone, that is your personal choice. Same with the SIM card. If you remove it, be careful not to lose it.

I think this answers all of your questions!

 

[goldmac2006]

If you go to an Apple Store and ask for a battery replacement they will run a diagnostic on the phone (in front of you) so you will have to unlock your phone for that to be able to take place, but you will be there, supervising the technician who is running the diagnostic. The phone will need to be able to power on, if it doesn't power on (completely black screen) then it is less likely that it is a battery problem and more likely another component (although not impossible).

If you go ahead with a repair, then you will need to disable Find My iPhone. They will switch the phone off, get you to sign the paperwork, take the phone off you and replace the battery in their back of house area. They can put the phone into a special diagnostic mode to confirm the repair worked without needing your passcode. This does not give them access to your data, all it does it boots the phone to the diagnostic mode and lets them run the post-repair test. When you come to collect the phone, they will power it on in front of you and hand it over. Replacement batteries are not shipped to the store fully charged (for safety reasons) so, depending on how quickly you return to the store, you will need to be prepared that your phone will not have 100% charge and you will have to charge it at home.

Obviously it is worth backing your phone up either to a computer or to iCloud. Apple is not responsible for loss of data in case anything goes wrong during the repair process and/or the entire phone has to be replaced (which can happen). You can subscribe to iCloud+ for a month and cancel before renewal. You don't need to wipe the phone beforehand because of the security measures I mentioned in the previous paragraph don't allow the employees access to your phone's data. If you would prefer to wipe the phone, that is your personal choice. Same with the SIM card. If you remove it, be careful not to lose it.

I think this answers all of your questions!

As a friend of a former Apple employee, I concur with your point.

They should verify if the battery capacity is below 80% or lower when they use the diagnostic suite software on their device. If you’re experiencing battery life concerns and they suggest it’s too early for a battery replacement, they’ll recommend offering battery life settings and measures to prevent rapid battery health issues. For instance, they might suggest adjusting background app refresh settings to be turned off, display settings, and so on.

As far as I know, if you’re doing this type of repair at the Apple Store, it’s highly recommended to back up your Mac if iCloud isn’t an option for you. Just make sure to do it the night before your appointment at the Genius Bar.

Regarding data loss and similar issues, they’ll need to check if a backup has been done on iCloud or if you can show a screenshot that you’ve done it on Finder on your Mac beforehand. If they ask to verify if you’ve done a backup, you can provide the screenshot. It’s mandatory for users to sign the form because Apple isn’t liable for any data loss if they wipe your iPhone. You’ll also be signing the Genius Bar work authorization on their special iPad mini to consent for the repair to be performed by the Genius. Even if they change settings on your iPhone to improve battery life, you’ll still be signing the Genius Bar consent form to give them permission to treat your iPhone before they make any changes or repairs to it. For goodness sake.

eSIM should still be in your iPhone with the exception of getting a full swap out unit or express replacement from AppleCare

 

[BigBlur]

No need to subscribe to iCloud+ for a month. You can use temporary storage.

Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

When you buy a new iPhone or iPad, you can get temporary iCloud storage to transfer data from your current device to your new one. Learn if you’re eligible, how to create a temporary backup, and how long your temporary backup is available.

support.apple.com

 

[goldmac2006]

No need to subscribe to iCloud+ for a month. You can use temporary storage.

Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

When you buy a new iPhone or iPad, you can get temporary iCloud storage to transfer data from your current device to your new one. Learn if you’re eligible, how to create a temporary backup, and how long your temporary backup is available.

support.apple.com

Can be found in the Transfer or Reset iPhone section.

 

[TheIntruder]

I might be using this service in the near future.

My question is if they’ll force an update on an existing phone to the latest OS?

Device has 18, and 26 is not desired.

 

[Andeddu]

I might be using this service in the near future.

My question is if they’ll force an update on an existing phone to the latest OS?

Device has 18, and 26 is not desired.

Yes. They require the most up-to-date iOS version installed for their diagnostics to be carried out prior to the battery replacement. They’ve always checked my iPhone is on the highest possible iOS version prior to a battery service.

 

[goldmac2006]

I might be using this service in the near future.

My question is if they’ll force an update on an existing phone to the latest OS?

Device has 18, and 26 is not desired.

Yes. They require the most up-to-date iOS version installed for their diagnostics to be carried out prior to the battery replacement. They’ve always checked my iPhone is on the highest possible iOS version prior to a battery service.

Absolutely it’s required. Otherwise if it doesn’t work for their diagnostics software y’all have to update your iPhone iOS version at Apple Store

 

[GoofyCyborg]

I recently had a screen replacement at an Apple Store in the UK. At the time I was running iOS 18.7.1 while the latest version was 26.01. They ran diagnostics and repaired my device, returning it still running 18.7.1.

 

[goldmac2006]

I recently had a screen replacement at an Apple Store in the UK. At the time I was running iOS 18.7.1 while the latest version was 26.01. They ran diagnostics and repaired my device, returning it still running 18.7.1.

Alright so depending on the Apple Genius that is providing the service to the iPhone they should be able to do the diagnostics without having to update the iOS version

 

[bob_zz123]

I think you’re going to need to prepare yourself that the update will happen; if you get it back and it hasn’t then you can consider that a bonus.

 

[Francobarry]

Okay so what if I want to do a battery replacement for both my primary iphone and the backup iphone then? How would I do this? So sign up for up icloud for the 1st month only or cancel after the free 1 month trial... but I would be backing up each phone contents in the backup? So it would be separate or would it be combined? The thing is both of these iphones use the same email for the icloud. So back everything up on the primary iphone. Then do it on the backup iphone? Let say I want to get a battery backup for both iphones. I think I would do my primary iphone at apple store and the backup iphone at a regular shop because my older iphone is very old and apple doesn't seem to have the battery for this.


So can someone explain to me how this would work if I back up both of my iphone to the icloud then? So sign up for icloud? But someone say there is a site where I can use it for free? I don't use icloud and never use it but would want it for the battery replacement of each iphone though in case something goes wrong.


The other thing is this. What happens if the person at the apple store damages your phone though during the battery replacement process? I heard they give you a brand new iPhone right there? The issue though is what if it's an older iphone that they no longer sell? Since they only sell iphone 16 and 17 now at the store. So if you bring an iPhone 14 or iPhone 12 mini and want battery replacement and they mess up the phone, what happens there?

 

[JPack]

Your best bet is to backup to a PC or Mac.

If they damage your phone, they'll get you a refurb replacement. If the store doesn't have it, they can order from the depot. They have models as old as iPhone 8 or 7, maybe even older.

 

[Francobarry]

How do you even back the iPhone to a PC? I thought it has to be backed up to icloud? So you can even back it up to Google drive? I don't know how to do that.


So apple if they damage your phone during battery replacement, they give you a refurbished one right there before you leave? Or you have to wait and they ship you it? So you are telling me they would have an iPhone 14 or iPhone 12 mini even and even older iphones if those have battery replacement available at the apple store? Has anyone here had this happen and can tell me what happened?


But aren't most people not happy about this though? Imagine someone coming in for a screen replacement or battery replacement after 2 years and then this happens and they get a refurbished phone that is in much worst condition than theirs. Let say their phone is in very good condition.

 

[JPack]

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Windows - Apple Support

If you back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you'll have a copy of your information to use in case your device is ever replaced, lost, or damaged.

support.apple.com

Yes, Apple has old stock of many models. Just because they don't sell it doesn't mean they don't carry it.

The refurb units come with a new battery and chassis, so the condition is not poor. The display, logic board, and other parts will be salvaged or new.

You always take a risk servicing your battery. Apple doesn't make guarantees and they make you sign an agreement. They don't upgrade you for free unless you've been severely inconvenienced, e.g. lemon device three times in a row.

 

[Francobarry]

Is it possible to backup your iPhone with icloud but not pay for it? I know icloud only does 5gb for free but you can't backup everything up that is non pictures right with 5gb or less right?


But best to pay for a month of it just for this right? Someone said you could cancel after a month or so?

 

[JPack]

No, you cannot back up more than 5GB and not pay for it. Why would they do that if you can backup to most Macs or PCs?

 

[BigBlur]

Is it possible to backup your iPhone with icloud but not pay for it? I know icloud only does 5gb for free but you can't backup everything up that is non pictures right with 5gb or less right?


But best to pay for a month of it just for this right? Someone said you could cancel after a month or so?

No, you cannot back up more than 5GB and not pay for it. Why would they do that if you can backup to most Macs or PCs?

Yes, you can. Already explained it in posts #4 and #5.

 

[Francobarry]

How do you back up it up on the PC? How would you do this exactly? Do you need apple itunes or something like that?

 

[Ruggy]

I know you have to book an appointment online for one.

You don't have to have an appointment but it means you don't have to hang around waiting for hours.

I had a battery replacement one for an old iPhone but this was a while back. I remember they ask you if you backed up everything and I believe I said no and I didn't mind if all my information got wiped out. That is very bad right?

There are probably lots of things you have forgotten to back up. Like wifi passwords, or app passwords, messages, emails. If you've got good backups and you are sure you haven't forgotten anything then it's not a problsm

The thing is I don't pay for icloud is I obviously am using more than the 5gb of icloud that is free. If I want to get a battery replacement for an iPhone at an Apple Store, I should sign up for the icloud storage right for a month? Could I sign up for a month and then cancel it after a month? I just want to back it up for when I do a battery replacement and that is all.

Yes you can cancel after a month and it isn't very expensive to take a much bigger plan and cancel that after a month.
I think it's $0.99 for 50Gb for a month and $2.99 for 200Gb so it's absolutely worth it.
Make sure you go into settings and select all the things you want to back up and it will take a fairly long time depending on how much and what your wifi is like. If you've never done it then you will at least need to leave it running overnight

The thing is if your iphone doesn't even turn on or the battery is very poor where when you bring the phone there and show it to them, say the phone lags so much and unusable, would they replace the battery for you?

Is that the case? It's likely it's more than just a battery problem. In settings you can find battery health and see how bad it is. In my experience, when you are paying they will replace the battery when you ask them to on a phone although it might well vary from country to country and store to store. They won't on Apple care above certain limit I think about 80%
If it's that bad and it's the battery at fault, they will replace it- if you pay

I do believe they ask you to make sure your find iphone is turned off right?

Yes.

So if your iphone has battery issues even staying on, do that before you bring your iphone to the apple store?

Yes. Or in the store they will ask you to turn it off and sign out of apple if you haven't

But does the phone need to at least power on for them to do a diagnostic test? They do that right?

Yes, they will plug something into it, it will do some magic and tell them what is wrong with it. Probably

Or if they do require it, what if your phone doesn't turn on?

Well it would if you connect a charger to it. The other issue is you have a passcode for it, so would they need you to unlock it first for them to check on it before they lock it back?

It's going to be impossible for them to know what's wrong with it if it doesn't turn on and they may well tell you that you have another issue besides a poor battery. I think it will depend who you are dealing with
If you can get it to power up on charger then that's ok they can test it then.
As you said you will be asked to sign out of Find My but also Apple. You don't want to leave it with anyone signed into Apple anyway for security reasons but you will sign out of everything and your phone will be in 'set up' state when it gets back that is it will say 'hello' and you have to choose a country, language, time zone etc. It will be unlocked when you give it to them and when you get it back.

I know by default, an iPhone resets after 10 tries of a passcode. So once you give the iPhone to someone at apple, they only have 10 tries to unlock it right? The other thing I'm confused is do people bother wiping your phone first before bringing it to apple or they don't do that? If you have it backed up, you back it back at home.

I think I've covered all this. You sign out of Apple so they won't need a password. You don't have to wipe the phone.
You should back it up at home because it will probably take several hours
I was in an Apple store next to a crying woman who everyone was trying to avoid. She had spent 2 days there backing up her phone and complaining about it but it's just physics.
I did the maths and explained to her it would take her about 14 hours to back up all her photos on their wifi. She looked at me like I was an idiot and turned away but at least the staff looked extremely grateful

But you would prefer it be the way it is right? The other thing is what about your sim card? Do people normally leave that in or you take it out before you give your iphone to them?

Could someone at employee do something malicious to your iphone if the sim card is inside but can't get inside your phone because of the passcode?

It's a good point. You can take it out, they won't need it.

 

[Ruggy]

How do you even back the iPhone to a PC? I thought it has to be backed up to icloud? So you can even back it up to Google drive? I don't know how to do that.

I can't remember how to do it, it's been so long but you just need a compatible cable to plug into your phone and the computer. It must be a 'data' cable though- and most are- but some cables are charge only.
I think you just follow the onscreen instructions- maybe someone else will jump in. I think you can do it in Finder or Itunes.
You can back up to google if you want to give all your data to google, but you can't restore directly from Google you must download to the computer first.

So apple if they damage your phone during battery replacement, they give you a refurbished one right there before you leave? Or you have to wait and they ship you it? So you are telling me they would have an iPhone 14 or iPhone 12 mini even and even older iphones if those have battery replacement available at the apple store? Has anyone here had this happen and can tell me what happened?


But aren't most people not happy about this though? Imagine someone coming in for a screen replacement or battery replacement after 2 years and then this happens and they get a refurbished phone that is in much worst condition than theirs. Let say their phone is in very good condition.

 

[Ruggy]

Okay so what if I want to do a battery replacement for both my primary iphone and the backup iphone then? How would I do this? So sign up for up icloud for the 1st month only or cancel after the free 1 month trial... but I would be backing up each phone contents in the backup? So it would be separate or would it be combined?

If you want them to be separate then each needs a separate Apple account.
The simplest way for you would be to pay for icloud for a month with a big enough plan to cover both, set up 'family sharing' which is easy and free to do on your phone and then both phones will share the icloud plan but remain separate.

The thing is both of these iphones use the same email for the icloud. So back everything up on the primary iphone. Then do it on the backup iphone?

That's very easy to change. I don't think the email matters though just the Apple account identity. If you back them both up to the same Apple account they will merge

Let say I want to get a battery backup for both iphones. I think I would do my primary iphone at apple store and the backup iphone at a regular shop because my older iphone is very old and apple doesn't seem to have the battery for this.

I doubt the shop will either then but good luck

So can someone explain to me how this would work if I back up both of my iphone to the icloud then? So sign up for icloud? But someone say there is a site where I can use it for free? I don't use icloud and never use it but would want it for the battery replacement of each iphone though in case something goes wrong.


The other thing is this. What happens if the person at the apple store damages your phone though during the battery replacement process? I heard they give you a brand new iPhone right there?

The will probably repair it rather than giving you a new phone. They will check it over and make sure everything is working properly before they give it back so it's extremely unlikely they will hand you a damaged phone

The issue though is what if it's an older iphone that they no longer sell? Since they only sell iphone 16 and 17 now at the store. So if you bring an iPhone 14 or iPhone 12 mini and want battery replacement and they mess up the phone, what happens there?

 

[Francobarry]

You don't have to have an appointment but it means you don't have to hang around waiting for hours.

There are probably lots of things you have forgotten to back up. Like wifi passwords, or app passwords, messages, emails. If you've got good backups and you are sure you haven't forgotten anything then it's not a problsm

Yes you can cancel after a month and it isn't very expensive to take a much bigger plan and cancel that after a month.
I think it's $0.99 for 50Gb for a month and $2.99 for 200Gb so it's absolutely worth it.
Make sure you go into settings and select all the things you want to back up and it will take a fairly long time depending on how much and what your wifi is like. If you've never done it then you will at least need to leave it running overnight

Is that the case? It's likely it's more than just a battery problem. In settings you can find battery health and see how bad it is. In my experience, when you are paying they will replace the battery when you ask them to on a phone although it might well vary from country to country and store to store. They won't on Apple care above certain limit I think about 80%
If it's that bad and it's the battery at fault, they will replace it- if you pay

Yes.

Yes. Or in the store they will ask you to turn it off and sign out of apple if you haven't

Yes, they will plug something into it, it will do some magic and tell them what is wrong with it. Probably


It's going to be impossible for them to know what's wrong with it if it doesn't turn on and they may well tell you that you have another issue besides a poor battery. I think it will depend who you are dealing with
If you can get it to power up on charger then that's ok they can test it then.
As you said you will be asked to sign out of Find My but also Apple. You don't want to leave it with anyone signed into Apple anyway for security reasons but you will sign out of everything and your phone will be in 'set up' state when it gets back that is it will say 'hello' and you have to choose a country, language, time zone etc. It will be unlocked when you give it to them and when you get it back.

I think I've covered all this. You sign out of Apple so they won't need a password. You don't have to wipe the phone.
You should back it up at home because it will probably take several hours
I was in an Apple store next to a crying woman who everyone was trying to avoid. She had spent 2 days there backing up her phone and complaining about it but it's just physics.
I did the maths and explained to her it would take her about 14 hours to back up all her photos on their wifi. She looked at me like I was an idiot and turned away but at least the staff looked extremely grateful


It's a good point. You can take it out, they won't need it.

Okay so a really long post and I like that. So if I'm using over 50gb now, then I need to do the 200gb plan then. Then I can use it for a month and then cancel it just for this.


So let say you have 50gb of data. How long would that take to backup then? So that way I can calculate how long it takes for each 10gb.


My primary iphone is the one that I will most likely get a battery replacement as the other older iphone I have won't have the battery at Apple because it's too old of a phone. My current battery is about 80% maximum capacity. That is when I should replace the battery right? I definitely noticed the battery goes down much faster than normal. I noticed when I'm on data and youtubing on data, it goes down extremely fast. Much more so than when the phone was new. So if a phone has lag issues, then they might not even replace the battery?


What do you mean signed into apple for security reasons? If you turn find my iPhone off before you get there and then meet with the person who works there, when you give the the phone to do that test, does your phone need to be unlocked or not? The thing is as long as your phone is locked when you give it to them before you leave and come back later, isn't it fine for security reasons? Since 10 wrong passcodes means it would reset it? I'm confused with what you mean by you will sign out of everything.


So do most people take out the sim card before they go there? The issue though is wouldn't that be inconvenient when you go there and when you leave if you don't have the sim card with you once the worker returns you your phone? So you can't even use any data though? When would you even put back the sim card? Right there or when you go back home?

 

[Francobarry]

I can't remember how to do it, it's been so long but you just need a compatible cable to plug into your phone and the computer. It must be a 'data' cable though- and most are- but some cables are charge only.
I think you just follow the onscreen instructions- maybe someone else will jump in. I think you can do it in Finder or Itunes.
You can back up to google if you want to give all your data to google, but you can't restore directly from Google you must download to the computer first.

Okay so this is complicated then. I'm not sure if I even have that cable.


But for backing up, most people back it up to icloud right as that is the most simple way?

 

[Francobarry]

If you want them to be separate then each needs a separate Apple account.
The simplest way for you would be to pay for icloud for a month with a big enough plan to cover both, set up 'family sharing' which is easy and free to do on your phone and then both phones will share the icloud plan but remain separate.

That's very easy to change. I don't think the email matters though just the Apple account identity. If you back them both up to the same Apple account they will merge

I doubt the shop will either then but good luck


The will probably repair it rather than giving you a new phone. They will check it over and make sure everything is working properly before they give it back so it's extremely unlikely they will hand you a damaged phone

I am pretty sure both my iphones are connected to one google account. Can I change my older iphone to another Google account that I have then? Or that is not preferred?


So if someone else has an iPhone that you know that already pays for icloud, I can use that as well assuming that person didn't use up all the 200gb then? The thing that is confusing here is backing up 2 different iphones for this. The main one I want to backup is my primary phone. The other is my other older phone.


The thing I don't get is if you backup everything to your free trial 200gb icloud, well when you back it up later on, you have to choose which backup you are choosing right if you do have to backup your primary phone or the other phone if data is lost during this process? Main thing I want is to backup on the primary iphone where I will do the battery replacement at apple. The other older iphone SE 1st generation that I have, I probably have to find a repair shop for replacement battery. What about the sim card? Do most people leave that in your phone when you give it to the apple store or repair shop when replacing the battery? The issue is if you take it out, well it isn't that convenient since you can't use your data when going there and showing them your screen and all that? I mean it would seem awkward to right before you give your phone to the apple employee, the phone and you take out the sim right before that. You need to have that thing to remove and put in in esim so it would seem inconvenient?