The release of macOS 11.2.1 was recently known with important fixes at the security level, but also for battery problems on some MacBooks. However, it seems that some of these computers could not see this fault solved, since it could have affected the device’s battery and that is why Apple has officially announced that it has opened a free repair program for those affected users. Below we tell you what conditions you must meet to be able to benefit from it, since it is only for some specific models and that are affected by that failure.
What MacBook go into this program?
Owners of a 2016 or 2017 MacBook Pro who are experiencing a problem with their computer’s battery, making it impossible to charge beyond 1% of the device . This under normal circumstances would be fixed with a MacBook battery calibration, but this doesn’t seem to fix anything. The first thing you should do before this situation is to update the computer software to macOS 11.2.1, a version in which internal corrections have been added that are directly related to this problem. If, despite having updated, you still have problems with your battery, your computer will meet the requirements for Apple to replace the battery for free, a process that in normal conditions of 139 or 209 euros.
We recall that the ‘Pro’ laptop models of these years are the following:
- MacBook Pro 2016:
- 13-inch with two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- 13-inch with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
- 15 inch
- MacBook Pro 2017:
- 13-inch with two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- 13-inch with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
- 15 inch
How to apply to Apple for your entry into the program
As we said, it has been Apple itself that has officially announced the opening of this repair program that, for now, has no end date, although we recommend that you contact the technical service as soon as possible. Well, how can you get in touch with this service? Well, you have several ways and you can request it from the Apple support website , from the Support app available in the iOS and iPadOS App Store or even by phone with the customer service of your country (in Spain 900 150 503 is free).
It should be noted that if you do not have an Apple Store nearby you can request that the device be collected at your home and once it is repaired they send it to you, which normally has a cost of 12.10 euros for shipping costs, but that for occasions such as this will not be required to pay it. In any case, you can check if there is any SAT (Authorized Technical Service) that may be near you and access the repair with the same conditions as in an Apple Store. The procedure to make an appointment in one of these establishments is the same as to do it in an Apple Store.
Of course, we insist on the importance that it is one of the computers described that you have affected and that you have previously updated the software. These are the essential requirements that Apple asks for in order to access this program. If you have any other computer model affected by a similar problem and the calibration methods do not work, you will probably have to bear the cost of the battery replacement.