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Apple Provides Free Fix for MacBook Pro Video Problems

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Apple will fix your MacBook Pro video problems free of charge even if you are out of warranty, or refund the cost of a repair that you paid to fix this problem on MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro Retina notebooks sold in the last three years.

The announcement comes after petitions and a class action lawsuit lambasted Apple for failing to acknowledge widespread problems with the 2011 to 2013 MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro Retina models that caused a variety of video issues.

The new “MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues” covers six specific models spanning 2011 to 2013 and aims to fix three specific problems.

Up until this announcement many user paid out-of-pocket or were told that the problem was related to bad third-party upgrades like RAM. When we attempted to get a 2011 MacBook Pro fixed, a Genius stated that there was nothing that could be done because there was third-party RAM in the system.

Apple describes three main symptoms of the Macbook Pro video problems, one which you can see in the video above. Some users already paid for multiple replacement parts, which Apple will now be refunding.

  • Distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen
  • No video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on
  • Computer restarts unexpectedly

The first two are fairly specific, while the third is the issue that we experienced on a 15-inch Macbook Pro Late 20-11 model.

How to Check if Apple Will Fix Your Macbook Pro Video Issues Free

Under the new program if your computer experiences these issues Apple will fix it free of charge. If you don’t know which year your Macbook Pro is from, you can check that quickly from the MacBook Pro to make sure it is one of the affected models.

Click on the Apple Logo in the upper right corner -> Click on About this Mac -> On the next screen you may need to click on More Info or the Serial number may be present. Click on the Serial Number and Copy it. Paste the Serial Number into the Apple Warranty Coverage Checker.

Check to see if Apple offers a free fix for your MacBook Pro video problems.

Check to see if Apple offers a free fix for your MacBook Pro video problems.

You will see an image like the one above, showing your Macbook Pro model number. In our case the information on this page shows an affected model, but no specific information about the repair process. Don’t be alarmed. Make sure the full model name including late or early and the year matches the list below.

  • MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)
  • MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011)
  • MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013)

If you see that your model matches the models above, and you are experiencing the video problems described at the start of this article you can contact Apple for a repair. If you are not running into any MacBook Pro video problems on a 2011 to 2013 model you don’t need to do anything at this time. The repair service will be available until February 27, 2016 or three years after the date of sale on the Macbook Pro, which ever is longer.

Free Macbook Pro Video Problem Repair Process

You can take your MacBook Pro to an Apple Store or authorized Apple Service Provider or call and have Apple send you a box to ship it back to Apple with a pre-paid label.

If you don’t have an Apple Store nearby, you can check to see if there is an Apple Authorized Service Provider using this tool. Click on Service, enter a location and choose Mac. There are often authorized repair locations much closer than an Apple Store. You don’t need to take the Macbook Pro to an Apple Store for the free repair, but it does need to be an authorized provider.

Before you go to a store or mail your Macbook Pro in, make sure you backup. You can use this guide to make a Time Machine Backup of your MacBook Pro.

Apple promises a free fix for MacBook Pro video problems and MacBook Pro Retina video issues.

Apple promises a free fix for MacBook Pro video problems and MacBook Pro Retina video issues.

Once in an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider a technician will need to run diagnostics to see if your computer is affected by the video problems before any repairs can be made. The MacBook Pro must otherwise be in working condition. If a screen is broken or another major problem is evident it will need to be fixed at your expense before Apple fixes the video problems.

If Apple identifies the issue is present, they will provide an estimate and call you when your Macbook Pro is fixed. This may not be an immediate fix while you wait. if you choose to mail in the process should take about a week from the time your MacBook Pro arrives at the Apple facility. You can expect to be without your computer for that amount of time, plus shipping both ways.

Refunds for MacBook Pro Video Problem Repairs

For users who already paid to have the MacBook Pro video issues fixed, some multiple times, Apple is working on a refund. The company states that it is contacting customers who paid for a repair with Apple or with an Apple Authorized Service provider.

If you have not yet heard from Apple, you can contact the company to start a discussion about your repair and find out if it is covered under the refund process. Use the link at the bottom of the MacBook Pro video problems page to include that information in your request.

For users who moved after a repair or for who Apple might not have a current address on file, it may be a good idea to contact the company through this method as well.

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