Apple to Allow Used Genuine Parts in iPhone Repairs, Easing Parts-Pairing Restrictions
Apple says select iPhone models will support used genuine parts—including biometric sensors—with full functionality this fall, a shift that follows new state right-to-repair laws targeting parts pairing.
Companies: Apple
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Policy Change
Apple announced it will allow customers and repair technicians to fix select iPhone models using used genuine Apple parts, rather than requiring new authorized components. The company says the rollout will begin this fall, though it has not specified which iPhone models will be covered.
Under Apple's previous system, swapping components like the selfie camera, biometric sensors, or display with a used part—even an authentic Apple part pulled from another device—could trigger functionality restrictions or warning messages. Repair site iFixit documented this behavior on the iPhone 15. Apple and other manufacturers have described this "parts pairing" practice as a way to combat theft and track inventory, but repair advocates argue it primarily blocks cost-effective repairs and discourages reuse of salvageable components.
What's Changing
Apple says calibration for genuine parts—new or used—will now happen on-device after installation, and future iPhone models will support used biometric sensors. The company also said customers and repair providers will no longer need to submit a device's serial number when ordering parts from its Self Service Repair Store, except when replacing the logic board.
Apple attributed the change to two years of engineering work aimed at balancing security with support for reused parts. The company said its Activation Lock feature will remain in place: if a part is sourced from a device that still has Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be restricted.
Context and Reaction
The change follows Oregon's passage of the first US state law banning parts pairing, with Colorado considering similar legislation. Nathan Proctor, a senior director at the nonprofit PIRG, said the shift reflects the impact of state-level right-to-repair advocacy rather than a voluntary initiative. Not all reaction was positive: refurbisher John Bumstead said Apple's continued use of Activation Lock could still block reuse of parts from devices where a previous owner failed to sign out, potentially contributing to electronic waste.
Originally reported by tavily, August 15, 2026.
This article was analyzed and rewritten by an AI system from publicly available reporting. See original source above for the full story.