Apple finally launches free MacBook Pro video repair scheme

The updated MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

published 23 February 2015

Apple has rolled out a free repair programme for MacBook Pro owners, after some experienced video problems and unexpected system restarts.

The problems have been widely reported on Apple support forums, with one thread dating back to February 2013 - garnering 12,270 replies over 800 web pages.

One disgruntled user became so enraged at the problems he launched a petition on the Change.org site to persuade Apple to address them.

MacBook Pros at highest risk of being affected are the 15in and 17in models sold between February 2011 and December 2013, with Apple vowing to repair any faulty machines for free.

In an advisory notice, Apple said: "An affected MacBook Pro may display one or more of the following symptoms: distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen, no video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on [and the] computer restarts unexpectedly."

The programme has already launched in the US and Canada, and is expected to be available in the UK from 27 February 2015.

Affected users will be able to get their machines fixed either by Apple or one of its Authorised Service Providers.

Furthermore, it's also contacting people who may have already paid for their machine to be repaired to offer them a refund.

Caroline Donnelly is the news and analysis editor of IT Pro and its sister site Cloud Pro, and covers general news, as well as the storage, security, public sector, cloud and Microsoft beats. Caroline has been a member of the IT Pro/Cloud Pro team since March 2012, and has previously worked as a reporter at several B2B publications, including UK channel magazine CRN, and as features writer for local weekly newspaper, The Slough and Windsor Observer. She studied Medical Biochemistry at the University of Leicester and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism at PMA Training in 2006.