Repair: macOS Tahoe gets calibration assistant for spare parts
Apple already has a Repair Assistant on the iPhone that can be used to connect components to the system. This is now coming to the Mac.
macOS 26 aka Tahoe.
(Image: Apple)
With today's release of macOS 26 alias Tahoe, Apple will launch a new repair assistant for the Mac. This makes it possible to calibrate various hardware components and sensors for the respective computer – particularly important when installing spare parts. Apple therefore allows independent repair stores to install parts from other computers – the same applies to users of the "Self Service Repair" program, through which Apple also sells spare parts directly and provides instructions for repairs.
Touch ID and sensors
Apple released the Repair Assistant for the iPhone a year ago. This allows functions such as True Tone, automatic brightness, TrueDepth camera and battery to be calibrated for the device. As with iOS, the Repair Assistant can be found in the system settings under General and "About this Mac". However, it is only listed if there really are new parts in the Mac. The reuse options include the Touch ID sensor and screen lid sensor.
The point is not to adapt third-party parts to the Mac. Instead, the aim is to use original Apple spare parts that have already been used or previously replaced without being calibrated so that, according to Apple, they demonstrate "the best possible reliability and security". Touch ID sensors are protected by an activation lock, so this must be deactivated in advance if the previous owner has activated it. Apple also announced that MobileSentrix in the USA and Mobileparts.shop in Europe are available for independent repair stores with Apple parts.
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Parts pairing requires calibration
Apple had already started so-called parts pairing some time ago and emphasized that this was for safety reasons. Through "parts pairing", Apple devices only recognize spare parts with certain serial numbers as legitimate components. Components from other manufacturers also work – except for Face ID and Touch ID – but the operating system may then display a warning message. Apple has gradually introduced this parts linking for more and more components, including the display and camera system, in addition to the battery.
Apple can thus ensure that the customer receives the "best possible quality" for original parts, it was said. People would probably think that Apple was blocking parts from third-party manufacturers – "which we are not doing", said hardware boss John Ternus last spring. Parts pairing in turn requires calibration.
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