Official iPhone, iPad, Mac Apple repair videos leaked on YouTube

AppleInsider

A collection of videos used internally by Apple to demonstrate how to repair iPhones, iPads and MacBooks have leaked online, with one YouTube user hosting 11 videos showing the processes performed by staff to solve a variety of hardware issues.

Uploaded to a channel owned by user "Arman Haji" approximately one month ago, the 11 videos are all named with the prefix "Apple Internal," and depict how Apple's service teams can make repairs to devices. All of the clips feature an instructor talking to the camera, explaining each step of Apple's repair procedures, including the use of tools normally only available to Apple Support and Apple Authorized Service Providers.

AppleInsider can confirm the legitimacy of the videos on the account.

The uploader claims the videos were initially leaked by another person via Twitter, reports Motherboard, and that they downloaded them "out of curiosity" before the leaker's account was shut down.

"When his account got suspended, I wanted people to still see them," said the poster. "So I uploaded them to YouTube."

The iPhone X features in the majority of the videos, alongside clips for the iMac Pro, MacBook Pro, and MacBook pro. The most popular video shows how to replace the iPhone X's battery, achieving over 30,000 views at the time of publication.

Due to Apple's copyright over the videos, and the recent reporting of their existence, it is likely Apple will be taking steps for them to be removed from YouTube. It is also plausible the account holder could face further legal issues with the company, if Apple decides to take things further.

Despite the rise of do-it-yourself repairs, such as those championed by iFixit and other firms, Apple is generally against users performing maintenance on their devices or taking them to unofficial repair ships, preferring instead for them to go through official repair channels. In some cases, repairs can result in unexpected issues that require more work on their devices, such as reports in April where iPhone users with aftermarket displays were found to have lost touch functionality on their devices.

macseeker

Thanks. I've got them downloaded in case if they disappear.

nunzy

This IP has been stolen from Apple. That is just plain wrong.

alanh

I wonder if there is a repair ship coming to a port near me any time soon..... 🤣😂🤣🤪

jbishop1039

These are fairly similar to the ACiT & ACMT training videos, so hopefully that's a sign that the 2018 training material will be released soon.

macpro

nunzy said:

This IP has been stolen from Apple. That is just plain wrong.

I agree and posting them seems wrong too.

dewme

It's too bad that Google cannot be held liable for IP theft that occurs on their platform. At some level they are complicit and should be held accountable.  

spamsandwich

Some of them are interesting, but what's more interesting is that YouTube has not yet received a legal demand to remove them and turn over the location and information of the person who posted them. I expect a lawsuit will be filed.

cashxx

Don't get why Apple has to make things so difficult to repair!

leighc-sfo

And...they're gone. I guess AppleInsider gave them too much attention.  

jakethesnake

macseeker said:

Thanks. I've got them downloaded in case if they disappear.

Got em in Google Drive or something?

shparmy

macseeker said:

Thanks. I've got them downloaded in case if they disappear.

Yoooo, can we get a copy?!

sina

d

macseeker said:

Thanks. I've got them downloaded in case if they disappear.

They're removed man, would you upload them somewhere so we could watch 'em, appreciate it.

blackhipster

Sina said:

d

macseeker said:

Thanks. I've got them downloaded in case if they disappear.

They're removed man, would you upload them somewhere so we could watch 'em, appreciate it.

Would love it too!!

ronaldpoi

Can someone upload them somewhere as a torrent or something? Page is (of course) gone now.

airnerd

I understand that Apple wants to control their product so they can provide a uniform, reliable level of service.  I only wish they also understood that as the owner of a product I should be able to fix my own device and accept any negative side effect that has.  

I changed my own battery and screen on my current phone.  I haven't gone back to Apple for a cheap battery replacement under their offering because I know I did that myself and accept that I would be turned away.  It's that simple.  

But lastly, I understand that not everyone shares my understanding and Apple has to protect their brand.  So I have no solution other than in the end Apple isn't going to be able to protect people from themselves.  

esquirecats

airnerd said:

I understand that Apple wants to control their product so they can provide a uniform, reliable level of service.  I only wish they also understood that as the owner of a product I should be able to fix my own device and accept any negative side effect that has.  

I changed my own battery and screen on my current phone.  I haven't gone back to Apple for a cheap battery replacement under their offering because I know I did that myself and accept that I would be turned away.  It's that simple.  

But lastly, I understand that not everyone shares my understanding and Apple has to protect their brand.  So I have no solution other than in the end Apple isn't going to be able to protect people from themselves.  

In the case where Apple would need to sell you parts, they'd also need to provide you instructions and some ability to restore the seals/realign the camera, fix cryptographically tied-hardware and so on. That's not going to happen because there is no way Apple can provide that and not be liable or harm the security of their own devices.

For parts made by others (e.g. batteries/screens) you can already do this with iFixIt. 

airnerd

EsquireCats said:

airnerd said:

I understand that Apple wants to control their product so they can provide a uniform, reliable level of service.  I only wish they also understood that as the owner of a product I should be able to fix my own device and accept any negative side effect that has.  

I changed my own battery and screen on my current phone.  I haven't gone back to Apple for a cheap battery replacement under their offering because I know I did that myself and accept that I would be turned away.  It's that simple.  

But lastly, I understand that not everyone shares my understanding and Apple has to protect their brand.  So I have no solution other than in the end Apple isn't going to be able to protect people from themselves.  

In the case where Apple would need to sell you parts, they'd also need to provide you instructions and some ability to restore the seals/realign the camera, fix cryptographically tied-hardware and so on. That's not going to happen because there is no way Apple can provide that and not be liable or harm the security of their own devices.

For parts made by others (e.g. batteries/screens) you can already do this with iFixIt. 

yeah I know, and I normally do my own repairs.  I can do them quicker than going to the always overcrowded southlake store.  But once I have done that to my phone Apple will no longer have anything to do with me.  I have stated I understand why they need to protect themselves, I'm just glad that cars and homebuilders and pool companies and many other companies/industries don't follow the same model where they will no longer talk to you about your device if you didn't have them do any and all maintenance or repairs.  

randominternetperson

5 first-post-ever people asking macseeker to put his neck on the line by re-posting copyrighted material that Apple just had YouTube remove.  Yeah, if I were macseeker, I think I'd pass.

ivanh

I have a few Swiss-made water-proof watches and every time they need repair, oil checking or battery replacement, they will carry out water pressure test. But I have never heard of any water pressure test on Apple Watches and iPhones.