Apple Offers Free Repair for iPhone 7 Devices with ‘No Service’ Bug

Acknowledging that a “small percentage” of iPhone 7 devices are affected by a hardware level bug which prevents them from connecting to a cellular network, Apple confirmed the launch of its latest iPhone repair program last week — where it will offer a free ‘No Service’ repair for select iPhone 7 devices that meet certain criteria.

According to the memo published to its website late last week, Apple has determined that certain iPhone 7 devices may indicate there’s “No Service” in the status bar — whether cellular/LTE coverage is available or not — due to what the company has determined to be a component failure on the handset’s main logic board.

Which iPhone 7 Devices Are Affected?

Apple points out that the iPhone 7 models affected by the bug were sold in the U.S., China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Macao, exclusively, and were manufactured between September of 2016 and February of this year.

The company provided the following model number guidance for determining if your iPhone 7 is eligible for a free repair:

What Other Terms Apply?

As with Apple’s other iPhone repair programs, this one is not without its fair share of caveats and restrictions.

• The company stipulates that affected devices must be serviced in the country where they were originally purchased — and that all outstanding, unrelated damages (cracked screen, dead battery, etc.) must be resolved via a separate repair service prior to being eligible for a complimentary ‘No Service’ repair.
• “Your iPhone will be examined prior to any service to verify that it is eligible for this program,” Apple asserts, adding that in order to qualify for the free ‘No Service’ repair users must have purchased their eligible iPhone 7 device within the last two years.

What If I’ve Already Paid for This Repair?

For eligible iPhone 7 owners who’ve already paid for an out of pocket repair resulting from the ‘No Service’ issue, Apple promises to be in contact via email so as to arrange for reimbursement.

“If you believe you paid for a repair related to this issue, and have not received an email from Apple by the end of March 2018, please contact Apple,” the company says.

My iPhone 7 Is Eligible — How Do I Get Service?

Apple notes that its carrier partners including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint are not taking part in this repair program. The only way to get service is by sending your device into an Apple Repair Center.

The whole process can be initiated by locating and scheduling an appointment at your local Apple Store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or by contacting Apple Technical Support.