04/23/2018

Photo (c) Prykhodov - Getty Images Apple has decided that a component in some of its 13-inch MacBook Pro laptops may fail and cause the computer’s built-in battery to expand. The company says this is not a safety issue and will replace the affected batteries free of charge.

If you have a 13-inch MacBook Pro built between October 2016 and October 2017, you can check to see if your computer is eligible for the repair by going to Apple’s Support page and typing in your unit’s serial number. Serial numbers on MacBooks can be found by going to the “About This Mac” section under the Apple Menu at the top left of your screen. At the bottom of that screen is where you’ll find the serial number.

The battery replacement program covers MacBook Pro models for 5 years after the unit was first purchased.

How the battery replacement procedure works

If your battery is affected by this recall, there are three ways to get it replaced.

Find an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Make an appointment at an Apple Retail Store. Mail in your device to the Apple Repair Center.

Once a computer’s eligibility is verified, repair time is estimated to be 3-5 days. Apple urges each MacBook owner to back up their data prior to bringing it in for repair.

The ifs, ands, or buts

Apple warns that if it finds there are existing, non-related issues that impair the battery replacement or have caused damage to the computer, customers may be responsible for costs associated with those repairs.

The company also says that having a battery replaced does not extend the computer’s standard warranty coverage.

For those who previously paid to have the battery replaced, Apple is offering a refund.

Batteries have been a thorn in the side of Apple recently. Earlier this year, Apple added a software update that tackled the battery issue surrounding accusations that it purposefully slowed down older iPhone models.