Apple Launches Battery Replacement Program for Non-Touch Bar 13-Inch MacBook Pro Models - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Launches Battery Replacement Program for Non-Touch Bar 13-Inch MacBook Pro Models

Apple today announced a new worldwide battery replacement program for some 13-inch MacBook Pro models that do not have a Touch Bar. Affected machines were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017.

Apple says that a limited number of these units feature a component that can fail and cause the built-in battery to expand. It is not a safety issue, according to the company, and Apple will replace all eligible batteries.

macbookpronotouchbar
Customers who want to see if their machines are eligible for a fresh battery should use the serial number checker on the MacBook Pro Battery Replacement page. You can find your serial number by clicking on the Apple logo in the menu bar and selecting "About This Mac." The serial number is located at the bottom of the information window.

Affected customers who are eligible for a new battery will need to visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider, make an appointment at an Apple retail store, or mail their device into an Apple Repair Center after initiating a repair with Apple Support.

Apple suggests customers who are getting a battery replacement back up their machines ahead of time. Apple also says that if the MacBook Pro in question has damage that will impair the replacement of the battery, it must be addressed prior to the battery replacement process.

Any customer who has already paid for a replacement battery can contact Apple Support about a refund.

The battery replacement program covers affected MacBook Pro models for five years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Remain 'Ready' to Launch

Sunday March 22, 2026 6:33 am PDT by
Apple has unveiled nine new products this month, but the wait continues for the next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini have been "ready" since last year, but he reiterated that Apple has held off on releasing them until the more personalized version of Siri and other...
Apple Business hero

Apple Unveils 'Apple Business' All-in-One Platform

Tuesday March 24, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that unifies device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach features. The service is designed to be a consolidated replacement for several of Apple's existing business-focused offerings, including Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. It provides organizations with a single...

Top Rated Comments

FocusAndEarnIt Avatar
104 months ago
How about the keyboards?
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
104 months ago
Damnit, I got really excited for a second when I started reading the title "Apple Launches..." and the image of a MacBook Pro in the article.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FocusAndEarnIt Avatar
104 months ago
I’ve never been sure just how many keyboards on the 2016/2017 MBP had a real issue. The keyboard was redesigned at some point, and many actual users report no issue.

Then there are a few who complain about the keyboards being rendered useless with a “speck of dust.” Always that same wording, over and over... a speck of dust.

I don’t doubt for a second there are some number of keyboards out there that have/had a real issue. But given how this complaint has been harped on and amplified by those who hate the latest model due to ports/thinness/cost/touch bar/etc., I do wonder about the true frequency of actual problems.

It can’t be every unit, since there are plenty of reports that a new keyboard solved the problem, and there are millions who have never had the issue.

What I am sure of is that Apple hasn’t had to replace keyboards multiple times on 10+ million MBP. If that had been the case, we’d be hearing about it from a lot more than the fraction of a percent who complain about it on the internets. And there would already be multiple class action lawsuits filed, I’m sure.
I'm on my third keyboard on the 2016 touchbar 15" MBP. The geniuses at the Apple Store near Philadelphia said they see it all the time. It's a real issue, and not fabricated by online Apple fanboys as one might think. There's a real issue: the new key mechanism has proven unable to withstand normal wear and tear of people who use their Macs in demanding workflows and production environments (ie use for about 8-10 hours on a normal work day). It's fine for the first couple or even 6 months, then they start rapidly failing.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
104 months ago
Apple today announced a new worldwide battery replacement program ('https://www.apple.com/support/13inch-macbookpro-battery-replacement/') for some 13-inch MacBook Pro models that do not have a Touch Bar. Affected machines were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017.

Apple says that a limited number of these units feature a component that can fail and cause the built-in battery to expand. It is not a safety issue, according to the company, and Apple will replace all eligible batteries.



Customers who want to see if their machines are eligible for a fresh battery should use the serial number checker on the MacBook Pro Battery Replacement page ('https://www.apple.com/support/13inch-macbookpro-battery-replacement/'). You can find your serial number by clicking on the Apple logo in the menu bar and selecting "About This Mac." The serial number is located at the bottom of the information window.

Affected customers who are eligible for a new battery will need to visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider, make an appointment at an Apple retail store, or mail their device into an Apple Repair Center after initiating a repair with Apple Support.

Apple suggests customers who are getting a battery replacement back up their machines ahead of time. Apple also says that if the MacBook Pro in question has damage that will impair the replacement of the battery, it must be addressed prior to the battery replacement process.

Any customer who has already paid for a replacement battery can contact Apple Support ('https://getsupport.apple.com/') about a refund.

The battery replacement program covers affected MacBook Pro models for five years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Article Link: Apple Launches Battery Replacement Program for Non-Touch Bar 13-Inch MacBook Pro Models ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/04/20/apple-macbook-pro-replacement-program/')
They should come out with a Macbook Pro replacement program where they give you one that can actually be serviced/upgraded, support 32gb ram, and not have a meh keyboard.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
104 months ago
what a croc, an expanding battery is a safety issue
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
104 months ago
how about quit rushing things to manufacture every.single.year and take the time MAKE QUALITY GREAT AGAIN.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)