Oliver Haslam on March 30, 2022, 1:42 am

Apple Will No Longer Repair iPhones That Have Been Marked As Missing

Apple and its Authorized Service Centers will no longer repair iPhones that have been reported as missing, according to a new report.

According to an internal memo seen by MacRumors, Apple will note when a device has been added to the GSMA Device Registry when it hs brought in for service. If the device is on the registry, the repair will be refused.

If an Apple technician sees a message in their internal MobileGenius or GSX systems indicating that the device has been reported as missing, they are instructed to decline the repair, according to Apple’s memo shared on Monday. The new policy should help to reduce the amount of stolen iPhones brought to Apple for repair.

Apple’s iPhones are devices that are high on the list of thieves thanks to their high asking price and ease of resale.

Devices that have been added to the GSMA Device Registry have been marked as missing, meaning they are likely to have been stolen. However, it’s possible the iPhone has simply been lost and then found by a stranger, too.

None of this relates to Find My, another security feature that could tip Apple Stores off to a stolen device. Apple has limited repair capabilities if the Find My service cannot be disabled on an iPhone, too.