What Do You Need to Know Before a Repair Appointment?

Getting prepared for a phone repair appointment takes about 5 minutes and makes the whole thing smoother. Here's the checklist.

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  Your exact phone model — "iPhone 14 Pro Max" not just "iPhone 14." The model determines which parts we bring. Find it at Settings → General → About → Model Name. On Android: Settings → About Phone.
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  Your passcode — We need to verify the repair worked by testing the phone while powered on. We'll ask for your PIN or passcode at the appointment. You'll enter it yourself — we won't ask you to write it down or share it in advance.
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  Find My / activation lock disabled — For iPhones, disable Find My before the appointment: Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Find My iPhone → Off. On Samsung, disable Samsung Find My Mobile. This prevents the device from being locked during repair.
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  Backup complete — Hardware repairs don't touch data, but backup is always good practice. iCloud: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now.
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  A clear description of the issue — When did it start? Drop or no drop? Does it happen constantly or intermittently? More detail means faster diagnosis.
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  Pre-existing damage noted — If there are existing scratches, dents, or issues unrelated to the repair, point them out at the start so they're documented. This protects both of us.

What you don't need to do

• You don't need to delete personal data or photos before a hardware repair
• You don't need to log out of apps (unless asked for a specific repair type)
• You don't need to remove the SIM card for most repairs