Apple will begin supplying parts to customers to enable them to fix their own devices, a substantial change for the tech giant, which has long insisted that only it could make repairs. 

Atmosphere at the Apple Store in Grand Central Station in New York City.

Under a program called Self Service Repair, customers can buy kits with genuine Apple parts and instructions on how to fix their own products, the company announced in a blog post Wednesday. 

Starting early next year, the program will first launch in the U.S. for iPhone models 12 and 13, before expanding to certain Mac computers and other countries. 

The first kit releases will focus on “the most commonly serviced modules,” the iPhone display, battery and camera, Apple said, and will then expand to cover other features. 

The new program means customers won’t void their warranty by fixing the device themselves. 

It’s a significant victory for the “right to repair” movement, which has sought to  end tech industry practices that prevent customers from fixing their own devices or having them repaired by a third-party. 

Still, “visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair,” the company said.

In 2019, Apple started selling similar kits and instruction manuals to independent repair shops. According to the company, there are 5,000 authorized service providers and 2,800 independent service providers that currently receive genuine Apple parts. In July, the Federal Trade Commission announced it will investigate companies who block outside repairs of products like computers and phones. Apple had lobbied against previous “right to repair” laws, as outside repair shops take away from the company’s pricey in-house programs.

A Big Question The FTC Needs To Address About Right-To-Repair Policy (Forbes) 

Genius Barred: FTC Goes After Companies That Prevent Outside Repair Of Tech, Other Products (Forbes)