Help & troubleshooting

MacBooks

• Is MacBook repair worth it vs buying new? A clear-headed cost guide

  A new MacBook Pro costs £1599+. A MacBook repair can be £90 or £700 depending on the fault. This is the maths that decides which way to go, split by what's wrong and how old the laptop is.

• How to back up your MacBook before sending it for repair

  Any reputable repair workshop is careful with your data, but nothing is 100%. A proper backup before sending your MacBook for repair takes 30 minutes and protects you completely.

• MacBook butterfly keyboard sticky or repeating keys — what you can do now

  If you own a 2016-2019 MacBook with the butterfly keyboard, you already know: one crumb, one speck of dust, and a key is done. Apple's free repair program ended in November 2024. Here's what to try before scrapping an otherwise-perfect laptop.

• MacBook running hot, fans like a jet engine — causes and fixes

  A MacBook that's suddenly noisy and hot is telling you something: either a runaway process is hammering the CPU, the cooling system is clogged, or the thermal paste has dried out. Here's how to find out which.

• MacBook black screen or won't wake from sleep — fix list

  A MacBook with a black screen but a running system is usually one of four things: a display sleep stuck, an SMC hang, an NVRAM corruption, or a failed backlight. Three of those fix themselves with a keyboard combo.

• MacBook display flickering, lines or coloured bands — diagnosis

  Vertical lines, flickering, or coloured bands on a MacBook screen have three main causes. The differences are subtle but important — one is a £40 fix, one is £200, and one can mean the logic board.

• MacBook won't charge — is it the charger, cable or battery?

  A MacBook that won't charge is usually one of four things: a failed charger, a damaged cable, a dirty port, or a worn-out battery. Three of those are five-minute fixes.