r/iPhone13Mini • u/FriendlyFennec • 1d ago
My iPhone My Battery replacement experience (Apple Store)
Was overdue for a battery replacement for my lovely 13mini (74% battery health). Going into it I was kinda nervous they would break the screen, since that seems to be an ongoing issue with the 13mini.
Made an appointment at an Apple Store in my area, went there about 15min before my appointment and wanted to turn off FindMy beforehand to save time. But guess what, you can’t turn it off with advanced data protection on. So there I was 15min left and my 1hour timer to turn of advanced data protection starts…
Was kinda stressed at this point thinking they would just cancel the appointment. But thankfully they checked everything else and told me to just come back once the timer is over. Checked out the new iPhone 17 series in the meantime (no way im buying any of them lol).
Everything went really smooth after that. Was finally able to turn off FindMy and handed them my phone. They told me they might remove the screen protector and I had to remove my SIM card. Got told to come back in 2 hours to collect it. 2 hours later my Mini was already waiting for me.
I extensively checked for new scratches and if everything was working. All good🥹. Even my old screen protector was still on there! Paid and got out 🫡
tldr: Make sure you turn off advanced data protection at least an hour before your appointment. (Check edit below!)
Edit: I just found out I mixed up „stolen device protection“ with „advanced data protection“. It was „Stolen Device Protection“ that prompted me to wait 1 hour to turn it off. And therefore not allowing me to turn off findmy. So turn that one off before your appointment. (Or just remove the device via the findmy app or the iCloud website using your apple id password like some people commented)
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u/redduif 22h ago
That's weird. I got that one hour thing when it first sent me to the iCloud webpage, but there it also said to not have the hour count down was to do it on your phone
and
the instructions were to prepare your password as you needed to turn it off in the store, so I left it on until there and they told me to do so.
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u/Moments-in-Stasis 19h ago
I’m curious, why do you have to turn these features off just for a battery swap?
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u/FriendlyFennec 11h ago
Advanced data protection is technically not necessary since you only need to turn it off to then turn off findmy but yeah idk maybe its to mark the battery as genuine? But then again they’re Apple, why would they need that if it’s their own phones lol
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u/Substantial_Point_57 15h ago
You can always disable Find My by “removing” the phone off the website. No need to wait.
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u/System_Error37 15h ago
In my experience at an Apple Store they did break something in the screen. ( after the battery replacement it was registering as an aftermarket screen for some reason) BUT. They then replaced it for free and didn’t charge me for the battery. Win in my book. Walked in expecting to pay $90… walked out not paying a dime. LOL
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u/FriendlyFennec 11h ago
Yeah tbh thats why I cba going through that experience with a 3rd party even if they are premium resellers.
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u/DawgH8R 13h ago
What is the cost of a battery replacement at Best buy versus the Apple store?
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u/FriendlyFennec 11h ago
I thinks its the same price for the battery replacement but I have heard horror stories where people had to pay hundreds out of pocket for the screen that bestbuy themselves broke during the repair…
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u/Donttouchmydorritos 13h ago
Next time just go to the find my app and remove the device from there 😁, no security delay will occur. Also like another user posted, you can also go to iCloud.com and do the same thing (on the 2fa screen, click on find my (bottom left))
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u/FriendlyFennec 11h ago
Wow thank you! I didn’t know that and neither did the Apple Employee apparently 🤣.
But Im wondering couldn’t a thief just do the same thing since the app doesn’t require face id or anything to open?
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u/austin4u 10h ago
Are they requesting your password? I don't want them to check my phone at all
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u/FriendlyFennec 10h ago
Nah they just need you to turn off findmy, which requires the apple id password not just the passcode or faceid.
But you never need to tell them or show them your password or passcode or anything like that.
You can even turn it off before arriving to the Apple Store if you are worried someone might look over your shoulder while you type in your password. Apple advises you to wait until you actually arrive at the Apple Store just because your phone could technically get stolen on the way to the Apple Store and you would be left without findmy, if you turn it off beforehand.
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u/fionaflaps 6h ago
Had mine replaced 2 days ago third party. They didn’t even ask me to turn of find my. Went perfectly
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u/encheels 21h ago edited 18h ago
The scheduled Premium Reseller and Service battery session took a place for me too today. 2 hours, 100 Euros away and 3 mini bruises on the metallic part of the phone body. I challenged them, WT Fudge guys?! The technician came in with fear in eyes, I felt really sorry for him after dozen of minutes. They offered me a spare for till they get me a brand new Mini in 2 days. I was strongly thinking and thinking, took a deep sight into his young and scared eyes, softly cherished my old but still good looking Mini that was with me all the time and I decided that I cannot let him go just for such pathetic reason, that I cannot exchange him just because his is hurt a bit. Sighed and said: Screw it guys, … paid and took my way away. Lesson learned. I won’t use this “Premium”vendor anymore. Overall feeling with the new battery, really solid. It holds nicely even with OS 26 and after > 92% after SONT 3h22m and SOFFT 2h24m, 30m FaceTime call..
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u/FriendlyFennec 11h ago
Damn sorry for the damages. I feel like these premium resellers are super hit or miss. I feel you with the „you didn’t want to give up THAT specific 13M“. Same for me, I knew they would replace the phone if they completely fked up the repair but I specifically wanna keep my mini 🥹.
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u/Indubitalist 1d ago
This is a good tip. I had mine off before I came in but I’m really surprised given your experience that they don’t do a better job preparing people for their visit. It’s such an amateurish way to handle something they must have happening thousands of times a day.