Guide · Mac Repair

How to choose a genuinely qualified Mac repairer

Q: How can I tell if a repairer is genuinely competent with Macs?

Ask them whether they repair only Macs or other brands too. The best approach is to deal only with a Mac specialist and to check their Google reviews, at least 4.6 stars on a solid volume of reviews.

Q: Up to what price is it worth repairing a Mac?

As a general rule, the price of the repair should not exceed that of the same model refurbished, except for sentimental value or data to recover. A good repairer also offers a trade-in or a refurbished machine.

Q: I spilt liquid on my Mac but it still works: what should I do?

Turn it off immediately and have it inspected. Switching a Mac back on with liquid inside can cause a short circuit and destroy the CPU. Caught in time, it is often a simple deoxidation, far cheaper than a logic board.

Q: Can data be recovered from a Mac that no longer switches on?

Yes, in the majority of cases, by repairing the logic board. Since 2018 the data has been encrypted between the CPU and the SSD: recovery remains possible as long as the CPU and the SSD chips are not burnt out, by transferring them onto a donor board.

A broken Mac and a repairer picked at random : that’s the surest way to overpay — or to lose your data. After twenty years spent repairing nothing but Macs, here are the concrete criteria that separate a true specialist from a mere fix-it shop.

Place du Mac— Expert guide— 3 July 2026— 7 min read

The essentials

A good Mac repairer can be spotted before the machine is even opened : they repair only Macs, their diagnosis is free, their reviews speak for them, and they will never charge you more than the value of an equivalent refurbished Mac. Everything else is just tinkering, nicely dressed up.

The method

Five criteria to sort the field in five minutes

You don’t need to be a technician to recognise a serious repairer. These five markers can be checked by anyone, upfront, without even dropping off your machine.

Criterion01

A Mac specialist, and nothing else

This is criterion number one, by a wide margin. A Windows PC from another brand is not repaired at all the way a Mac is : the electronics, the fault logic, the tooling — everything is different. Repairing a Mac properly demands a brand specialist. Let’s be honest : even at Apple, the technicians don’t repair — they replace the faulty part. It’s an exchange approach, not a repair one. A true specialist, by contrast, works at component level.

The 30-second test : ask whether they repair only Macs, or other brands and other products too. Only entrust your machine to a pure specialist.

Criterion02

Google reviews above 4.6 stars

This is the best public indicator of a repairer’s seriousness. Take the time to read the Google reviews — not just the rating, but also the way they respond to unhappy customers. Below 4.6 stars on a meaningful volume of reviews, move on.

Rule of thumb : a high rating across hundreds of reviews beats a 5.0 on three comments.

Criterion03

A free, no-obligation diagnosis

A paid diagnosis is a trap : the repairer can use the price of the diagnosis as a lever to force you into accepting the repair. With an honest professional, the diagnosis is free, and you always keep the choice of whether to repair once you’ve seen the quote — no pressure and no hidden charges.

Warning sign : “the diagnosis is deducted if you go ahead with the repair” often amounts to locking you in.

Criterion04

A quote capped at the refurbished price

Here is a simple benchmark you can apply yourself : the price of a repair should never exceed that of the same Mac refurbished. Beyond that, something is off. The only legitimate exceptions : sentimental value, or data to recover. A good repairer should, moreover, offer you the alternatives — trading in your old Mac, or selling you a refurbished one if you want to upgrade a repairable machine or replace one that’s been lost.

What to ask : “how much is the same model refurbished at your shop?” — the answer frames the quote.

Criterion05

A clear warranty and real transparency

A genuine repair commits over time. With us : 6 months on labour, 2 years on parts. The customer can call whenever they like, or come back with their Mac without an appointment — and if they return, the repair is treated as a priority. On transparency, you can take back the faulty part if you wish ; we simply advise against it, because it usually ends up in the household bin when we would otherwise recycle it. The key point is that the repairer has nothing to hide.

Good sign : walk-in after-sales support and a returned repair handled as a priority.

Special case · Emergency

Liquid damage : every second counts

The majority of Mac faults come from liquid damage. And it’s the one case where your reaction, in the first few minutes, changes everything that follows.

The reflex that can save everything

Whatever you do, don’t switch your Mac back on

Even a tiny drop of water can bring a Mac down. But the worst move is to switch it back on with liquid still inside : this causes a short circuit that can destroy essential components such as the CPU — and turn a simple deoxidation into a far heavier logic board repair.

Step 01

Turn it off immediately

Cut the power right away : no restart “just to see if it still works”.

Step 02

Don’t leave it shut

Don’t try to dry it with a hairdryer or to “let it rest” for several days.

Step 03

Bring it in without delay

A specialist inspects the inside and removes the liquid before it attacks the components.

Caught in time, a simple deoxidation costs far less than replacing a logic board. And no : it’s almost never “too late”.

Special case · Data

Data recovery : what Apple doesn’t do

When the data is stuck inside a dead Mac, the only solution is to repair the logic board itself. This is precisely where the gap opens up between a specialist and everyone else.

The principle

Repair the logic board, don’t replace it

To extract data from a Mac that no longer boots, you have to repair the logic board — a service Apple doesn’t offer. Specialist data-recovery firms, for their part, often charge sums with no relation to the value of the machine.

Specialist data-recovery firm3 000 €+

Logic board repair at a specialist≤ 390 €

Orders of magnitude we’ve observed. The same job can cost nearly ten times less at a repairer who works at component level.

The technical turning point

Before / after 2018 : encryption changes everything

Since 2018, Apple encrypts the data between the CPU and the SSD chips. This entirely determines what can be recovered — and what can’t be any more.

Before 2018

Recovery is generally straightforward : the data isn’t locked to the processor.

Since 2018

If the CPU or the SSD chips have burnt out, the data is permanently lost. Otherwise, everything remains recoverable : we use a donor board and transfer the original SSD chips and CPU onto it.

The only truly unrecoverable cases : a burnt-out CPU or SSD chips. Everything else can be repaired.

The myth to bust What almost every customer believes — and it’s wrong

« It’s too late, my Mac is done for. »

Many arrive convinced their Mac is dead — especially after liquid damage — and hope for nothing more than data recovery. Very often, the machine goes back to them fully repaired. Despair is almost never warranted : it only is when the CPU or the SSD has genuinely burnt out.

If you remember only one thing

A Mac can be replaced. Memories, never.

After twenty years of repairs, this is the one message I want to drum into every Mac owner’s head : back up your data regularly. Hardware can always be replaced ; your photos and videos can’t. An up-to-date backup turns the worst breakdown into a mere inconvenience.

Frequently asked questions

Choosing a Mac repairer

How can I tell if a repairer is genuinely competent with Macs ?

Ask them a single question : do they repair only Macs, or other brands and products too? The best approach is to deal only with a Mac specialist, and to check their Google reviews — look for at least 4.6 stars on a solid volume of reviews.

Should the diagnosis be paid for ?

No. A free, no-obligation diagnosis is a mark of seriousness. A paid diagnosis can be used as a lever to push you into accepting the repair ; you must always remain free to decline once you’ve seen the quote.

Up to what price is it worth repairing a Mac ?

As a general rule, the price of the repair shouldn’t exceed that of the same model refurbished. Beyond that, the repair is only justified by sentimental value or data to recover. A good repairer will also offer you a trade-in or a refurbished machine.

I spilt liquid on my Mac but it still works : what should I do ?

Turn it off immediately and have it inspected, even if it seems to be working. Switching a Mac back on with liquid inside can cause a short circuit and destroy the CPU. Caught in time, it’s often a simple deoxidation, far cheaper than a logic board.

Can data be recovered from a Mac that no longer switches on ?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases, by repairing the logic board. Since 2018 the data has been encrypted between the CPU and the SSD : recovery remains possible as long as the CPU and the SSD chips aren’t burnt out, by transferring these components onto a donor board.

Place du Mac guide — Mac repair specialist for more than twenty years, Paris 9^th. Advice based on our workshop experience. Indicative price ranges (data recovery : logic board repair up to ~390 € at a specialist, versus 3 000 € and up with conventional recovery). Hardware CPU↔SSD encryption applies to Macs from 2018 onwards. Warranties stated : 6 months labour, 2 years parts. Apple, Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. ; Place du Mac is an independent repairer, not affiliated with Apple Inc.