Apple products are supposed to work, but sometimes they don’t. And when the unfortunate happens, you’ll need to take your Apple device to the Apple Store for tech support. That’s where a Genius Bar reservation is important. But how do I make a reservation at the Genius Bar?
This is exactly what this article is about: a step-by-step guide on how to make a Genius Bar reservation. Without further ado, let’s get started.
What Is the Genius Bar?
Before going straight to the steps, it might be helpful to understand what the Genius Bar is and what to expect when you get there.
The Genius Bar is a tech support station inside Apple’s retail stores. The people that work there are called Geniuses, and they have extensive knowledge of Apple products.
When you have problems with your Apple gear, these tech support professionals are here to help.
The services they provide are free of charge as long as you have Apple Care for your device. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay.
Making an Apple Genius Bar Reservation
There are two ways to make a Genius Bar reservation at an Apple Store:
- You can use the Apple Support app
- Or you can use Apple’s website support page
Both methods will help you book a Genius Bar appointment in just a few steps. But we found the Apple Support app to be easier and quicker.
1. Genius Bar appointment with the Apple Support app
Step 1 – Head over to the App Store, download, and install the Apple Support app. Or click here to take you directly to the download page.
Step 2 – Once you installed the app, open it up and it will take you straight to the Apple device you’re using with a list of topics to choose from.
If the device preselected is not the device you want support for, tap “Products” at the top left corner of the screen. It will take you to the list of all your Apple devices.
Note: Tap “Device Details” right below your device name to find out if your product still has a warranty.
Step 3 – After you’ve selected your device, choose a topic that best describes your problem.
Depending on your device issue, the options may not be the same. And you may only receive support via phone calls or live chat sessions for some problems.
For the purpose of this article, we’ll select “Repairs & Physical Damage”, then “Liquid or water damage”.
Step 4 – The next page will pull up your best options to fix the problem. Tap the “Find Authorized Locations” to book an appointment at the Genius Bar.
Step 5 – You’ll find a list of all the nearby authorized locations with the available dates. Tap the one that’s convenient for you, then choose a time.
Step 6 – After you picked the time, click the “Reserve” button to book your appointment. You’ll see a summary of your reservation on the next screen.
Don’t worry about choosing the time, you can always change your reservation if need be.
2. Genius Bar appointment via Apple’s website
This method requires the use of a web browser. If you wish you can use your phone for this method. But we found devices with large displays such as tablets, laptops, and desktops are more convenient.
Step 1 – Open the Genius Bar page on your favorite browser. Scroll down and click the “Get hardware help” button.
Step 2 – Next, choose the product you want to get help with at the Genius Bar.
Step 3 – A pool of topics will be there for you to choose from. If you have an iPhone you might see the option to get help with battery issues. In any case, pick a topic that most closely matches the problem your device has.
Another list of topics will appear to narrow down your problem. Choose the one that best fits your need. If you can’t find any, click “The topic is not listed”.
Step 4 – Again the options that follow will depend on the problem you’ve selected. Since we’ve selected “Repairs & Physical Damage”, this will certainly require scheduling a Genius Bar appointment.
Click “Schedule a Repair”, you’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID on the following page.
Step 5 – Select the product you want help with and click the “Continue” button. You need to let your browser access your current location in order to find you the closest Apple Store or another authorized service provider.
Step 6 – Your reservation will be made, once you pick the store, date, and time. They’ll also email your the confirmation. Remember you can reschedule or cancel the appointment at your convenience.
Preparing for your Genius reservation
There’re a few things you need to keep in mind before you go to your Genius appointment. Remember to back up the data on your Apple device.
It’s essential always to have a fresh copy of your iPhone backup because Apple won’t be responsible for any data loss during service.
You’ll also need to turn off Find My iPhone on your iOS device in order for the Geniuses to work on it.
If you have any feedback or questions, then please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
