Get Help at the Genius Bar

The Genius Bar is a resource at the Apple Store that is a great way to get help with your Mac. Often a problem can't be fixed until you have an expert take a first-hand look. The Genius Bar is free and you don't even need to have a current warranty for them to take a look and give you help for advice.

You can also watch this video at YouTube (but with ads).

Video Transcript: I think most Apple users know about the Genius Bar. I answer questions every week from people that don't really know about it or know how useful it could be. 
The Genius Bar is something that exists in every Apple Store. You can make an appointment by just simply going on the web. You don't even have to worry about the URL. Just type in Genius Bar and the first result here is going to take you right to the Apple Genius Bar. You can read about and you can start the process of making an appointment to get help.
So what will the Genius Bar do for you? Well, what they'll do is they will take a look at your Mac and take a look at your problem and give you an assessment. This is free. It doesn't cost anything. A big misconception people have is that they have to have AppleCare or they have to have a device that's under warranty in order to use the Genius Bar. That's not true!
You could show up with your older Apple device or something that is out of warranty or something you bought used. Go to the Genius Bar and ask them for advice and it doesn't cost anything.
See the reason Apple has the Genius Bar and the reason people like me who try to help others online so often refer you to the Genius Bar is most problems need a first hand look. Somebody has to look at your machine, diagnose it, figure out what's wrong, try some different things and without that first hand look it is really so hard to figure out what's going wrong. It might be something simple like just changing a setting or it maybe that a repair is needed. Either a software repair like reinstalling the operating system or a harder repair replacing a part.
Now at the Genius Bar they can take a look at what you've got. It may be that in order to repair your Mac it does cost you something. If it's out of warranty or if you've done physical harm to the Mac or something like that. At least they can give you a price. Sometimes people are surprised to find out it's not as expensive as they think. Other times they are surprised to find out that the Genius Bar will help you for free.
But I would never try to get a Mac repaired or replaced if something is wrong with it without first going to the Genius Bar and getting their assessment and seeing what they'll do for you.
So the next time you're having trouble with your Mac and you've tried to solve it on your own but can't consider going to the Genius Bar for help. I'm surprised by the number of people that simply ignore this resource for free help or live with the problem for a long time and then find out that a quick visit to the Genius Bar clears it up and they can now use their Mac or iOS device to its fullest.

Comments: 13 Responses to “Get Help at the Genius Bar”

Ed Mullery

8 years ago

It was easy to make a Genius Bar appt in the Apple Store app, until they removed that function.

Francisco Moreno

Last week I tried to help my cousin get an appointment at the Genius Bar and it seems that it takes a genius to get an appointment, it used to be easy. Can you share a detailed video on how to get an appointment, now that Apple has made it more difficult?

Gary Rosenzweig

Francisco: It is tough to show the steps since there are so many branches: product type, problem type, etc. For instance, for a MacBook screen issue, you would do: Get Help Now, Mac, Mac Notebooks, Hardware Issues, Display Issue, Visit the Genius Bar. To get help with Pages on your Mac, you would choose: Get Help Now, Apps & Software, Mac Apps, Pages, Make a Genius Bar Reservation at the bottom of the screen.

Connie Mithelavage

You need to be a genius to get an appointment at the Genius Bar.

Nick Willsher

Where is the nearest "Genius Bar" to Wellington. New Zealand

Nick: A long way away. I don't think there are any Apple Stores in New Zealand yet.

Charles Pinneo

At our Apple Store in Grand Rapids, Michigan, you can sometimes just walk in and get help if you need it. The geniuses are quite flexible about helping you if you are willing to hang around. There's a Starbucks about 40 steps away and they will come and get you to discuss your problem. Sometimes you can get someone other than a genius to fix your problem. It pays to be nice to them—they do it for the love of Apple products.

Cameron Price

I feel for you, Nick. Only a few years ago, we had no Apple Store in Maine. We have one now, but it's still 300 miles away. If only Geniuses did house calls!

Pete

Can a genious help me find "widgets" on my iPhone 6s? Or, is this just not supported?

Pete: Lock screen widgets are a big part of iOS 10. I have a view about them here: http://macmost.com/the-ios-10-lock-screen.html

Ken

I have been a long time Mac user. I have gone many times to the Genius Bar. Things have changed though (it is difficult sometimes to find how to make the appointment). Can you go to the "Bar" for software questions about apple apps (such as Photos, etc)?

Ken: You can try. But it may be easier just to ask a regular Apple Store employee first. Depends on who you get.

Thank you. They all have been great. Some even know me by name.

Comments Closed.

Get Help at the Genius Bar

Comments: 13 Responses to “Get Help at the Genius Bar”

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