Apple has ended two repair programs for sound failures in select first-generation AirPods Pro and iPhone 12 models, leaving owners to rely on standard warranty coverage or paid repairs for issues.
The service program for first-generation AirPods Pro targeted units that produced crackling or static sounds and exhibited weakened active noise cancellation. Apple’s documentation specified that affected earbuds were manufactured before October 2020. The program provided free replacements for up to three years from the original retail sale date.
Apple also concluded the no-sound program for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. The program was established for a receiver module component that failed on certain units manufactured between October 2020 and April 2021. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max models were never eligible for this specific repair. Apple’s support pages originally described a three-year coverage period from the first retail sale for qualifying devices.
Regional status notices on Apple’s support site now state the iPhone 12 program has ended. Owners can still pursue paid service if diagnostics confirm a hardware receiver fault, but free repairs under the expired program are unavailable. Similarly, owners of first-generation AirPods Pro with intermittent crackles will likely face charges for out-of-window fixes. Free service was restricted to units built before October 2020 and within the three-year program window.
Most of the hardware sold during the initial manufacturing waves had already exceeded the three-year coverage limit by the time the programs were removed. This means the policy shift affects a shrinking pool of owners. Anyone planning to service either product should first verify the original purchase date. An Apple diagnostic appointment can confirm the issue, and if coverage has expired, customers will receive a written estimate. This allows them to decide between repairing the old device or replacing it with a current model.
