Apple Silicon Mac: Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair

To help isolate the cause of an issue on a Mac that you’re troubleshooting, you may be prompted to use Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair test suites. A diagnostic suite consists of multiple diagnostic tests. Running these test suites can help isolate issues, investigate whether a part needs to be replaced, or verify that a repair has been successfully completed.

To access the test suites, you will need a separate, secondary device with a web browser and internet access. The second device serves as a diagnostic console, where you’ll enter the serial number of the device you’re testing.

You’ll select the recommended diagnostic test suite, and when it’s completed, it will display results on the diagnostic console. Examine the results to help isolate the cause of the issue on the device you’re servicing.

How to run Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair on a Mac

Requirements

To use Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair to test a Mac, you'll need:

• A Mac to be tested

  • Note: This must be a Mac with Apple silicon that has power and can start up in macOS. Intel Macs are not supported in Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair.

  • Important: The Mac that you're testing must have macOS Sonoma version 14.1 or later to run Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair. Beta versions of macOS are not supported. Refer to Update macOS on Mac for instructions to update the Mac. Ensure the Mac has been updated before continuing these instructions. Refer to the following support articles for help identifying the Mac that you're testing:

• Identify your MacBook model

  • Identify your MacBook Air model

  • Identify your MacBook Pro model

  • Identify your Mac mini model

  • Identify your Mac Studio model

  • Identify your Mac Pro model

  • Identify your iMac model

• If the Mac that you're testing does not turn on or start up, refer to the relevant troubleshooting section for power and startup issues:

  • Mac Laptops Power and Startup Issues

  • Mac Modular Desktops Power and Startup Issues

  • iMac Power and Startup Issues

• A secondary device like an iPhone, iPad, PC, or another Mac to access the Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair website and diagnostic console. You can start and control a diagnostic session for the Mac that you're testing in the diagnostic console on the secondary device. The diagnostic console is supported on the following secondary devices:

  • An iPhone running iOS 13 or later or iPad running iPadOS 13 or later with Safari

  • A Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later with Safari

  • A PC with Firefox 59 or later, Chrome 55 or later, or Microsoft Edge 12 or later

• A Wi-Fi or wired internet connection on the Mac to be tested

• A Wi-Fi, cellular, or wired internet connection on the secondary device

Prepare the Mac you're testing

1. If you're able to install the latest macOS updates, do so before continuing.

2. Shut down the Mac to be tested.

3. Unplug all external devices except keyboard, mouse, and display (if applicable).

4. Ensure that the Mac is on a hard, flat, stable surface with good ventilation.

5. For desktop Macs, connect the AC power cord to the computer. For laptop Macs, connect the computer’s power adapter and charging cable to the computer.

Start Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair on the secondary device

1. On the secondary device, go to https://getsupport.apple.com/self-service-diagnostics from a browser.

2. Click or tap "Continue" on the Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair page.

3. Choose "Mac."

Enter diagnostics mode on the Mac you're testing

1. If you use a wired Ethernet connection to connect the Mac you're testing to the internet, connect the Ethernet cable to the Mac before turning on the computer. If you use Wi-Fi, you will connect later in step 5 after the computer starts into diagnostic mode.

2. Press and hold the power button on the Mac to be tested to turn on the computer. On laptop computers that have Touch ID, press and hold Touch ID.

3. As you continue to hold the power button, the Mac turns on and loads startup options. When you see "Loading startup options..." release the power button.

4. When the startup options screen appears, press and hold Command (⌘)-D on the Mac's keyboard to enter diagnostics mode.

5. To connect the Mac you're testing to the internet using Wi-Fi, choose the network from the Wi-Fi menu in the upper-right corner of the diagnostics mode screen.

   • Note: The Wi-Fi menu may take a few seconds to appear. This is normal behavior.

6. Choose a language and click "OK" on the diagnostics mode screen.

Enroll in and start a diagnostic session

1. From the Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair page on the secondary device, enter the serial number of the Mac you're testing into the serial number entry field. You can find the serial number in the lower-left corner of the diagnostics screen of the Mac you're testing.

2. From the Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair page on the secondary device, click or tap "Start Session." If the Mac is unable to enroll in a diagnostic session, click or tap "Try again."

3. On the Mac you're testing, click "I agree" on the diagnostics screen.

   • Note: If the Mac you’re testing is not running macOS 14.1 or later, it will not be able to connect to the diagnostic session and a message will appear to update the Mac.

After you've successfully enrolled the Mac you're testing, you can then select a diagnostic test suite on the secondary device to test the Mac. Follow instructions and view diagnostic test results on the secondary device.

Available diagnostic test suites

Mac Resource Inspector (MRI)

This diagnostic suite is a quick triage tool that checks for the presence of hardware components and performs a series of short tests to verify hardware functionality.

Display Anomalies

This interactive diagnostic suite displays a series of colors and patterns that assist in identifying pixel anomalies and debris.

Keyboard

This interactive diagnostic suite prompts the user to verify that each key on the keyboard responds correctly when pressed, that the keyboard backlight is visible, and that the Caps Lock key light is functional.

Trackpad

This interactive diagnostic suite prompts the user to verify that all areas of the trackpad respond to touch.

Touch ID

This interactive diagnostic suite runs a series of automated tests to verify the presence of Touch ID. It then instructs the user to place a finger on the Touch ID sensor to verify functionality.

Audio

For laptops and iMacs: This interactive diagnostic suite plays a set of chordal tones through the internal speakers and listens for those same tones through the built-in microphones, to verify speaker and microphone functionality.

¹For modular desktop Macs: This interactive diagnostic suite plays a set of chordal tones through the internal speaker and prompts the user to verify the tones were audible and not distorted. This verifies speaker functionality.

Caution: The Audio diagnostic suite plays loud test tones through the speakers. Be aware of your surroundings before running this test suite. Run this test suite in a quiet environment for best results.

Note: The Audio diagnostic test suite requires headphones to check the headphone jack.