Where do I find it?
Open Settings → General → About. If any part has been replaced, a section called Parts and Service History appears there, listing each part and its status. If nothing has ever been replaced, the section doesn't appear at all.
Which parts are listed depends on the model. Apple's list covers the battery on iPhone XR, XS and later, the display from iPhone 11, and the cameras and more on iPhone 12 and later.
What do the labels mean?
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Genuine | A genuine Apple part, fitted using Apple's process |
| Unknown | The part isn't genuine, hasn't been paired to this iPhone, or can't be verified |
| Used | A genuine part that was previously installed in another iPhone (iOS 18 and later) |
After a repair, the iPhone also shows a notification about the part for a while. You can dismiss it.
Why does Apple do this?
Apple says the record helps people know whether a phone has been repaired with genuine parts, which matters when buying a used iPhone. It also says parts that aren't genuine, or weren't fitted properly, may not work as intended: battery health readings, display brightness or touch, for example. Apple pairs genuine parts to each phone with its own software, so even a genuine part from another iPhone shows as Unknown or Used unless it's paired through Apple's process.
What does it change, and what doesn't it?
It doesn't:
- stop the part working. A good replacement screen or battery works normally;
- lock the phone, slow it down or stop updates;
- affect anything else on the phone.
It may:
- lower the trade-in or resale value, since buyers and trade-in programs check Parts and Service History;
- mean Apple declines to service that part later, or charges for it, if you take the phone to Apple;
- mean Battery Health doesn't show a maximum capacity for a battery the iPhone can't verify, on some models and iOS versions;
- switch off features that need data from the original part, such as True Tone on a replacement screen, unless the repairer transfers that data.
Should it worry you?
For most people, no. If you plan to trade the phone in with Apple, or it's still under Apple's warranty, a genuine repair through Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider avoids the message and keeps the record clean. If the phone is out of warranty and you mainly want it working again quickly and for less, a quality aftermarket part does that, and the message is the trade-off.
What you're entitled to under Australian law doesn't depend on this record. Here's how a third-party repair affects your warranty.
Sources
- Apple Support: About iPhone Parts and Service History
Related repairs at Taigum Square