Mac mini M2 (2023) Won't Turn On — Apple Repairs It Free | Radical Service

What happened — in brief

Starting in mid-2025, Apple received enough reports about Mac minis (2023) abruptly failing to turn on that they opened an official service programme. The announcement was published on the apple.com support page and picked up by the tech press (Tom's Guide, Macworld, AppleInsider, MacRumors). The defect concerns an internal component specific to a 5-month manufacturing sub-batch — and the repair is fully covered by Apple.

Apple has OFFICIALLY confirmed the defect

On the official Apple support page, the company acknowledges that "a very small percentage" of Mac mini (2023) units with the M2 chip won't turn on at all. The service programme is active and was launched in 2025, when community reports started piling up.

Affected batches: produced 16 June – 23 November 2024

Only Mac minis manufactured in this 5-month window. Apple hasn't published a serial list — verification is done individually through the official tool on the programme page (using your serial number). If you bought your M2 Mac mini between July and December 2024 in Romania, chances are reasonable you're in the affected batch.

The repair is 100% free — no exceptions, no asterisks

For eligible devices, Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider performs the repair completely free of charge. No excess, no labour, no VAT. The programme is available 3 years from the first retail sale of each device — so if you bought it in August 2024, you're covered until August 2027.

Only Mac mini (2023) M2 — nothing else

Apple is explicit on the page: "No other Mac mini models are part of this program." Mac mini Intel, Mac mini M1, Mac mini M4 (2024) — none are covered, regardless of similar symptoms. If you have one of these with "no power", the issue is something else and gets diagnosed separately. Heads-up: if you have a MacBook M2 or M3 (not Mac mini) with similar "won't turn on" symptoms, it may actually be the macOS Tahoe 26.4 bug that bricks the logic board — we repair that in 24h.

Programme summary — in table form

All data from Apple's official page, summarised in a table for clarity:

Affected model	Mac mini (2023) with M2 chip
Manufacturing window	16 June 2024 – 23 November 2024
Covered symptom	Mac mini won't turn on at all (no power)
Apple repair cost	Free
Programme duration	3 years from first retail sale
Verification method	Serial number tool on Apple Support site

How to check if you're eligible — 5 steps

The process is simple and should take less than 10 minutes. Important: check before you physically go to an AASP — you save the trip.

Find your Mac mini's serial number

If the Mac mini won't turn on, the serial number is printed on the back of the case (next to the Apple logo, small font). Alternatively — on the original box or on your invoice. If it still turns on occasionally, you'll find it in Apple menu → About This Mac.

Go to the official programme page

Open the official Apple programme page. There's the official verification tool. Enter your serial number exactly (don't copy from anywhere — type it manually or double-check).

Check the tool's response

Three possible outcomes: (a) "may be eligible" — you're in the batch, you book free service. (b) "not in the affected serial range" — your Mac mini was made outside the June–November 2024 window. (c) "already serviced" — someone has already had the repair done under the programme.

If eligible — book at an Apple Authorised Service Provider

In Romania, AASPs for Mac are iServ, iStyle and Quick Mobile. You call or visit any of them, tell them you have an eligible serial under the "Mac mini 2023 No Power" programme, and show them the confirmation from Apple's site. They accept the order, do the repair, hand it back free. You pay NOTHING — not labour, not parts.

If NOT eligible — come to us for diagnostic

Either you have a different model (Intel, M1, M4), or it was made outside the window, or the symptom is different (turns on but freezes, turns on but no image). All these need individual diagnostic. Free diagnostic, written quote, prices per model in our list.

Heads-up: do you have a MacBook M2/M3, not a Mac mini?

A common confusion we see in the workshop: customers coming in with a dead MacBook (laptop) M2 or M3, thinking it qualifies for this programme. It doesn't — Apple's programme is strictly for Mac mini desktop, the 2023 model with M2 chip.

If you have a MacBook Air or Pro with M2 or M3 chip that abruptly stopped powering on, with symptoms like failed DFU Revive, error 4013/4014 or simply "no signs of life", you may very well be affected by the macOS Tahoe 26.4 / 26.4.1 bug that bricks the logic board on M2 and M3 MacBooks after an update. Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged this defect and there's no official service programme — but we developed a proprietary firmware recovery procedure that restores the MacBook in 24h, keeping data and avoiding board replacement. Read the full guide here.

What the programme does NOT cover

Apple is clear on the official page — the programme is narrow, it covers only the no-power issue on the specified batches. The exclusion list:

Additional damage (liquid, impact) preventing repair — Apple settles that separately, paid
Apple may restrict service to the original country of purchase — a Mac mini bought in the US may require shipping back there
The programme does not extend the Mac mini's standard warranty — it only covers this specific issue
Accessories (mouse, keyboard, cables) are not included under any circumstances

For any of these cases, we come into play.

What Radical Service does in this context

Our strategy is simple: if you're eligible for the Apple programme, we send you there. It doesn't make sense to pay us when Apple repairs it for free. We're relevant in three scenarios:

✓ Eligibility check — bring in your Mac mini, we check it on Apple's site with you. Free, 5 minutes.
✓ Mac mini not covered (Intel, M1, M4, or M2 outside the batches) — diagnostic and board-level repair, prices in our price list.
✓ Out-of-programme (after 3 years from purchase) — paid component-level repair.

Why it's important to act now

The service programme is generous — 3 years from first purchase, free, in any country. But it has limits worth knowing:

After those 3 years, the programme expires and you pay the repair out of pocket (replacing the M2 Mac mini logic board is considerable);
Apple may require shipping to a regional repair centre, which means 2–3 weeks without the Mac mini — plan, don't rush;
SSD data may be lost if Apple replaces the board — on Apple Silicon, the SSD is soldered to the board and encrypted by the Secure Enclave. If you had Time Machine or iCloud backup active BEFORE the failure, you're saved;
On a second-hand Mac mini, if the serial confirms eligible but the previous owner already had the repair done, you're stuck — verify pre-purchase.

Frequently asked questions

How do I recognise if my Mac mini has exactly the "no power bug"?

The symptom Apple acknowledges: the Mac mini no longer responds to the Power button, no fan sound, the front LED doesn't light up — even though the power cable is connected to a working outlet (test with another device or switch outlets). If the LED lights up but you see no image on the monitor, or if it turns on and then off — different symptom, not covered by the programme.

I bought the Mac mini second-hand. Am I covered?

Yes, the programme is tied to the device's serial number, not the buyer. Whether you're the first, second or fifth owner, if the serial is eligible and the repair hasn't already been done, you're entitled to a free repair. Check the serial on Apple's site before buying a second-hand M2 Mac mini from 2024 — it's a hidden insurance.

How long does the Apple repair take?

Typically 5–10 working days in Romania, depending on the AASP's stock. In some cases the device is shipped to a repair centre in Europe, extending the timeline to 2–3 weeks. The AASP gives you an exact estimate at intake.

Does Apple repair the defect or replace the device?

Apple decides. In most cases the repair involves replacing the logic board (the root cause of the defect) or the specific sub-component. Very rarely — on recently purchased devices — Apple offers a replacement unit. SSD data is preserved only if the repair keeps the original board; if the board is replaced, data is lost (on Apple Silicon, the SSD is soldered to the board and encrypted). If you had Time Machine or iCloud backup active before the failure, your data is safe.

My Mac mini is still under Apple warranty. Should I use this programme or the warranty?

For this specific issue, the service programme is separate from the warranty and is better for you: the standard warranty expires in one year (or two in the EU), the programme lasts three years from purchase. Plus, the programme doesn't "consume" the warranty — it remains valid for other issues. Apple automatically applies the programme when you bring in the device.

What does Radical Service do in this case?

For customers eligible for the programme — we direct them to an Apple Authorised Service Provider, it's free for them. For those who come to us with a dead M2 Mac mini made outside the affected batches, or with other Mac mini models, we provide free diagnostic and board-level repair. The cost depends on the model and defect — we provide a written quote before we proceed.

I have an M2/M3 MacBook that won't turn on. Does it qualify for this programme?

No. Apple's programme is strict — Mac mini desktop (2023) with M2 chip only. MacBook Air and Pro with M2/M3 are not covered. But careful — if your M2/M3 MacBook died suddenly, possibly after a macOS update, you may be affected by the macOS Tahoe 26.4 / 26.4.1 bug that bricks the logic board. Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged this problem and offers no service programme. We repair the firmware in a few minutes, keep the data and the original board — see our detailed guide at /en/guides/macos-tahoe-26-4-bricked-mac-fix/.

Is the programme available in Romania too? Apple Romania barely exists.

The programme is worldwide ("worldwide Apple programme"), accessible through any Apple Authorised Service Provider — no physical Apple Store required. In Romania, authorised AASPs for Mac are iServ, iStyle and Quick Mobile. They take the request, validate the serial with Apple, do the repair per the official protocol. You don't pay — billing happens between them and Apple.

What if Apple's tool says "eligible" but the AASP refuses?

Very rarely, but it happens. Ask for the refusal in writing and escalate directly to Apple Support (chat or phone) — they have the authority to force the AASP to honour the programme. Keep a screenshot of the "eligible" result from Apple's site as proof, plus your serial number.

Official sources

Apple Support — Mac mini Service Program for No Power Issue (official programme page)
Tom's Guide — Apple confirms power issue affecting some Mac mini models
Macworld — Out-of-warranty M2 Mac mini won't turn on — Apple will fix it for free
AppleInsider — M2 Mac mini owners with AC power issues can get repairs for free

Mac mini M2 (2023) won't turn on? Apple repairs it FREE