Repair · Ottawa
MacBook repair in Ottawa
Bring it to 428 Rideau Street, or book a pickup. We diagnose it for $59, tell you in writing what it needs and what it costs, and nothing happens until you say yes.
428 Rideau Street, Ottawa — approximately 16 years serving the National Capital Region
Sound familiar?
- The screen is cracked, flickering or completely dark.
- The battery is swollen, or it dies within an hour.
- Keys stopped responding after a spill.
- It will not boot, or it boots to a question mark.
- It has become unbearably slow and storage is full.
What we repair
MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac hardware and macOS problems.
- Screen and display assembly replacement
- Battery replacement
- Keyboard and trackpad repair
- Liquid damage assessment and board-level cleaning
- Storage upgrade and data migration
- macOS reinstallation, account and performance work
- Data recovery attempts from failing drives
Honest about what we are
We are an independent repair shop, not an Apple Authorised Service Provider. That means we can often quote lower and turn work around faster, and it means we will tell you when a machine genuinely is not worth repairing.
Your files come first
Our default is to preserve your data. Where a repair carries any risk to files, we tell you before starting and back up first.
The three MacBook repairs we do most
Every one of these starts the same way: a $59 diagnostic, credited toward the repair if you approve it. You get the price in writing before a single part is ordered.
MacBook screen repair and display replacement
Cracked glass, dark panels, flickering, vertical lines, backlight failure and the horizontal-line "flexgate" pattern on some MacBook Pro models. We check whether the fault is the display assembly, the cable or the logic board before quoting a screen.
Signs you need this
- Cracked or shattered glass with the machine still running
- Black screen, but you can hear the fan and startup chime
- Flickering, colour bands or vertical lines across the panel
- Backlight only visible at certain lid angles
- Image works on an external monitor but not the built-in screen
What the repair includes
- Display assembly or panel replacement, depending on the model
- Display-cable and backlight-circuit testing before parts are ordered
- Hinge, clutch-cover and antenna reassembly
- True Tone and camera function checked after fitting where applicable
- Full display test — brightness, dead pixels, touch bar where fitted
How it works
1. Intake and $59 diagnostic
We record the model and serial, note existing damage, and confirm whether the fault is the panel, the cable or the board.
2. Written quote
You get the exact part option and total in writing. Assemblies for newer Retina models cost considerably more than older panels — we tell you which one you have.
3. Your approval
Nothing is ordered until you say yes. If the machine is not worth the repair, we say that instead of quoting it.
4. Fit and test
Panel or assembly fitted, hinges realigned, brightness and pixel test run, then a burn-in period before it leaves the bench.
5. Collection
Pick up at 428 Rideau Street or book return delivery in the Ottawa area.
Diagnostic fee: $59 diagnostic, credited toward the repair if you approve it. Screen work is quoted per model — a Retina display assembly is not the same job as an older panel swap, so we do not publish one price.
Turnaround: Usually a few business days, subject to the part for your specific model.
MacBook battery replacement
Swollen batteries, cycle-count exhaustion, "Service Recommended" warnings and machines that shut down the moment the charger is unplugged. A swollen battery is a safety issue — stop using the machine and bring it in.
Signs you need this
- The trackpad no longer clicks or the case is bowing — a swollen cell
- macOS reports Service Recommended or Service Battery
- It dies within an hour, or shuts down at 30 percent
- It only runs while plugged in
- It runs hot and the fans never settle
What the repair includes
- Battery health, cycle count and charge-circuit reading
- Safe removal of swollen cells and adhesive
- Replacement battery fitted and calibrated
- Charging port, MagSafe or USB-C power delivery checked
- Trackpad reseated and retested after a swelling case
How it works
1. $59 diagnostic
We read cycle count and health, and confirm the fault is the battery rather than the charger, port or power circuitry on the board.
2. Written quote
Battery part plus labour, in writing. If the charging circuit is also faulty, that is quoted separately and clearly.
3. Your approval
No part is ordered until you approve the total.
4. Replacement and calibration
Old cell removed safely, new battery fitted, then a charge-discharge cycle run to confirm health readings.
5. Collection
Walk-in collection or Ottawa-area return delivery.
Diagnostic fee: $59 diagnostic, credited toward the repair. If a swollen battery is obvious on arrival we still test the charging circuit before quoting, so you are not paying twice.
Turnaround: Often same or next business day when the battery for your model is in stock.
MacBook liquid-damage repair
Coffee, water, wine or juice. Liquid damage is the one repair nobody can price honestly up front, because corrosion keeps spreading until the board is opened, cleaned and tested. We are straight with you about the odds.
Signs you need this
- It shut down during or shortly after a spill
- Some keys work and others do not
- It powers on but the screen, trackpad or audio is dead
- It charges intermittently or not at all
- It worked after the spill, then failed days later — that is corrosion
What the repair includes
- Immediate teardown and battery disconnection to stop further damage
- Ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board and connectors
- Corrosion assessment under magnification, component by component
- Board-level repair attempts where a track or component is recoverable
- Data recovery attempt from the drive, even when the board cannot be saved
How it works
1. Bring it in powered off
Do not charge it and do not try to switch it on. Every power-up after a spill spreads corrosion. Getting it to us quickly matters more than anything else.
2. $59 diagnostic and teardown
We open it, disconnect the battery and assess how far the liquid travelled. This is an assessment, not a promise.
3. Written quote with honest odds
You get the cleaning and repair cost in writing, along with a frank view of the chance it succeeds. Liquid repairs sometimes fail — you will hear that from us before you spend anything.
4. Clean, repair, test
Ultrasonic clean, component-level repair where possible, then extended testing before we call it fixed.
5. If it cannot be saved
We tell you, and we focus on recovering your data and transferring it to another machine instead.
Diagnostic fee: $59 diagnostic, credited toward an approved repair. We do not quote a liquid-damage price before opening the machine, because anyone who does is guessing. If we cannot fix it, you do not pay for the attempt.
Turnaround: Longer than other repairs — cleaning, drying and staged testing typically take several business days.
What changes
$59 diagnostic
Credited toward the repair if you go ahead.
Written quote first
No part is ordered before you approve the price.
90-day workmanship warranty
On repair labour we perform.
What it costs
Diagnosis $59, credited toward the repair. Common MacBook jobs start from $149. Written quote before any work.
See full pricingCommon questions
- How much does MacBook repair cost in Ottawa?
- Diagnosis is $59 and is credited toward your repair. Common jobs start from $149. You receive a written quote after diagnosis and nothing proceeds until you approve it.
- Are you an Apple Authorised Service Provider?
- No. We are an independent Ottawa repair shop. We are clear about that because it affects parts options and warranty, and you deserve to know before you decide.
- How long does a MacBook repair take?
- We give an honest estimate after diagnosis rather than a promise before it. Most common repairs are returned within a few business days, subject to parts.
- Will I lose my data?
- Our default is to preserve it. If a repair puts your files at any risk we tell you first and back up before starting.
- Can you collect it from me?
- Yes — scheduled pickup and return delivery across the Ottawa area, free on qualifying repairs.