Apple Support Community Is Shutting Down, as DIY Advice Bites the Dust
Even if the site was no longer very useful, it’s still sad to lose free peer support.
Apple Support Community, an online forum for DIY troubleshooting and support for Apple products, is set to close its doors permanently on November 20. This marks the end of a nearly 30-year legacy that began in 1998, when Apple launched its Apple Tech Exchange forum. The decision to shut down the community comes after careful consideration of the company’s strategy and customer needs, according to an Apple spokesperson.
Users who require specific troubleshooting information for Apple devices, such as iPhones or HomePods, should look to Apple’s official support site, online chat, support phone numbers, and in-store assistance. The forum has witnessed mixed reactions from Apple users, with some praising the community for its valuable insights and others deeming it frustrating and unreliable.
Reddit users expressed disappointment at the loss of real Apple employees' input, while some lamented the decline in helpfulness and accessibility of the forum over the years.
Industry experts believe the closure is part of a broader trend among tech companies to shift users away from self-repair and toward purchasing official support services. AI has also changed the dynamics of online discussions, with platforms like Reddit and Google using user-generated content to train AI models. The shutdown of Apple’s community might encourage other companies to follow suit, leading to a reduction in peer-to-peer support and an increased reliance on AI summaries.
As Apple moves away from user discussions, the future of support forums in the tech industry hangs in the balance.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
