Apple Confirms T2 Chip Can Block Third-Party Repairs

The T2 chip on recent Macs controls system components, and if they are not from authorized vendors, the chip may decide to block starting. Apple has confirmed that.

To The Verge, Apple reports that this applies at least to the logic board and the sensor for Touch ID. The manufacturer was unable to provide a list of parts that the T2 chip controls. The confirmation follows previous MacRumors and Motherboard releases based on internal Apple documents.

It stated that the T2 would prevent a system from booting after a repair unless it detects the Apple Service Toolkit or Apple Service Toolkit 2. This would allow Apple to force repairs to be made only through its own Apple Store or authorized service providers.

According to that document, the MacBook Pro includes the screen, logic board, housing and Touch ID. With the iMac Pro, it’s all about the flash storage and the logic board. Despite this, iFixit managed to replace a screen and PCB on a 2018 MacBook Pro, albeit with parts that had already been validated by Apple. The recently announced Mac mini and MacBook Air also have a T2 on board.

The T2 is an Apple-developed chip that not only takes care of security tasks like Secure Boot and the storage of cryptographic keys, but also prevents unauthorized persons from taking over the microphone of MacBooks and the systems only respond to ‘Hey Siri’ and do not unintentionally listen in. .