13" MacBook Pro mid 2012 free battery replacement

If you use the estimator on this Apple page:

Mac Repair & Service - Apple Support

you will see Apple no longer offers any battery service for Macbook Pros older than 2016 with the exception of one 2015 variant.

After-market batteries, especially those sold on auction sites, are notoriously bad—some enough so to kill your computer in the worst case. Even those sold by reputable resellers are not as good as Apple's. At least with a reputable reseller you get a warranty and support. When my 2012 Macbook Pro's battery final dies, I'l probably go with these guys:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAP13MBU74V/

Also, Apple never sold replacement batteries for that model as a consumer service part. Any in Apple pacakging are counterfeit.

robn_69 wrote:

13" MacBook Pro mid 2012 free battery replacement

my battery has been heating up and icon for battery service is on

but before I get charged $$$$ for a new battery --- I thought id ask if there was a replacement program or a "warranty replacement program" I can do it under

your 2012 is way beyond any program...

see vintage and obsolete:

Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support

Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired ...

I have Bad news, and Worse news.

The bad news:

Apple will not be providing you a free battery. As leroydouglas points out, IF there were a service program for the battery in that older Mac, it would have expired about three years from the sold date of the computer. To the best of my recollection, there never was such program anyway.

The worse news:

I fully expect Apple no longer provides battery service for that older model Mac, at any price.

The ones sold as aftermarket are WILDY variable in quality and longevity, skewing mostly toward very bad.

In the US, the only ones considered by readers here to be not quite as bad are sold by OWC at Macsales.com

Here is an Apple article which lists all the current publicly acknowledged free repair programs for various Apple products:

Apple Service Programs - Apple Support

Sometimes Apple has secret special free repair programs which are never publicly listed, so it is best to have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider examine the device to see what their repair estimate is.

I also agree with @Grant's suggestion of OWC as the best option since the quality of third party Lithium batteries is extremely poor. At least if you have the non-Retina model, the battery is easily replaced.