DIY repair site iFixit has launched its own app for iOS and Android, featuring its extensive library of repair guides and resources, a battery health monitor, and a new AI \u201cFixBot\u201d tool that\u2019s been trained on those same guides to help with repairs.<\/p>\n
The heart of the new app is the company\u2019s existing library of repair guides, optimized for your mobile device. You can save the devices you own, giving you quick access to the relevant resources, and buy both tools and replacement parts from within the app.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s entirely new is FixBot, an AI helper designed to talk you through repairs and troubleshooting. \u201cYou tell it what\u2019s happening: your phone dies at 30 percent, your washing machine won\u2019t drain, your mower sputters and stalls,\u201d CEO Kyle Wiens says in a blog post<\/a>. \u201cIt asks follow-up questions. It eliminates possibilities. It thinks out loud with you, the way a master technician would, until the diagnosis clicks into place. Then it finds the parts and walks you through step by step.\u201d<\/p>\n iFixit says the bot pulls its answers from its repair guides, cache of PDF manuals, and user forums. For devices without a dedicated iFixit guide already, the bot \u201cwill do its best with manufacturer docs, targeted web searches and information from similar models,\u201d according to Wiens. Right now FixBot is entirely free to use, but eventually its voice controls and document uploads will be limited to a $4.99\/month paid plan, with access limits applied to the free version too.<\/p>\n There are other app-specific features that take advantage of being installed on your phone or tablet. If you have an issue with the hardware it\u2019s installed on, it will automatically detect the model, saving you from searching. It also taps into your phone\u2019s battery information to report on your battery health. Most modern phones now include built-in battery health scores anyway, but iFixit\u2019s unique touch is to predict future battery degradation, helping you plan a replacement ahead of time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to demystify batteries for people,\u201d Wiens told my colleague Sean Hollister. \u201cIt should be like an oil change, you know when you\u2019ll need to replace it and plan on regular maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n