Frequently asked questions.

Right to repair is a set of laws that force manufacturers to let you (or any repair shop you choose) actually fix the stuff you bought. Concretely, that usually means four things:

- Spare parts must be sold to consumers and independent shops at a fair price, for a defined number of years after the device was last sold. - Repair manuals, schematics, and diagnostic tools must be made available — not locked behind a dealer-only portal. - Software locks (like "parts pairing" that bricks a screen if it wasn't installed by the manufacturer) are restricted. - Repairing your own device cannot void your warranty just because you opened it.

The details vary a lot by country and by US state, and by what kind of device you have. A washing machine in Germany, an iPhone in California, and a tractor in Iowa are all covered by different rules. This site tells you which ones apply to *your* device.

Note: this is informational only, not legal advice. For a binding answer, talk to a consumer-rights organization or lawyer in your jurisdiction.

Because for about two decades, manufacturers have been quietly making devices harder to fix. Glued-in batteries, proprietary screws, screens that get "paired" to a specific logic board in software, refusal to sell a $4 part except to authorized service providers — these are all design choices, not accidents. The result: a lot of devices get thrown out when they could have been repaired for a fraction of the replacement cost.

Right-to-repair laws are the regulatory pushback. The EU frames it as environmental policy (reducing e-waste and extending product lifetimes is part of the European Green Deal). US states tend to frame it as consumer protection and competition policy (you should be able to choose who fixes your stuff, not be forced into the manufacturer's repair channel).

Both framings end up in roughly the same place: manufacturers must make repair *possible*, even if they'd prefer you bought a new one.

Probably yes, but it depends on three things: where you live, what the device is, and when you bought it.

- If you're in the EU, EEA, or UK: most household electronics and appliances are covered or will be soon. The EU Right-to-Repair Directive must be turned into national law by 31 July 2026. - If you're in the US: it depends on your state. As of 2026, California, New York, Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have R2R laws in force, with Connecticut and Texas coming online in fall 2026. Roughly a third of Americans live in an R2R state. - If you're in Canada, Australia, or elsewhere: there are partial protections (Canada's Bill C-244, UK Ecodesign Regulations, Quebec's Bill 29), but coverage is patchier.

Use the checker on this site — enter your device, brand, model, and location and we'll tell you exactly which rules apply to you, or whether you're unfortunately not covered yet.

The directive was adopted in 2024. It's a directive, not a regulation, which means it doesn't apply directly — each EU member state has to pass its own national law that translates the directive into local rules. That process is called transposition.

The deadline for transposition is 31 July 2026. After that date, every EU country is supposed to have R2R rules on its books that meet at least the directive's minimum requirements. Some countries are moving faster (France already had its *indice de réparabilité* law in force well before the directive) and some will likely miss the deadline.

A few things to know:

- The directive sets a floor, not a ceiling. Member states can go further. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are likely to have stronger rules than the EU minimum. - The directive doesn't replace the EU's pre-existing Ecodesign rules, which already require spare parts for things like washing machines, dishwashers, and TVs. Those rules have been in force since 2021. - Until your country transposes the directive, you mostly fall back on Ecodesign rules and your normal consumer-warranty rights (typically 2 years minimum in the EU).

The EU directive itself focuses on products that already have repair requirements under EU product law — primarily through Ecodesign regulations and the EU energy label. As of 2026 that includes:

- Smartphones and tablets (added under the 2023 Ecodesign rules, in force since June 2025) - Washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators - Televisions and electronic displays - Vacuum cleaners, welding equipment, servers - Light sources (some categories)

For each of these, manufacturers must make spare parts available for a defined period (typically 7–10 years after the last unit was placed on the market) and provide repair information to professional repairers, and in many cases to end users.

Laptops are coming — an Ecodesign regulation for laptops is in the EU pipeline but not yet in force as of mid-2026. Small appliances (kettles, toasters), audio gear, and game consoles are largely not covered yet.

Separately, smartphones now show a repairability score (A–E) on the EU energy label, similar to the energy efficiency grade.

No — the UK is not bound by the EU directive after Brexit. But the UK has its own equivalent, the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021, which came into force on 1 July 2021 and largely mirror the EU's 2021 Ecodesign rules.

In practical terms that means UK consumers and repair shops have similar rights for:

- Washing machines and washer-dryers - Dishwashers - Refrigerators and freezers - TVs and electronic displays

Manufacturers must make functional spare parts available for 7 to 10 years depending on the part, and provide repair information to professional repairers within a defined window.

Where the UK lags the EU is on smartphones and tablets — the new EU rules in force since 2025 have not been mirrored in UK law yet, though it's under review by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. If you're in the UK with a broken phone, your strongest tool is still the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (goods must be of satisfactory quality and durable).

As of 2026, the states with R2R laws in force are:

- New York — Digital Fair Repair Act (in force since 1 July 2023). Covers digital electronic equipment first sold after that date. Notable carve-outs for appliances, medical devices, and motor vehicles. - Minnesota — Digital Fair Repair Act (in force 1 July 2024). Broadest scope of any state — covers most consumer electronics and appliances. - California — Right to Repair Act / SB 244 (in force 1 July 2024). Requires parts and documentation for 3 years for products $50–$99.99 and 7 years for products $100+. - Colorado — covers consumer electronics, agricultural equipment (in force 2024), and powered wheelchairs (in force 2023). - Oregon — SB 1596 (in force 1 January 2025). Notable for being the first state to explicitly ban parts pairing for devices made after that date. - Washington — HB 1483 (in force 1 January 2026).

Coming online in fall 2026: Connecticut and Texas, both with consumer electronics scopes.

A few states have R2R laws limited to specific categories — for example, Massachusetts has had auto right-to-repair since 2013, and several states have agricultural or wheelchair-specific laws.

Not really, no. There is no comprehensive federal R2R statute as of 2026. What you do have at the federal level is a patchwork of partial protections:

- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (1975): a manufacturer can't void your warranty just because you used a third-party part or repair shop, unless they can prove that part actually caused the problem. This is the law behind the FTC's "warranty void if removed" sticker crackdowns. - FTC's 2021 Nixing the Fix report and 2024 enforcement guidance: the FTC has signaled it will go after manufacturers who illegally restrict repair, but it's case-by-case. - DMCA Section 1201 exemptions: every three years, the Copyright Office grants exemptions that legalize bypassing software locks for specific repair purposes (smartphones, tractors, medical devices, game consoles in some cases).

Federal R2R bills have been introduced in Congress (the Fair Repair Act, the Freedom to Repair Act) but none have passed as of mid-2026. In practice, your strongest US protections come from your state law if you're in an R2R state, and Magnuson-Moss everywhere else.

Probably eventually, but the pace varies a lot. Around 30 states have introduced R2R bills in recent legislative sessions. The states most actively considering legislation in 2026 include New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, Hawaii, Massachusetts (beyond just autos), and Illinois.

A few patterns from the states that have already passed laws:

- Bipartisan support is real but slow. R2R bills tend to attract co-sponsors from both parties, especially around farm equipment and medical devices, but lobbying from manufacturers (TechNet, CTIA) has historically slowed bills down for several sessions before they pass. - Scope gets narrower in negotiation. Original bills often cover everything; final bills typically carve out medical devices, motor vehicles, video game consoles, and sometimes appliances. - The first state in a region tends to unblock neighbors. Once one state passes, others follow within 2–3 years because manufacturers don't want to maintain different parts/documentation rules per state.

The practical answer: check Repair.org's state tracker and your own state legislature's bill database. If a bill is in committee, contacting your state representative actually moves the needle — these bills often pass or fail by single-digit vote margins.

The general flow, regardless of jurisdiction:

1. Identify your device exactly. Brand, model number, and purchase date. The model number is what determines which rules apply, not the marketing name ("iPhone 15" → A3090, A3092, etc.). 2. Check the official repairability score if there is one. EU energy-label products and most smartphones now have one. A higher score means easier repair and more parts availability. 3. Try the manufacturer's self-service portal first. Apple has Self Service Repair, Samsung has its parts program, Google has iFixit-fulfilled parts. This is the path of least resistance for genuine parts. 4. If they refuse to sell you a part or refuse to repair, ask them to put the refusal in writing and to cite a reason. Under EU and most US R2R laws, an unjustified refusal to supply parts is itself a violation. 5. Escalate to your national consumer-rights body (e.g. Which? in the UK, UFC-Que Choisir in France, your state Attorney General in the US, Consumer Reports' advocacy arm) with the written refusal in hand.

This site can generate a printable summary you can hand to a repair shop or include in a complaint. None of this is legal advice — for binding action, talk to a consumer lawyer.

Independent shops generally want your business — the friction is usually getting parts and documentation from the manufacturer, not getting work done. Three things make their job easier:

- Bring the model number, not just the marketing name. And bring proof of purchase if you have it. R2R obligations are often tied to time-since-sale. - Ask the shop directly: do you have access to parts and the service manual for this model? Under EU and state R2R laws, manufacturers must sell to independents on "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory" terms (FRAND-style language). If a shop says the manufacturer won't supply them, that's a useful data point — they can request again citing the law, or you can use it in a complaint. - Ask whether the part is "paired." Some manufacturers (notably Apple) use software pairing where a non-original part triggers warnings or disabled features (Face ID, True Tone, battery health). Oregon and the EU directive restrict this, but it still happens. Knowing in advance lets you decide whether to pay more for an OEM part or accept the limitation.

If the shop is reluctant or pushes you toward replacement, the 50% rule is a good rule of thumb: if the repair quote is more than half the cost of a comparable new device, replacement may be the better call.

First, get the refusal in writing — email, chat transcript, support case ID, anything. Verbal refusals are useless for follow-up.

Then the path depends on where you are:

- EU: file a complaint with your national consumer protection authority (e.g. DGCCRF in France, BEUC's national members, the Verbraucherzentrale in Germany). Your national market surveillance body for the energy label and Ecodesign is also a route — they can fine manufacturers for non-compliance. - UK: Citizens Advice and Trading Standards. The Competition and Markets Authority handles broader market issues. - US — R2R state: complain to your state Attorney General. State R2R laws are typically enforced by the AG, not by private lawsuit. Some states (NY, MN) explicitly let consumers report violations through a web form. - US — non-R2R state: file with the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) if it looks like a Magnuson-Moss warranty violation, plus your state AG for general consumer-protection issues.

You can also escalate publicly: Repair.org, iFixit, and PIRG track manufacturer behavior and have moved companies to act after bad press. Reddit and Twitter sometimes work too, though they're hit-or-miss.

This is informational, not legal advice. For real money disputes, consider a consumer-rights lawyer in your jurisdiction.

Most missing emails are delivery hiccups. Try these in order:

1. Check your spam / promotions / junk folder. The sender is `noreply@repair-rights.com` — Gmail in particular tends to file first-time senders under Promotions.

2. Search your inbox for `repair-rights` or for the subject line `Your repair-rights PDF`. The Stripe receipt arrives separately and the link sometimes lands in the same thread.

3. Wait 5 minutes. The webhook from Stripe → our server → email-out usually takes under a minute, but Gmail can briefly hold mail from new senders.

Still nothing after 15 minutes? Email refunds@repair-rights.com with your Stripe receipt number (it starts with `pi_` or `cs_` and arrives in the Stripe email) and tell us whether you'd prefer a fresh download link or a refund. We reply within one business day. No questions asked, no proof of non-receipt required.

Yes — within 30 days of purchase, no questions asked.

Legally, digital downloads in the EU can be excluded from the standard 14-day withdrawal right when the buyer requests immediate delivery (which the checkout consent box did). We choose to be more generous than the law requires: if you regret the purchase, the PDF was wrong for your situation, or it never arrived, we'll refund the full €15.

How to request:

1. Email refunds@repair-rights.com from the same address you used at checkout, with your Stripe receipt number (`pi_...` or `cs_...`).

2. No need to justify or attach evidence — we don't ask.

3. We process the refund through Stripe within one business day. The money lands on your card 5–10 business days later, depending on your bank.

What we will not do: hold onto a refund request to check whether you 'used' the PDF. We don't track downloads.

There are real limits. The most common ones:

- Device age / time since last sold. Most laws give you a window — typically 5 to 10 years after the device was last placed on the market — for parts and documentation. Older devices generally aren't covered. - Carve-outs by category. Most state laws explicitly exclude medical devices, motor vehicles, agricultural equipment (covered separately), video game consoles, and sometimes appliances. The EU directive is broader but is still scoped to specific Ecodesign product categories — it doesn't cover, say, a Bluetooth speaker or a coffee grinder. - B2B and industrial equipment. R2R laws are mostly consumer-facing. Commercial buyers usually negotiate their own service contracts. - Software-only issues. R2R is about hardware repair. If your device is bricked by a vendor pulling cloud services or ending software updates, that's generally a separate issue (it's being addressed in the EU under the Digital Content Directive, but it's not R2R). - Damage outside normal use. Manufacturers can still refuse to repair (or charge full price) for damage they wouldn't normally cover — water damage, drops, third-party modifications.

If the checker on this site says you're not covered, those limits are usually why.

Mostly no, but with nuance.

In the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act has prohibited "tie-in sales" since 1975 — a manufacturer cannot void your warranty just because you used a third-party part or repaired the device yourself. The famous "warranty void if removed" stickers have been called illegal by the FTC. The exception: if the third-party repair actually caused the new problem, the manufacturer can refuse warranty service for that specific issue.

In the EU, the Sale of Goods Directive and the new R2R directive make it clear that the legal guarantee (the 2-year minimum warranty every EU consumer has) cannot be voided by independent repair. A separate commercial warranty offered by the manufacturer can have its own terms — read those terms — but the underlying legal guarantee is bulletproof.

Where it gets murky:

- If you damage the device while attempting a repair, that damage isn't the manufacturer's problem. - Software warranties and AppleCare-style extended warranties may have their own terms that are stricter than the legal minimum. - "Tamper-evident" indicators may still flag the device for the manufacturer's own service decisions, even if they can't legally use it to deny warranty.

The short version: opening your device, by itself, does not void your legal protections. This is informational only — for high-value disputes, get specific advice.

Even when formal R2R doesn't apply, you have options:

- iFixit guides cover thousands of devices regardless of age and are generally free. If a guide exists and you're handy, this is usually the cheapest route. - Independent repair shops often work on out-of-coverage devices using salvaged or third-party parts. The repair may use non-OEM components — that's a tradeoff to discuss with the shop. - Manufacturer goodwill repairs. Even past the R2R window, manufacturers sometimes offer a flat-rate repair or trade-in, especially if a known defect (e.g. battery swelling, common board failure) is involved. It's worth asking. - Community parts marketplaces (eBay, AliExpress, specialist forums) have salvaged parts for older devices. Quality varies wildly — buy from sellers with reviews, not lowest price. - Recycling done right. If the device truly cannot be economically repaired, drop it at a certified e-waste recycler (not a landfill, not a curbside bin). In the EU, retailers are obligated to take back small electronics for free under the WEEE Directive.

The 50% rule is still useful: if a quoted repair is more than half the price of a comparable new device, replacement (or a refurbished unit) is often the smarter financial call — but the *environmental* math may still favor repair.