In the United States, you can often repair a product yourself or hire an independent repair shop. However, there isn't one federal rule requiring every manufacturer to provide every part, schematic, diagnostic tool, or software key.

The result usually depends on the product, the state where it was sold or used, the warranty terms, and any safety or software restrictions. Before buying a part or opening the device, use this checklist.

Quick right-to-repair checklist

What right to repair does - and doesn't - mean

"Right to repair" can refer to several separate questions. The answer to one doesn't automatically answer the others.

Your question What usually controls it What it does not guarantee
Can I open the product or hire a shop? Ownership, contract terms, safety rules, and software restrictions Access to every part or diagnostic function
Will the warranty pay? The written warranty, applicable law, and the cause of the failure Free repairs for accidental damage or damage caused by the repair
Must the manufacturer sell parts or tools? A product-specific law, regulation, settlement, or company program Unlimited availability at any price
Can I change the software? Copyright, anti-circumvention, security, emissions, and safety rules Permission to bypass locks or copy protected software
Is an independent shop allowed? State law, warranty law, and the product's service requirements Manufacturer-paid service or factory certification

Access to repair is not the same as free repair. You may still have to pay for parts, labor, shipping, testing, calibration, or software configuration.

U.S. warranty rules and repair access

There is no single federal law that makes every consumer product repairable by its owner or by any independent shop. State laws can create access rights for particular products, but coverage and effective dates differ.

What the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act can mean

For a written consumer warranty, a manufacturer generally can't require you to use a particular branded part or authorized service provider as a condition of keeping the warranty unless the part or service is provided free or the company has an appropriate waiver. The FTC's warranty guidance discusses warnings sent to companies over this type of warranty language.

That protection doesn't require the company to approve every claim after an independent repair. A manufacturer may deny a claim if it can connect the failure to an incorrect repair, incompatible part, liquid exposure, accident, misuse, or an excluded modification. Ask the company to identify the specific exclusion and explain how it applies to the failure.

A label such as "warranty void if removed" isn't a complete answer by itself. Save the label, request a written decision, and distinguish among:

A retailer protection plan, extended warranty, or device insurance policy may have different procedures and exclusions. Read that agreement separately from the manufacturer's warranty.

How to check a state right-to-repair law

A proposed bill, a company promise, and an effective statute are not the same thing. Check an official state legislature, attorney general, or consumer-protection source for:

  1. Covered products: Digital electronics, appliances, vehicles, agricultural equipment, wheelchairs, and medical equipment may be treated differently.
  2. Covered people: The law may protect owners, independent repair businesses, or both.
  3. Effective date: Some laws apply only to products manufactured or sold after a specified date.
  4. Required access: Look for parts, tools, service documentation, diagnostic software, firmware, or calibration information.
  5. Exemptions: Safety, cybersecurity, trade secrets, emissions, medical use, and security functions may be excluded.
  6. Pricing rules: "Fair and reasonable" access doesn't necessarily mean free access.
  7. Enforcement: Find out whether complaints go to a state agency, a court, or another designated office.

A statute requiring repair information may not require the manufacturer to pay for the repair. It also may not require access to a security credential or a function that could create a safety or emissions risk.

Software locks and parts pairing

Modern devices can recognize replacement components and require calibration, account authorization, or software configuration. A screen or battery may fit physically but still display a warning or lose a feature until the repair is completed through an approved process.

Owning the hardware doesn't automatically authorize you to bypass a technological protection measure. Copyright and anti-circumvention rules can affect firmware, diagnostic software, and access controls. WIPO's overview of U.S. right-to-repair issues describes how repair rights and software restrictions can overlap.

Before using a bypass tool, confirm that the procedure is lawful for your product and purpose. Don't download unknown firmware or use a security credential from an unverified source.

How to judge repairability before buying

A repairability score is a useful buying signal, not a legal guarantee that parts will be available in your area. iFixit uses a 10-point scoring system for many products, and France's repairability index also uses a 10-point scale for eligible products.

Use a score alongside these questions:

Repairability factor What to ask
Parts Can you buy a battery, screen, motor, port, or other common failure part separately?
Documentation Is there a clear service manual, parts diagram, or diagnostic procedure?
Disassembly Are parts held by standard screws, or by strong adhesive and fragile clips?
Modularity Can you replace one failed component, or must you replace an entire board?
Software Will the product accept the replacement part without pairing or calibration?
Updates Will security and operating-system updates continue for the expected service life?
Local service Can a qualified shop repair it nearby, and can it obtain the required tools?
Total cost Do parts, tools, shipping, labor, and testing cost less than an alternative?

Check the exact model rather than relying on the product family name. Two versions of the same phone or laptop may use different batteries, screens, fasteners, or repair procedures.

Before attempting a self-repair

1. Diagnose before ordering parts

Write down symptoms, error messages, recent events, and diagnostic codes. A device that won't charge may have a damaged cable, port, battery, charging circuit, or software problem. Replacing the most visible part first can turn a small repair into an expensive one.

2. Confirm the part and return terms

Match the part number and product revision. Ask whether the part is new, used, refurbished, or third-party. Check the seller's return policy before removing protective film or installing the component.

A cheap part can become costly if it causes another failure, requires paid calibration, or can't be returned after installation.

3. Gather the correct tools

A basic electronics kit may include:

Use a multimeter only if you know how to test the circuit safely. For vehicles, a basic code reader isn't the same as manufacturer-level diagnostic equipment. For appliances, insulated tools and electrical training may be necessary.

4. Protect data and power

Back up important files before starting. If you send a product to a shop, remove personal accounts where possible and ask how the business protects stored data.

Shut down and disconnect electronics before opening them. Never puncture, bend, or heat a swollen lithium-ion battery. Stop if you smell chemicals, see smoke, find damaged insulation, or cannot identify a high-voltage component.

5. Follow the exact service procedure

Read the complete manual before starting. Photograph cable routing and screw locations, label connectors, and don't force a part that doesn't release as expected. A guide for a similar model may not show hidden clips, different cable lengths, or a revised battery.

6. Test before disposing of the old part

Test charging, connectivity, cameras, microphones, speakers, buttons, biometric features, keyboards, and any other functions related to the repair. Keep the removed part until the replacement works and the return period ends. Dispose of batteries and electronic waste through an appropriate local program.

Device-specific repair checklists

Phones and laptops

Some manufacturers offer self-service parts and tools for selected models. Availability is usually model- and country-specific. These programs don't make every third-party component compatible, and they don't replace a state law.

Appliances

A right-to-repair rule doesn't remove the need for a licensed or qualified professional where local safety rules require one.

Cars

An inexpensive scanner may read basic powertrain codes but not every body, safety, security, or driver-assistance system. Access to a code doesn't necessarily provide permission or equipment to change the underlying software.

Tractors and other farm equipment

The FTC's announcement about Deere and participating states illustrates why the status of a legal order matters. If the announcement describes a proposed order, check whether it was approved and signed by the court before treating it as an enforceable obligation. It also doesn't mean that every owner automatically receives every diagnostic or software function.

Medical and mobility equipment

Medical equipment can involve patient safety, cybersecurity, licensing, calibration, and regulatory requirements. Don't use a general right-to-repair claim to bypass a safety interlock, alter a dose, or service life-critical equipment without appropriate training.

Some state measures address powered wheelchairs or other mobility equipment separately. Check the exact product definition and service requirements in your state. For high-risk equipment, use a qualified provider and preserve the service record.

If a manufacturer blocks the repair

Use a written paper trail instead of relying on a phone promise.

  1. Make a specific request. Include the model, serial number, part number, and the manual, tool, diagnostic information, or repair service you need. Ask about price, availability, account requirements, and delivery time.
  2. Ask for the restriction in writing. Request the exact warranty clause, policy, safety reason, or legal basis for the refusal.
  3. Separate access from warranty. A company may sell a part while disputing a warranty claim, or deny a part request while offering a paid repair. Record which issue you are pursuing.
  4. Get an independent diagnosis. Ask the technician to state the failed component, the likely cause, the part used, and whether the repair could have caused the claimed defect.
  5. Escalate to the seller or plan administrator. A retailer return policy, service contract, and manufacturer warranty are separate routes.
  6. Report potentially deceptive warranty language. The FTC and your state consumer-protection office may accept complaints, although a complaint doesn't guarantee an individual repair or payment.
  7. Consider formal remedies for high-value disputes. Small-claims rules and deadlines differ by state. Keep your records and obtain local legal advice when the cost or safety implications justify it.

If a warranty dispute has begun, don't keep opening the product if doing so could destroy evidence. Photograph its condition and ask the company how it wants the product inspected.

EU and other international rules

Repair rights depend on where the product was sold, where the consumer is located, and which product rules apply. A U.S. warranty analysis doesn't automatically apply to an item bought in another country.

The European Union uses product-specific ecodesign and consumer rules rather than one simple checklist for every device. The European Commission says new rules for smartphones, cordless phones, and tablets placed on the EU market began applying on June 20, 2025. The rules focus on durability, energy performance, and repairability. See the Commission's smartphone and tablet rules.

For a product bought in the EU:

The United Kingdom and other countries have their own consumer-guarantee, ecodesign, and repair rules. Check the local regulator or consumer agency instead of applying a U.S. or EU summary to another jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

Can an independent repair void my U.S. warranty?

Not automatically. A manufacturer generally needs a valid reason to deny the particular claim, such as a defect caused by the repair or part, or an exclusion that applies to the damage. Ask for the reason and the relevant warranty language in writing.

Must a manufacturer give me a schematic?

Not in every U.S. case. Access to schematics, parts, tools, and diagnostics may come from a state law, product regulation, settlement, or voluntary program. There is no universal federal requirement covering every product.

Does owning a device let me bypass its software lock?

No. Hardware ownership doesn't automatically override copyright, anti-circumvention, security, emissions, or safety restrictions. Confirm that a bypass is lawful and safe before attempting it.

Does right to repair make the manufacturer pay?

Usually not. Access rights and warranty reimbursement are different issues. A warranty may cover a qualifying defect, while a right-to-repair rule may require only access to information or parts.

What evidence should I save?

Keep the receipt, warranty, model and serial number, photographs, error codes, service manual, part number, repair invoice, technician's diagnosis, and every written response from the manufacturer or seller.

Start with the product's exact model and send a specific written repair request. Those two steps will help show whether you have a warranty claim, a possible statutory access right, or a choice among self-repair, an independent shop, and authorized service. This is general consumer information, not legal advice.