A guide to right-to-repair legislation in the US, Canada, and the EU. What has passed, what it means, and how it affects your devices.
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Right to Repair is a movement, and increasingly a set of laws, that ensures consumers and independent repair shops can access the parts, tools, manuals, and software needed to fix the products they own. Without these protections, manufacturers can lock you into expensive authorized service or force you to replace devices that could have been repaired.
The movement has gained significant momentum since 2022. The US now has five states with electronics R2R laws, Canada became the first country with a permanent federal repair exception to digital locks, and the EU adopted a comprehensive Right to Repair Directive covering all 27 member states. Manufacturer self-repair programs, once unthinkable, are now offered by Apple, Samsung, and Google.
There is no federal R2R law in the US, but individual states have been passing their own. California, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, and New York have enacted electronics R2R laws, and Massachusetts has a motor vehicle R2R law. Many other states have active bills. Minnesota and Oregon stand out for banning parts pairing, the practice of using software to disable replacement parts not installed by an authorized technician.
Right to Repair Act
California's Right to Repair Act requires manufacturers of electronics and appliances to make parts, tools, and repair documentation available to consumers and independent repair shops. Products sold for $50-$99.99 must have parts available for 3 years; products $100+ for 7 years. The law covers a huge consumer market -- California alone represents about 15% of the US economy.
Digital Fair Repair Act
One of the most comprehensive state R2R laws. Requires manufacturers of consumer electronics to provide parts, tools, documentation, and software to consumers and independent repair shops. Unlike some other state laws, it includes a provision against parts pairing -- the practice of using software to prevent replacement parts from functioning unless authorized by the manufacturer.
Right to Repair Act
Oregon's law is notable for its strong anti-parts-pairing provision: manufacturers cannot use software locks to prevent replacement parts from functioning, even if the parts are genuine. Also prohibits manufacturers from reducing device functionality after independent repair. Covers consumer electronics sold in Oregon.
Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment
Requires manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to make parts, tools, and documentation available to consumers and independent repair providers. Applies to equipment manufactured and sold or used in Colorado after the effective date.
Digital Fair Repair Act
The first broad electronics right-to-repair law enacted in the US. Requires manufacturers to make diagnostic and repair information, parts, and tools available to independent repair providers and consumers. The law was significantly weakened before signing -- it exempts devices made before July 2023, allows manufacturers to offer assemblies instead of individual parts, and has broad security exemptions.
Motor Vehicle Right to Repair (Expanded)
Massachusetts voters passed Question 1 in 2020 with 75% support, expanding the state's existing 2012 motor vehicle R2R law to require manufacturers to provide access to vehicle telematics data through an open-access platform. This allows independent repair shops and vehicle owners to access the same diagnostic data that dealer networks use. The auto industry has challenged the law in federal court, and enforcement has been delayed by litigation.
Canada's approach combines federal copyright and competition law reforms with provincial consumer protection legislation. In November 2024, Canada became the first country to create a permanent federal repair exception to copyright digital locks, meaning it is now legal to bypass software restrictions to repair your own devices.
Copyright Act Amendment -- Repair Exception
Amends the Copyright Act to allow circumvention of technological protection measures (digital locks) for the purpose of diagnosing, maintaining, or repairing a product. Canada is the first country to create a permanent federal repair exception to copyright digital locks.
Copyright Act Amendment -- Interoperability
Allows circumvention of technological protection measures for the purpose of making programs or devices interoperable with other computer programs, devices, or components.
Competition Act Amendment -- Refusal to Deal (Repair)
Amends the Competition Act so that refusal to supply "means of diagnosis or repair" -- including parts, tools, software, and documentation -- can be challenged before the Competition Tribunal. Lowers the threshold for businesses to bring complaints.
ISED Right to Repair Framework Consultation
Budget 2024 committed the federal government to consult on a right-to-repair policy for home appliances and consumer electronics. The online consultation ran from June 28 to September 26, 2024, conducted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
Source: ISED -- Right to Repair Consultation →Consumer Protection Act Amendments -- Planned Obsolescence & Repairability
Quebec became the first Canadian province to enact right-to-repair legislation. Bill 29 amends the Consumer Protection Act to prohibit planned obsolescence, require disclosure of parts and repair service availability before sale, and mandate that manufacturers keep replacement parts and repair information available for a reasonable period at a reasonable price.
Right to Repair Act, 2025
Introduced by NDP MPPs in the 44th Parliament. Covers automotive, agricultural, consumer electronics, and appliance repair with requirements for manufacturers to provide repair manuals, parts, software, and tools. Builds on earlier Ontario bills (Bill 72 in 2019, Bill 187 in 2024) that did not pass.
Right to Repair Advocacy
No provincial right-to-repair legislation has been introduced in British Columbia. The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) has passed resolutions calling for R2R legislation, and there is growing political and community interest, but no bill has been tabled.
Source: UBCM -- Right to Repair Resolution →The EU has taken the most comprehensive regulatory approach to Right to Repair. The 2024 Right to Repair Directive establishes a continent-wide right to repair beyond warranty, while the Ecodesign Regulation sets product-specific durability and repairability requirements. France pioneered the approach with its mandatory repairability scores in 2021.
Directive on Common Rules Promoting the Repair of Goods
The EU Right to Repair Directive requires member states to ensure consumers can get products repaired more easily and affordably. It establishes a right to repair even outside the legal guarantee period, requires manufacturers to repair products at a reasonable price on request, bans contractual or software practices that prevent independent repair, and creates a European online platform to connect consumers with local repair services.
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
The updated Ecodesign Regulation expands the original 2009 directive beyond energy efficiency to cover durability, repairability, and recyclability. It empowers the EU Commission to set product-specific requirements including minimum lifespans, repairability scores, and spare parts availability periods. Smartphones and tablets were among the first electronics to receive specific rules.
Indice de Réparabilité (Repairability Index)
France was the first country to require repairability scores on electronics. Products receive a score from 0 to 10 based on documentation availability, ease of disassembly, parts availability, parts pricing, and product-specific criteria. The score must be displayed at point of sale. France is now transitioning to a broader "durability index" that also includes reliability and software support longevity.
Major manufacturers have expanded self-repair options, driven in part by R2R legislation and consumer demand. These programs give consumers access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals, something that was unavailable just a few years ago.
Consumers can purchase genuine Apple parts, rent toolkits, and access repair manuals. Available in 33 countries including the US, Canada, and across Europe. Also launched the Genuine Parts Distributor program for independent repair shops.
Genuine parts purchasable online in the US and Canada. Samsung partners with iFixit for parts distribution and provides repair manuals. Launched Independent Service Provider programs in multiple countries.
Genuine Pixel parts available through iFixit in the US, Canada, UK, EU, and Australia. Includes batteries, displays, and cameras, sold individually or as Fix Kits with all necessary tools.
Right to Repair legislation directly impacts whether repairing a device makes financial sense. Here is what has changed:
Manufacturers now offer genuine parts directly to consumers. R2R laws require parts availability for 3-7 years after sale, and Apple, Samsung, and Google all sell parts internationally.
Competition from independent repair shops, now with legal access to parts and tools, helps keep repair prices competitive. In states with R2R laws, repair costs have started to come down.
Minnesota and Oregon have banned the practice of using software to disable replacement parts. This means independent repairs work as well as manufacturer repairs. A major shift.
France's repairability scores and Quebec's disclosure rules mean you can know before buying how repairable a product is. The EU is expanding this approach to all member states.
These organizations are driving the Right to Repair movement:
Not-for-profit coalition of individuals, businesses, educators, and nonprofits advocating for right-to-repair in Canada. Published a model provincial R2R legislation package in 2025 and held Canada's first Repair Convention in October 2024.
Visit CanRepair →Vancouver-based digital rights organization. Submitted over 8,600 petition signatures to the ISED R2R consultation and commissioned national polling showing 75% of Canadians support right-to-repair legislation.
Visit OpenMedia →The most influential repair advocacy organization globally. Publishes free repair guides, sells parts, rates products on repairability, and actively lobbies for R2R legislation in the US, EU, and worldwide. Partners with manufacturers like Google, Samsung, and Kobo to provide genuine parts.
Visit iFixit →Leading US advocacy organization for right-to-repair legislation. Coordinates state-level campaigns, publishes research on repair barriers, and has been instrumental in passing R2R laws in California, Minnesota, Oregon, and Colorado.
Visit US PIRG →European Right to Repair campaign -- a coalition of over 100 organizations including environmental NGOs, repair businesses, and community groups. Advocated for the EU Right to Repair Directive and pushes for stronger implementation at the national level.
Visit Repair.EU →London-based charity that organizes community repair events (Restart Parties), collects repair data through the Open Repair Alliance, and advocates for R2R policy. Their repair data has been used to inform EU legislation on product durability.
Visit The Restart Project →Global network of community repair events started in the Netherlands in 2009. Over 3,000 Repair Cafes operate worldwide, including locations across Canada, the US, and Europe, where volunteers help people repair household items for free.
Visit Repair Cafe International →This guide provides consumer information about Right to Repair legislation. It is not legal advice. Legislation changes over time and varies by jurisdiction. Always check the official sources linked above for the most current status in your area.
R2R laws generally protect your right to repair products you own, but specific exemptions exist. For example, in Canada the right to repair your own device does not extend to manufacturing or selling circumvention tools. In the US, exemptions vary by state.