Right to Repair Laws: What You Can Fix Now (2026 State Guide)

Your phone screen cracks, the dishwasher throws an error code, or a tractor sensor fails in the middle of harvest. A few years ago, the answer was usually the same: go back to the manufacturer or its authorized dealer, pay whatever they charge, and wait. Independent shops often couldn’t get genuine parts, the diagnostic software, or even the service manual.

That is changing. A growing group of US states now requires manufacturers to make parts, tools and documentation available to owners and independent repair shops. The rules are a patchwork, though. What you can fix depends on where you live, what the product is, and when it was sold.

This guide explains what right to repair laws actually require, which states have them in late 2026, what is usually excluded, and how to find parts and manuals today. This is not legal advice.

What right to repair laws actually require

Most state right to repair laws follow the same basic model. If a manufacturer (often called the original equipment manufacturer, or OEM) gives parts, tools and repair documentation to its own authorized repair network, it must also make them available to owners and independent repair providers on “fair and reasonable terms.”

In practice, that usually covers 4 things:

• Replacement parts, sold at prices and terms comparable to what authorized shops pay
• Repair documentation, such as service manuals, schematics and diagnostic guides
• Tools, including diagnostic software and firmware updates needed to complete a repair
• Reset access, so a repaired device can be returned to working order after a fix

What the laws generally do not require: manufacturers don’t have to reveal trade secrets, help you bypass anti-theft locks without the owner’s authorization, or support modifications. Most laws also let a manufacturer skip the obligations if it replaces the product with an equivalent or better one at no charge.

Key takeaway: Right to repair laws don’t force manufacturers to fix your device for free. They force them to stop hoarding the parts, manuals and software tools that independent shops and owners need to do the repair themselves.

Which states have consumer electronics repair laws

Here is a snapshot of the major state laws covering phones, laptops and other consumer electronics as of October 2026. Check your state’s statute for exact wording, because scope and dates vary.

A few patterns stand out. California’s law is the broadest on appliances, because it explicitly covers home appliances and sets minimum years of parts availability. Texas, by contrast, excludes home appliances with embedded digital components (small countertop appliances are still covered) and only applies to products first sold after September 1, 2026, so its practical impact will grow over time. You can see more state-by-state tech resources at our state top lists.

What “parts pairing” means and why it matters

Parts pairing is when a manufacturer uses software to tie a component, like a screen, battery or camera, to one specific device through a unique serial number. Swap in a genuine part from another phone and the device may show warnings, disable features or refuse to work fully.

Oregon’s SB 1596, signed in March 2024, was the first state law to ban parts pairing that blocks repairs, for covered devices manufactured after January 1, 2025. Colorado and Washington also restrict the practice. If you buy a phone in one of these states, a repair shop has a better chance of installing a working part without hitting a software wall.

What is usually excluded

Most consumer electronics laws carve out the same categories. Expect these to be outside the electronics rules in most states:

• Motor vehicles. Cars have their own history. Massachusetts voters approved an automotive repair law in 2012, and in January 2014 automaker and aftermarket groups signed a national agreement to give independent shops the same repair information dealers get. See how that plays out in auto repair shop technology.
• Medical devices, which fall under FDA rules
• Video game consoles, excluded in Minnesota, California and Texas
• Farm, construction and heavy equipment, unless a separate law covers them
• Alarm, fire and life safety systems
• Equipment used in critical infrastructure

The exclusions matter. If your gaming console breaks, a state electronics law probably won’t help you get official parts, even if you live in a state with a strong law.

Farm equipment and the fight over tractors

Farmers were some of the earliest right to repair advocates, because modern tractors and combines rely on software and dealer-only diagnostic tools. A down machine during planting or harvest can cost far more than the repair itself.

Colorado became the first state with an agricultural right to repair law. HB23-1011, signed April 25, 2023, took effect January 1, 2024. It requires ag equipment manufacturers to provide parts, embedded software, firmware, tools, documentation and data to owners and independent shops. The law also says an industry memorandum of understanding doesn’t replace those obligations, and it still bars modifications that disable safety systems or violate emissions rules.

At the federal level, the Federal Trade Commission sued Deere & Company in January 2025, alleging it illegally restricted repairs by keeping its fully functional diagnostic software available only to authorized dealers. Minnesota and Illinois joined the case. Deere has said it will defend itself, and the outcome may shape access for farmers nationwide. For more on how software is reshaping agriculture, read how technology is changing farms.

Your warranty rights already exist under federal law

You may have more protection than you think, even in a state without a repair law. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act generally prohibits “tie-in” conditions, where a company says your warranty is void unless you use its brand of parts or its own repair service.

The FTC’s guide to federal warranty law says such provisions generally aren’t allowed, with 2 exceptions: the company provides the part or service free under the warranty, or it gets an FTC waiver. A company can still refuse to cover damage that a third-party part or repair actually caused.

So a “warranty void if removed” sticker doesn’t automatically cancel your coverage. If a manufacturer refuses warranty service only because an independent shop touched the device, you can push back and cite the FTC guidance.

There is also a copyright angle. Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act restricts breaking software locks, but the US Copyright Office grants exemptions every 3 years. Its October 2024 rulemaking expanded repair exemptions to include retail-level commercial food preparation equipment, such as soft-serve ice cream machines.

How to find parts and manuals today

Laws only help if you can actually get what you need. Here is a practical step-by-step approach for any repair:

1. Identify the exact model. Find the model number on the label, in settings, or on the original box. Parts often differ between versions with similar names.
2. Check the manufacturer’s support site first. Many makers now publish manuals, parts catalogs and self-service programs, such as Apple’s Self Service Repair or appliance makers’ parts stores. In states with repair laws, this is where the required documentation usually appears.
3. Search repair communities. Sites such as iFixit publish free step-by-step guides and sell parts and tool kits for common devices.
4. Call an independent shop. Shops that specialize in phones, appliances or small engines often know which parts are reliable and whether pairing issues affect your model.
5. Check your warranty status before opening anything. If the product is still covered, a free warranty repair may beat a DIY fix.
6. Handle batteries carefully. Swollen or damaged lithium-ion batteries can catch fire. If a repair involves a battery, follow our guide on how to dispose of lithium-ion batteries for the old one.
7. Recycle what you can’t fix. If repair doesn’t make sense, use a certified e-waste recycler. Our guide to recycling old electronics covers your options.

Here is a quick checklist for deciding whether to repair:

Why repair matters for the planet and your wallet

Repairing a device keeps it in use longer, which means fewer new products manufactured and less electronic waste. Small fixes like a new battery can add years to a phone’s life. If your phone is slowing down, try our tips to extend phone battery life before assuming you need a replacement.

For businesses, repair access also lowers downtime. A restaurant that can fix its own equipment, a farm that can diagnose a tractor in the field, or an office that can replace laptop parts in-house all save time and money. Learn more repair and sustainability terms in our tech glossary.

Where to start

If you’re dealing with a broken device right now, start by checking whether your state has a right to repair law and when it took effect. Then look up the manufacturer’s support pages for your exact model. In states like California, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington, the parts and manuals should be available to you directly. In other states, independent shops and repair communities are still your best bet.

Right to repair isn’t a single national law yet. It’s a fast-moving patchwork, and it keeps growing. The direction is clear, though: more states are telling manufacturers that once you buy something, you should be able to fix it.

Sources

• Minnesota Statutes 325E.72, Digital Fair Repair — Minnesota scope, July 1, 2021 sales date and exclusions
• Texas HB 2963 enrolled bill text — Texas coverage, exclusions, 1-year parts deadline and September 1, 2026 effective date
• Washington HB 1483 bill summary — Washington law signed May 19, 2025
• Colorado HB23-1011, Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment — Colorado farm equipment law and January 1, 2024 effective date
• FTC: Businessperson’s Guide to Federal Warranty Law — Magnuson-Moss tie-in sales rules