Right to repair in 2026 is no longer a slogan, it’s law in a growing number of places, and it’s starting to change what you can actually do when a device breaks. In practical terms, more manufacturers now sell genuine parts to ordinary owners, provide repair manuals, and design devices that are easier to open, partly because several US states and the European Union now require it. Some regions also mandate visible repairability or energy labels, so you can see how fixable a product is before you buy. The result is a slow but real shift away from “throw it out and buy new” toward “replace the broken part.”
It’s genuine progress, but it’s uneven and incomplete. Rules differ by region and product category, “parts pairing” software locks still frustrate independent repair, and plenty of devices remain glued shut. Below we lay out what has concretely changed, where the friction remains, and what it means for you as a buyer and owner in 2026. This is an evolving policy area, so we’ll stick to what’s established rather than predicting specific future legislation.
What actually changed
The past few years turned right to repair from advocacy into enforceable rules across multiple jurisdictions. A handful of US states passed electronics right-to-repair laws requiring manufacturers to make parts, tools, and documentation available to consumers and independent shops on fair terms. Because companies rarely build separate hardware for one state, these laws often nudge nationwide behavior.
In the European Union, a broader right-to-repair framework pushes manufacturers to make repair the default option rather than replacement, and to keep spare parts and information available for years after a product launches. The EU has also expanded product labeling, including repairability and durability information on certain categories, so fixability becomes a visible spec at the point of sale.
Alongside the laws, manufacturers responded on their own. Several major phone and laptop makers now run self-repair programs that sell genuine parts and provide official guides, and some have redesigned products with more modular internals, replaceable batteries, and standard screws instead of glue. Independent repair specialists that publish teardown guides and sell parts have become a mainstream resource rather than a hobbyist niche.
Parts pairing: the loophole that still bites
Here’s the honest counterweight. Getting a part is only half the battle if the device’s software refuses to fully accept it. “Parts pairing,” sometimes called serialization, is a practice where components like screens, batteries, cameras, or fingerprint sensors are cryptographically tied to a specific device. Swap in a genuine part that wasn’t “paired” by the manufacturer, and the phone may throw warnings, disable features, or degrade functionality even though the hardware is authentic.
Manufacturers defend the practice on security and authenticity grounds, and there are legitimate cases, biometric sensors, for example, where tying a component to a device has a real safety rationale. But critics argue it’s often used to steer repairs back to official channels and undercut the whole point of right-to-repair laws. If you can buy the part but can’t make it work properly, the “right” is hollow.
This is now a central battleground. Some newer regulations and proposals specifically target parts pairing, aiming to restrict its use to cases with a genuine justification. Progress here is slower and messier than the parts-availability wins, and it’s the area to watch most closely.
Repairability scores: fixability becomes a spec
One of the more consumer-friendly developments is the spread of repairability information at the point of purchase. In some regions, certain devices now carry a repairability or reliability rating, and independent organizations publish detailed teardown-based scores that grade how easy a device is to open, whether the battery is replaceable, and how available parts and manuals are.
This matters because it changes buying behavior. When repairability is a visible number next to price and battery life, it becomes a competitive feature. Manufacturers that score poorly face public pressure, and some have improved designs specifically to earn better ratings. For you, it means you can factor “how fixable is this?” into a purchase the same way you’d consider storage or screen size.
The caveat: scores and labels aren’t universal across all regions or product types, and methodologies differ. Treat them as a helpful signal, not a guarantee.
What it means for you in 2026
For everyday owners, the practical upshot is modest but real. If your phone battery degrades or your laptop screen cracks, you now have a better chance of getting a genuine part and an official guide than you did a few years ago, and a decent chance the device was designed to be opened without destroying it. Independent repair shops have more access, which can mean lower repair costs and more competition.
The realistic expectations still matter. Not every device qualifies, parts pairing can still limit what a third-party repair achieves, and some products remain genuinely hard to fix regardless of the law. If long-term repairability matters to you, the smartest move is to buy for it upfront: favor devices with replaceable batteries, published repair guides, good repairability scores, and manufacturer self-repair support. Voting with your wallet reinforces the same direction the laws are pushing.
Why it matters beyond your wallet
Repairability isn’t only about saving money on a cracked screen. Electronics are a significant and fast-growing source of waste, and a large share of a device’s lifetime environmental cost comes from manufacturing it in the first place. Keeping a phone or laptop working for an extra couple of years, rather than replacing it, avoids both the waste and the cost of building a new one.
Right to repair is, at its core, an argument that you should own the things you buy well enough to fix them. In 2026 that argument is winning ground legally and commercially, even if the finish line, easily repairable devices as the norm, is still some distance away. The direction of travel is clear, and it favors owners.
FAQ
What is right to repair?
Right to repair is the principle that owners and independent shops should be able to fix the products they buy, with fair access to spare parts, tools, and repair documentation. In 2026 it’s backed by laws in several US states and the European Union, requiring many manufacturers to support repair rather than force replacement.
What is parts pairing and why is it controversial?
Parts pairing (or serialization) ties components like screens and batteries to a specific device via software. Even a genuine replacement part may trigger warnings or lose features unless the manufacturer “pairs” it. Critics say this undermines right-to-repair laws by making independent repair harder, while makers cite security and authenticity. It’s a key ongoing battleground.
Are phones easier to repair in 2026?
Generally yes, though it varies by brand. Several manufacturers now run self-repair programs selling genuine parts with official guides, and some designs use replaceable batteries and standard screws instead of heavy glue. Repairability scores and labels also make fixability visible at purchase. But some devices remain hard to open, and parts pairing can still limit repairs.
What is a repairability score?
It’s a rating that grades how easy a device is to fix, considering factors like battery replaceability, ease of disassembly, and availability of parts and manuals. Some regions now require such labels on certain products, and independent groups publish teardown-based scores. It lets you weigh repairability alongside price and specs before buying.
How can I buy a more repairable device?
Favor products with replaceable batteries, published official repair guides, manufacturer self-repair programs, and strong independent repairability scores. Check whether spare parts are sold to consumers and how long the maker commits to supplying them. Buying for repairability upfront is the most reliable way to keep a device fixable over its life.
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