Right to repair: what it means for phone repair shops

For years, independent phone repair shops have operated in a grey zone. Manufacturers controlled the supply of parts, restricted access to repair manuals, and used software locks to penalise anyone who dared open a device outside of an authorised service centre. That era is ending.

Right-to-repair legislation is advancing across the world, and it stands to reshape how independent repair businesses operate. Here is what is happening, what it means for your shop, and what you should be doing about it.

What right to repair actually means

At its core, right to repair is simple. It is legislation that requires manufacturers to make spare parts, diagnostic tools, and repair documentation available to independent repair shops and consumers at fair prices. The principle is straightforward: if you own a device, you should be able to fix it or choose who fixes it.

This is not about forcing anyone to repair their own phone. It is about removing the artificial barriers that manufacturers have built to funnel all repairs through their own channels. When a customer walks into your shop with a cracked screen, right-to-repair laws mean you should have access to the same parts and information that an authorised service provider does.

Where it is happening

This is not a single-country movement. Right to repair is gaining legal ground on every continent.

European Union. The EU has been the most aggressive. The Right to Repair Directive, adopted in 2024 and being implemented across member states, requires manufacturers to repair products even after the warranty period has expired if the repair is technically possible. The directive also bans practices that prevent independent repair, and it dovetails with the EU's broader Ecodesign regulations that require smartphones to have user-replaceable batteries by 2027. For shops operating in Europe, this is the most significant regulatory shift in a generation.

United States. Right to repair is advancing state by state. Colorado, California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Massachusetts have all passed some form of right-to-repair legislation. The scope varies -- some laws focus on electronics broadly, others target specific categories -- but the direction is clear. Federal legislation has been proposed but not yet passed. For now, the patchwork of state laws creates a fragmented landscape, but each new state that signs on increases pressure for a national standard.

Australia. The Productivity Commission has made formal recommendations supporting right to repair, including improving access to repair information and parts. While Australia has not passed dedicated legislation yet, the regulatory conversation is active and moving in favour of independent repairers.

India. India has taken a different path. Rather than top-down legislation, the country has a thriving independent repair ecosystem that has grown organically. Markets like Gaffar Market in Delhi and Lamington Road in Mumbai are dense clusters of repair expertise. As global manufacturers adjust their practices to comply with laws elsewhere, Indian repair shops stand to benefit from improved parts availability too.

The parts pairing problem

One of the most contentious issues in phone repair has been parts pairing -- the practice of using software to tie specific components to a specific device. When you replace a screen, battery, or camera with a non-original part, the phone detects the swap and disables features or displays persistent warning messages.

Apple has been the most prominent example. Replace an iPhone battery with an aftermarket one and the battery health feature disappears. Swap a screen and True Tone stops working. Replace a camera module and you lose certain computational photography features. The phone still works, but the degraded experience makes the customer feel like they received an inferior repair.

This was never about safety or quality. It was about control. And legislators have noticed.

Several right-to-repair laws now explicitly prohibit parts pairing that degrades device functionality after a third-party repair. Oregon's law is particularly strong on this point, banning manufacturers from using software locks to disable features when parts are replaced. Apple has already begun loosening some of its pairing restrictions in response, enabling self-service repair programs and expanding parts availability to independent shops.

For repair businesses, the decline of parts pairing means something significant: you can offer repairs that are functionally identical to what the manufacturer provides. No asterisks. No "by the way, you will lose this feature." Just a working phone, repaired properly.

What this means for your shop

The practical implications are substantial.

Better access to genuine parts. As manufacturers are required to sell parts to independent shops, you will have more options for sourcing OEM-quality components. This does not mean aftermarket parts disappear -- they will still play a role, especially for older devices and budget-conscious customers. But having access to genuine parts at reasonable prices means you can offer a premium tier of repair that was previously only available through authorised channels.

A stronger value proposition. Right-to-repair laws level the playing field. When you can offer the same parts and the same quality of repair as a manufacturer's own service programme, the conversation shifts to your advantages: convenience, speed, price, and personal service. Those are advantages independent shops have always had. The difference is that now you can offer them without the compromise of using aftermarket parts if the customer prefers original.

More informed customers. As right to repair enters public awareness, customers become more knowledgeable about their options. They learn that they do not have to go to the manufacturer. They learn that independent shops can do the same work. This is good for your business, but it also means customers will ask better questions and expect more transparency about the parts you use.

What you should do now

Even if your country or state has not passed right-to-repair legislation yet, the trend is clear. Here is how to prepare.

Stay informed. Follow the legislation in your jurisdiction. Join local repair industry groups or associations that track these developments. When new laws pass, understand what they require and what rights they give you as a repairer.

Diversify your parts supply. Start building relationships with suppliers who can provide OEM or original-grade parts, not just aftermarket. When customers have the choice, some will always want the genuine part. Being ready to offer both options positions you well.

Lead with transparency. Tell customers exactly what parts you are using and what the differences are. This has always been good practice, but as legislation raises awareness, it becomes a competitive advantage. Shops that are upfront about parts quality will earn trust. Shops that are vague about it will lose it.

Think about certification. Some right-to-repair frameworks include provisions for independent repairer certification or quality standards. Getting ahead of these requirements -- even informally, by documenting your processes and training -- puts you in a strong position.

The environmental case

Right to repair is not just a business issue. It is an environmental one. The UN estimates that the world produces over 60 million tonnes of electronic waste each year, and smartphones are a significant contributor. Every phone that gets repaired instead of replaced is one fewer device in a landfill and one fewer new device that needs to be manufactured.

This matters to customers. Surveys consistently show that consumers prefer to repair rather than replace, but they are often deterred by high costs, limited parts availability, or manufacturer practices that make independent repair impractical. Right-to-repair legislation removes those barriers, and independent repair shops are the primary beneficiaries.

Repair is inherently sustainable. If you are running a repair shop, you are already part of the solution. As environmental awareness grows and legislation catches up, that is a story worth telling.

The direction is set

Right to repair is not a question of if but when. The legislative momentum is global, the consumer demand is real, and the environmental argument is urgent. For independent phone repair shops, this is the most favourable policy environment in the history of the industry.

The shops that thrive will be the ones that are ready: informed about the laws, equipped with quality parts, and transparent with their customers. The barriers that manufacturers built to protect their service revenue are coming down. What is left is a market where skill, service, and trust determine who wins. That is the market independent shops were built for.