id="article-body" class="row" section="article-body">Right to repair just might change the way we all look at products we break. Here's what you need to know.
Josh Miller/CNET
It happens to all of us at some point: That moment where you drop your smartphone, and your stomach turns as you watch it tumble to the floor. Then there's the split-second moment of suspense as you pick it up, praying it's still all in one piece. And if you see a crack, your next thought is usually, "How much is this going to cost me?"
While the government can't help it if you're a klutz, a new executive order from President Joe Biden might at least save you some money when you are. The new order, announced in early July, encourages the Federal Trade Commission to create new rules that prevent companies from limiting customers from fixing their products.
Biden's executive order comes after years of debate by advocates calling for "right to repair," a series of rules that in theory would force phone developers, manufacturers of cars and washing machines, and even the makers of pricey farm equipment and medical devices to publicly post the diagnostic tools and documentation they use to fix products when they break. This would allow everyday people to either fix the product themselves or go to a third-party repair shop, rather than rely on "official" authorized repair centers, which are almost always the most expensive option.
The right-to-repair movement's been around for a while, and it's already won victories in states like Massachusetts, where voters in 2020 that would allow third parties access to all sorts of data on cars that manufacturers typically didn't make public.
The FTC hasn't announced any formal rules yet, but Biden's order clearly shows the movement is gaining steam.
Below are common questions about the concept of right to repair, what it means for you and what the government is doing to make right to repair a reality.
What is 'right to repair?'
Right to repair boils down to giving users and third-party companies the necessary tools, parts and manuals to repair a product they've purchased, like a blender or a new laptop, on their own instead of relying on the manufacturer of a product.
Another aspect of right to repair that's currently being discussed is forcing tech companies to design and build products that are easier to fix.
For example, Apple's AirPod wireless earbuds are impressively tiny, which is part of the allure to them, but repair website iFixIt says they're almost impossible to repair. That's a problem when you consider that a couple years after getting your AirPods, the batteries will likely start to diminish. But instead of being able to take them apart and replace the batteries, you'll likely feel forced to just buy another pair.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Right now, if you have a cracked iPhone display and attempt to replace it yourself or have work done by a local repair shop and that person and/or company isn't an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or the replacement screen isn't an Apple approved part, your iPhone may no longer be covered under Apple's warranty.
Right to repair laws would also likely encourage more competition for repair services, which could drive down prices from third-party repair shops on everything from your phone to medical devices to tractors.
What does right to repair mean for the environment?
By allowing consumers to repair and extend the life of products they own, it will in turn reduce the amount of waste and e-waste making its way into our landfills.