Apple Backs Joe Biden's Right-to-Repair Law, Expands Access to Repair Parts and Tools

Apple reportedly announced its support for President Joe Biden's right-to-repair law on Tuesday. The world's largest tech company will reportedly expand the availability of its parts, tools, and documentation needed to repair its devices so customers and independent repair shops nationwide can make their own repairs.

Apple has supported the bill as "part of a years-long shift toward touting the longevity and resale value of its devices while making it easier to fix them and to access spare parts."

Biden's "call to action" on the right-to-repair law is a push to promote competition and end the so-called junk fees and other actions that increase consumer prices.

The president previously called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to "limit powerful equipment manufacturers from restricting people's ability to use independent repair shops or do DIY repairs."

FTC chair Lina Khan also stressed the need for the right-to-repair bill, stating that industry-wide restrictive tactics increased consumer costs, impeded innovation, eliminated business opportunities for independent repair shops, and produced unneeded electronic waste.

The right-to-repair bill is a law "directed at the ability of consumers to repair their own products instead of going back to the original manufacturer for service."

The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) noted that 30 states already introduced the right-to-repair bill. Four states have already enacted it: California, Colorado, New York, and Minnesota.

Apple's Efforts Towards Repairability

Apple has previously supported increasing its devices' repairability, announcing its Self Service Repair being available in April 2022. Apple provides repair manuals, genuine parts, and tools through its Self Service Repair Store.

While the self-service repair did see complaints, Macrumors noted that the self-repair service "is in some cases more expensive than simply taking a device to Apple for repair." It also had practices that restricted "independent repair shops to bulk order parts from Apple."

Other complaints about the self-repair service also said it had unnecessary validation steps that Apple has since improved. However, The Verge reported that Apple still recommended consumers to seek professional advice, saying that "visiting a professional authorized repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair."

Apple has also supported right-to-repair legislation in its home state of California, which mandates companies to provide access to repair shops and customers to parts, tools, and manuals needed for repairs - at fair and reasonable pricing.

President Joe Biden's Push for Repairability

Joe Biden has previously commended Apple and Microsoft for making voluntary commitments to change and expand various policies even before different legislation like the right-to-repair have come afoot.

"Apple and Microsoft are changing their policies so folks will be able to repair their phones and laptops themselves - although I'm not sure I know how to do that," Biden said.

Biden also pushed for the bill to "make it easier for millions of Americans to repair their electronics instead of paying an arm and a leg to repair or just throwing the device out."