AT A GLANCE
Minnesota
Minnesota has taken a major step forward on repair rights. In 2023, the state passed the Digital Fair Repair Act, requiring manufacturers of covered digital electronic equipment to make repair documentation, tools, and replacement parts available to consumers and independent repair shops on fair and reasonable terms. The law applies to many products first sold or used in Minnesota on or after July 1, 2021, helping ensure Minnesotans have real options to fix the devices they own.
Minnesota’s law expands access to repair beyond manufacturer-authorized service providers. By requiring manufacturers to share the parts, tools, and documentation needed to diagnose, maintain, and restore digital electronic equipment to working order, the law reduces unnecessary barriers to repair, increases consumer choice, and helps keep usable products in service longer. Minnesota’s Right to Repair law took effect on July 1, 2024.
$332
Potential annual savings per Minnesota household if repair extends product lifespans and reduces premature replacement.
$2.8 billion
Estimated value of Minnesota’s annual e-waste stream — a trove of materials that repair and reuse help keep out of landfills.
80%
Percentage of Minnesotans who supported Right to Repair reforms in a statewide survey, underscoring broad consumer demand for repair options.
Here’s how this groundbreaking law stands to benefit consumers, the economy, and the planet:
Consumer Empowerment: Minnesota’s Right to Repair law strengthens consumer choice and restores basic ownership rights. By requiring manufacturers of consumer electronics to provide access to repair documentation, tools, and replacement parts on fair and reasonable terms, the law allows Minnesotans to decide where—and how—their devices are repaired. Consumers are no longer forced into manufacturer-controlled repair channels or premature replacement when a fix is possible. This expanded access lowers repair costs, supports local repair businesses, and gives people real alternatives to throwing away devices that still have useful life left.
Repair Is Necessary and Popular: Across the country, consumers consistently report frustration with products that fail early and are difficult or expensive to repair. National surveys from Consumer Reports show that most Americans have replaced items sooner than expected because repair was inaccessible or impractical, and a large majority support policies that require manufacturers to share repair parts and information. Minnesota’s law reflects this widespread public demand for fairness, transparency, and the ability to choose repair over replacement—values that resonate across political and geographic lines.
Repair Benefits the Environment: Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the United States. Devices that could be repaired often end up discarded, driving demand for raw material extraction, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and adding toxic waste to landfills. By making repair more accessible and practical, Minnesota’s Right to Repair law helps extend the lifespan of electronic products, reduces unnecessary waste, and supports a more circular economy. Repairing and maintaining products conserves resources, lowers environmental impacts, and keeps valuable materials in use longer—benefiting both communities and the planet.
What’s Covered?
Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, Desktop Computers, Servers, Peripherals, Office Equipment, etc.
Televisions, Projectors, E-books, Home Entertainment Systems
Smartwatches, Smart Glasses, Fitness Trackers
Electronic Toothbrushes*, Hair Dryers, Hair Clippers
Electric Bikes*, Electric Scooters, Electronic Darts, etc.
Drones, Robots, Toys, RC Cars, etc.
Digital Cameras, Audio Devices and Equipment, etc.
Keyboards, Synthesizers, Amplifiers
What the law requires manufacturers to provide
Parts
Essential components available to fix any parts prone to wear or damage.
Tools
Specialized tools to perform maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs.
Documentation
Comprehensive instructions for routine care, troubleshooting issues, and repairing your device’s components.
What the Law Requires Repair Shops to Provide
Minnesota’s Digital Fair Repair Act includes limited, transparency-focused requirements for independent repair shops. These provisions are designed to ensure consumers understand who is repairing their device and how repairs may affect warranties—without imposing licensing, certification, or manufacturer-controlled mandates on repair businesses.
Disclosure of Authorization Status: Independent repair shops must clearly disclose, in writing and before performing a repair, whether they are not authorized by the device manufacturer.
Warranty Information: Repair shops must inform customers that repairs performed by a non-authorized provider may affect the manufacturer’s warranty, while also clarifying that federal law protects consumers from blanket warranty voids solely due to independent repair.
Beyond these disclosures, Minnesota’s law does not require repair shops to obtain special certifications, follow manufacturer-mandated repair procedures, implement specific data-handling protocols, or meet additional security or training requirements. The law focuses on consumer transparency and access to repair, not on restricting who may offer repair services.
Key Dates
July 1, 2021
Applies to digital electronic equipment first sold or used in Minnesota on or after this date. Older products are not covered.
July 1, 2024
Effective Date. From this date forward, manufacturers must make parts, tools, and repair documentation available on fair and reasonable terms.
Penalties and Enforcement
Under Minnesota’s Digital Fair Repair Act, manufacturers are required to make repair documentation, tools, and replacement parts available to consumers and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms. Failure to comply with these requirements may constitute a violation of Minnesota consumer protection law.
The law is enforced by the Minnesota Attorney General, who may investigate violations and bring enforcement actions against manufacturers that fail to meet their obligations. Available remedies may include injunctive relief and other actions authorized under state law to ensure compliance.
Consumers and repair businesses that believe a manufacturer is restricting access to repair in violation of Minnesota law may report concerns to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for review and potential enforcement.
Resources
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Now that Right to Repair is the law of the land in Minnesota, consumers can take advantage of a variety of resources. We’ve compiled a few to help get you started on your repairs. Expect more to become available as the law is implemented and manufacturers come into compliance.
DIY Repair
Repairing our stuff benefits the environment, the planet, and the local economy. It also benefits you personally! When you repair a device, you build confidence, learn patience, and develop a skillset that will help you repair more devices. Think of DIY repair as a learning opportunity. Practice makes perfect, and practicing repairs teaches design, engineering, and how stuff works.
Companies like iFixit offer free DIY repair manuals for tens of thousands of products. Manufacturers like Framework, Fairphone, Motorola, and HMD have also started to make DIY repair a core part of their product support.
FIND A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP
Repair jobs are local jobs, and thousands of locally owned and operated small and medium repair businesses have popped up in the last few years. Choosing a local repair business supports your local economy, and can save you money. Repair shops often are able to charge less than an authorized repair center through a manufacturer and they can fix what authorized repair can’t or won’t.
To find a local repair shop, use a local business directory in your community.
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Under the Right to Repair law, manufacturers are obligated to facilitate repairs. While this might appear overwhelming for some businesses, achieving compliance is straightforward. Manufacturers can readily extend the capabilities they offer to authorized repair centers. In cases where a manufacturer lacks a service center, several alternatives are available.
Build It From Scratch
Companies such as Fairphone and Framework have designed their products prioritizing ease of part replacement, making them naturally compliant with repair regulations. This approach is particularly feasible for new enterprises. Yet, for established corporations, initiating a repair-friendly platform can present challenges. The shift requires a cultural transformation towards openness and away from tight control, along with overcoming logistical and data management hurdles.
Use a third-party network
Apple's choice to partner with a third-party service for its Self Service Repair program illustrates another pathway, even if it deviates from the usual Apple finesse. Similarly, Samsung's collaboration with local repair services like uBreakiFix shows how outsourcing can effectively meet repair requirements—providing parts, tools, and guides without significant complications.
Create a Repair Ecosystem
For manufacturers interested in exploring how to build or enhance a repair ecosystem, further resources and guidance are available. iFixit, a leader in the repair community, offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to support manufacturers at every step of the process. From repairability assessments to technical documentation and parts distribution, iFixit's expertise can help manufacturers navigate the complexities of creating products that are both durable and repairable.
Learn more about iFixit's offerings and how they can assist your company in developing a robust repair ecosystem by visiting iFixit's website.