Genius Bar who? Skip the Apple Store line with new rules that make fixing iPhones easier

After years of opposing right-to-repair rights for Americans, Apple on Tuesday called on Congress to enact a national right-to-repair law.

It also pledged to abide by a new California law that will make it easier for customers nationwide to fix damaged or broken devices themselves or take the devices to independent repair shops.

Apple said during a White House event Tuesday that it would "honor California's new repair provisions across the United States." The state law will require all device manufacturers to make available manuals, parts and tools needed for repairs.

Apple has long faced criticism for making its devices too expensive to fix. But in recent years, the company has taken steps to make its devices easier to fix and spare parts more accessible.

It began providing independent repair shops with parts and manuals in 2019. In 2022, Apple launched its Self Service Repair program, which lets consumers purchase the parts they need to repair their own devices. And in August, it threw its support behind the right-to-repair legislation in California where it’s headquartered.

Apple “supports a uniform federal law” that maintains privacy and security as well as transparency about the types of parts used to repair devices, Brian Naumann, vice president of service and operations management at Apple, said Tuesday.

A strong national standard would benefit consumers as well as resolve confusion over the patchwork of different approaches in states across the country, according to Naumann.

Naumann’s remarks came during the White House event focused on the right to repair everything from smartphones to tractors. President Biden is cracking down on junk fees and other business practices that run up prices for consumers. 

“For everything from smartphones, to wheelchairs, to cars, to farm equipment, too often manufacturers make it difficult to access spare parts, manuals, and tools necessary to make fixes. Consumers are compelled to go back to the dealer and pay the dealer’s price or to discard and replace the device entirely,” National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard said at the White House Right to Repair Convening. “This not only costs consumers money, but it prevents independent repair shops from competing for the business and creates unnecessary waste by shortening the lifespan of devices.”

PIRG's right to repair campaign senior director Nathan Proctor applauded Apple's move.

"We make, use and toss way too much stuff − and it’s way harder than it should be to fix what we already have," Proctor said in a statement. "As Apple moves to reduce barriers to repair, that’s unequivocally good news. Apple makes a lot of products, and its conduct definitely influences other manufacturers."