Texas, Washington and Colorado Repair Laws: What Changes for Phone Fixes

Texas's repair law for consumer electronics took effect on September 1, 2026, and the EU's repair directive has applied since July 31, 2026. For most US owners the change is narrower than headlines suggest: Texas covers only devices first offered for sale there from that date, and state limits on parts pairing, the software check that ties a replacement part to one device, reach only devices first made and sold after set dates.

Key takeaways

Washington and Colorado bar using parts pairing to block or degrade working replacement parts, but only on devices first manufactured and first sold or used there after January 1, 2026. A staff summary puts Oregon's start at January 1, 2025.
Texas covers equipment first offered for sale there on or after September 1, 2026, with a wholesale price of at least $50. It excludes game consoles and does not ban pairing.
On an iPhone 12 or later, Parts and Service History labels repaired parts Genuine, Used, Unverified or Unknown.
The DMCA repair exemption covers getting around a digital lock to repair a consumer device, not selling lock-breaking tools.
Federal warranty law generally bars voiding a warranty solely because you used an outside part or shop, but damage that part or repair caused can still be excluded.

What it means for you

Phone bought outside Washington, Colorado or Oregon, or before their start dates: the pairing limits below do not apply, but the federal warranty and DMCA rules do.
Bought new in Washington or Colorado in 2026: pairing limits apply only if the model was also first manufactured after January 1, 2026.
Buying in Texas: makers must offer parts, tools and manuals for covered devices within a year of first sale there.
iPhone and Mac owners: check the parts history screen before a repair or trade-in.
Buying in the EU: repair rights and a repairability label apply there, not to US purchases.

State laws that reach phones

State and law	Who it covers	Parts pairing
Oregon, SB 1596 (signed March 2024)	Per the legislature's staff measure summary: equipment made and sold in Oregon after January 1, 2025; attorney general enforcement for violations from July 1, 2027	Restricted
Colorado, HB24-1121 (signed May 28, 2024)	Effective January 1, 2026. Parts access for equipment first made and sold or used there from July 1, 2021; pairing limits for equipment first manufactured and sold or used after January 1, 2026	Restricted
Washington, HB 1483 (signed May 19, 2025)	From January 1, 2026. Same two dates as Colorado, with both first manufacture and first sale or use in Washington	Restricted
Texas, HB 2963 (signed June 20, 2025)	Effective September 1, 2026, for equipment first offered for sale in Texas from that date, sold to consumers there, wholesale price at least $50	Not banned

Oregon's row relies on the staff summary; the others come from enacted text.

What pairing limits forbid

Washington and Colorado define parts pairing as using software to identify component parts through a unique identifier. For covered devices, makers may not use it to block a functional replacement part, even one they have not approved, to reduce functionality or performance, or to show misleading warnings about unidentified parts that the owner cannot immediately dismiss.

Both allow pairing for stand-alone biometric parts used for authentication, such as a fingerprint sensor; Washington's text adds that this applies only if they are not bundled into a commonly replaced part like the screen, keyboard, ports or battery. Colorado also allows pairing that records and displays repair history. Because the trigger includes when a device was first manufactured, a model already on sale before 2026 may fall outside the limits even if your unit was bought in 2026.

Where the laws stop

Texas treats pairing software as a tool makers must offer, but it does not stop them requiring remote authorization or an internet connection before a part or tool is used, and it does not require tools that override security locks or anti-theft settings. Parts, tools and documentation are due no later than one year after a device's first sale in Texas. Only the attorney general can enforce the law, after a 30-day notice in which the company can cure the problem, and owners cannot sue under it.

Manufacturer programs and parts

Apple's Self Service Repair sells genuine parts and rents or sells tools for out-of-warranty repairs, through a third-party store authorized by Apple. Orders need the manual ID from the repair manual, and some need a serial number or IMEI. Apple says the program is intended for people with the knowledge and experience to repair electronics.

In April 2024 Apple said it would support used genuine parts, starting with select iPhones that fall, and drop the serial number requirement for parts orders that do not replace the logic board. It also extended Activation Lock to iPhone parts: a part from a device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode on has its calibration restricted.

Other makers

Samsung, Google and Microsoft sell parts through iFixit. iFixit's Samsung page sells genuine Samsung parts in its US store only and lists models from the Galaxy S20 to S22 series, a Galaxy Tab S7+ and two Galaxy Book Pro 15-inch laptops, so check newer models. iFixit also sells genuine Pixel parts and kits with official Surface parts.

How to check for pairing

On an iPhone, open Settings, General, About. Parts and Service History appears there only if the phone has been repaired. Per Apple's guide, it needs iOS 15.2 or later and covers the battery, display, logic board and cameras on an iPhone 12 or later. "Genuine" means Apple parts and processes, "Used" means the part came from another iPhone, "Unverified" means a replaced logic board, which can limit features such as Apple Pay, and "Unknown" means the part may be nongenuine, faulty or unverifiable. An Unknown part may reduce trade-in value.

Apple silicon Macs on macOS Tahoe 26 or later show a Parts & Service screen under System Settings, General, About after a repair is detected, per Apple's Mac guide.

DMCA exemptions and FTC rules

The federal DMCA repair exemption

Section 1201 of the DMCA bars getting around digital locks on software, with exemptions renewed every three years; the latest final rule is dated October 28, 2024. The repair exemption in 37 CFR 201.40 covers software in a lawfully acquired device "primarily designed for use by consumers" when circumvention is necessary for diagnosis, maintenance or repair. Repair means restoring original specifications, so modifications are not covered. For game consoles it covers only the optical drive, and protections must be restored.

The exemption covers the act only. Under 17 U.S.C. 1201(a)(2), making or trafficking in circumvention technology is a separate ban that exemptions cannot lift. The tenth review began with a Federal Register notice on June 9, 2026; petitions were due August 24 and renewal comments September 28. Renewed exemptions would run from October 2027 to October 2030.

Warranty rights under Magnuson-Moss

This is general information, not legal advice. The FTC's July 2022 consumer alert says a company generally cannot void a warranty solely because you used another company's part or repair service, unless it provides that part or service free under the warranty, but it may refuse coverage for damage the third-party part caused. The alert announced FTC actions against Harley-Davidson, Westinghouse generator seller MWE Investments and Weber.

The FTC also warned six unnamed companies, including cellular device sellers, in April 2018, and eight more on July 3, 2024, including ASRock, Zotac and Gigabyte over "warranty void if removed" stickers. Its 2021 report to Congress, Nixing the Fix, found "scant evidence to support manufacturers' justifications for repair restrictions." It is a report, not a binding rule.

EU rules and US buyers

The EU's repair directive (2024/1799), adopted June 13, 2024, applies from July 31, 2026. Its repair duty covers only products subject to EU repairability requirements and listed in its Annex II; the Commission's July 31, 2026 announcement names mobile phones and tablets. Makers must repair them at a reasonable price and within a reasonable time, avoid techniques that impede repair without legitimate, objective reasons, and charge reasonable prices for any spare parts they supply. Choosing repair under the legal guarantee adds at least 12 months to it.

Since June 20, 2025, the energy labelling regulation has required a label on smartphones and slate tablets showing an energy class, battery endurance, battery cycles, a drop reliability class, a repairability class from A to E, and dust and water protection. The ecodesign regulation requires critical spare parts for seven years after a model's EU sales end and operating system updates for at least five years after the last unit is placed on the market, per the Commission's product page. These cover products sold in the EU, not phones bought in the US.

Worked example: iPhone 16 battery

Prices were checked on October 15, 2026. Apple's pricing tool showed no fee that day, so $99 is the out-of-warranty fee reported at the September 2024 launch ($119 for Pro models) and may have changed. Apple's battery service page says the final fee is set after inspection, tax and shipping may apply, authorized providers set their own fees, and Apple guarantees the service for 90 days or the rest of the warranty, whichever is longer.

Option	Price	Difference from $99
Apple out-of-warranty fee (2024 report)	$99.00	None
iFixit Fix Kit (battery, adhesive, tools)	$54.99	$44.01 less (44.5%)
iFixit battery, part only	$49.99	$49.01 less (49.5%), no tools
Independent shop	Get a written quote	See formula

Saving = Apple fee - alternative cost
Shop is cheaper than the kit only if: shop quote < $54.99

Illustrative example: with hypothetical shop quotes of $70, $80 and $90, the kit would cost $15.01, $25.01 and $35.01 less. These are invented round numbers, not real shop prices.

The kit saves $44.01 before tax and shipping, within iFixit's claim of $34 to $49, but you do the work without Apple's 90-day guarantee. The listing names the manufacturer as aftermarket, and Apple says a nongenuine part can show as Unknown, so Apple service or a genuine part is safer if trade-in value matters.

Frequently asked questions

Are game consoles covered by these laws?

Mostly not. The Washington, Colorado and Texas texts exclude video game consoles from their parts duties, and the federal DMCA exemption covers console repair only for the optical drive.

Is it legal to buy a tool that breaks a device lock?

The DMCA exemption covers your act of circumventing a lock for repair, not the tool trade. Section 1201(a)(2) targets those who make, import, offer or traffic in circumvention technology. Ordinary screwdrivers and pry tools are not circumvention tools.

Will a used genuine part work in an iPhone?

Apple supports used genuine parts, and Parts and Service History labels them "Used". Parts from a device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode on have restricted calibration.

Does Washington's law cover used parts?

Yes, if the maker offers them to its authorized repair providers; the law defines a part as new or used. Before accepting a repair, an independent shop must tell you in a notice whether it uses used parts or parts from suppliers other than the original maker.

Where do I report a warranty voided over an outside repair?

The FTC asks consumers to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. A company may still deny coverage for damage the third-party part or repair actually caused.

A checklist before you repair

Find where and when your device was first sold and when the model came out. Washington and Colorado pairing limits need both after January 1, 2026; Texas starts with devices first offered there from September 1, 2026.
Check Parts and Service History (iPhone) or Parts & Service (Mac) and note any Unknown labels.
Compare the maker's current fee, the kit price and a written shop quote using the formula above.
Keep receipts. If a company says your warranty is void over an outside repair, ask for the reason in writing.