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Recht auf Reparatur
A cracked display, a weak battery – and the manufacturer recommends a new device. The "right to repair" is meant to change that. In the EU it has applied since summer 2026, with new obligations for manufacturers and sellers. Here you can find out what is behind it and what it means for companies and their IT.
As of: 10/2026
In brief
The right to repair (in German: Recht auf Reparatur) is a bundle of EU rules intended to strengthen repair relative to buying new, above all Directive (EU) 2024/1799. It obliges manufacturers of certain products to repair them even after the warranty has expired, and it makes spare parts and repair information easier to access. For IT, this means longer use and more room for reuse.
What does the right to repair regulate?
The term covers several sets of rules that work together:
| Set of rules | Contents | Relevance to IT |
|---|---|---|
| Directive (EU) 2024/1799 | Manufacturer repair obligation for certain products, European form for repair information, online platform for repairs, warranty extension when a repair is chosen | Covers, among others, smartphones, tablets, displays, and servers and data storage products |
| Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR) and implementing measures | Requirements for repairability, spare parts availability, durability | Product-group-specific requirements, for example for smartphones and tablets |
| Energy labeling | Repairability class on the label for certain products | Smartphones and tablets |
The directive's repair obligation applies to products for which EU law sets repairability requirements, for example through implementing measures under the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR). Manufacturers must repair these products at consumers' request, free of charge or for a reasonable fee, within a reasonable time. Spare parts are to be available at reasonable prices, and technical barriers against independent repair shops are restricted.
Implementation in Germany
Member states had to transpose the directive by July 31, 2026. The Bundestag passed the German implementing act on June 25, 2026. The rules mainly take effect in the sales law of the BGB: if a consumer chooses repair in the case of a defect, the warranty is extended by twelve months. Repairability is also taken into account as a characteristic of the purchased item. For contracts between businesses, later deadlines and more contractual freedom partly apply. This entry does not replace legal advice.
What this means for companies and their IT
- Longer use: If spare parts and repair instructions remain available for longer, it is more worthwhile to repair devices instead of replacing them.
- Higher residual value: Repairable devices can be refurbished and resold more easily after their first use.
- Procurement: Repairability becomes a criterion in purchasing, for example through information such as the Repairability index.
- Counterweight to obsolescence: The right to repair is aimed at practices that make devices unusable prematurely. More in the entry planned obsolescence.
Why longer use is a lever for sustainable IT is described in our article Bye-bye throwaway culture.
Key takeaway: The right to repair does not extend the lifespan of your devices – but it makes it easier to extend it yourself.
Repair at Second IT
Second IT repairs and upgrades decommissioned IT devices to bring them back to market: with diagnostics and test report, replacement of defective components with tested spare parts, housing and display repair, system upgrades, and final functional tests. If a repair is no longer worthwhile, spare parts are recovered. More on the repair of IT hardware.
Frequently asked questions about the right to repair
Does the right to repair also apply to businesses?
The manufacturers' repair obligation is aimed at consumers. Businesses benefit indirectly through better availability of spare parts and information. In German sales law, different rules and later deadlines partly apply to contracts between businesses (as of: 10/2026).
Which IT products are covered?
The directive names, among others, smartphones and tablets, electronic displays, and servers and data storage products. The list may expand if the EU sets repairability requirements for further products.
Does a repair extend the warranty?
Yes, in consumer goods sales: if the consumer chooses repair instead of replacement in the case of a defect, the warranty period is extended by twelve months.
Since when has the right to repair applied in Germany?
EU member states had to transpose Directive (EU) 2024/1799 by July 31, 2026. The Bundestag passed the German implementing act on June 25, 2026. The rules mainly take effect in the sales law of the BGB (as of: 10/2026).
What does the right to repair bring for used IT?
If spare parts and repair information remain available for longer, repair is more worthwhile than replacement. Repairable devices can be refurbished and resold more easily after their first use. This can increase the residual value.
Repair, refurbish, reuse – instead of disposing.
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