Phone Repair Basics
Repairs range from a battery swap at a service counter to a do-it-yourself screen job, and the right route depends on the phone, the damage and your experience. This section explains the options and the vocabulary. We do not write step-by-step instructions: the makers and iFixit publish those, and we link to them.
What are my phone repair options?
You have three routes, and each maker describes them a little differently.
| Route | What it is | Who it suits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker or authorized service | In person or by mail, using genuine parts | Most people; Apple calls it the safest and most reliable route for most customers | Apple |
| Maker self-repair program | Genuine parts, tools and manuals sold to owners | People with relevant technical experience | Apple, Samsung, Google |
| Independent repair provider | A third-party shop; Apple says independent providers can also access genuine Apple parts | People who want a local option; repairs are not covered by Apple’s warranty | Apple |
What do the makers’ official repair programs offer?
Apple, Samsung and Google each publish a self-repair program, and Motorola publishes a right-to-repair page. These are the details each page stated when we read it on 2026-10-05.
| Maker | Program | What the page says | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Self Service Repair | Genuine parts, tools and repair manuals for out-of-warranty repairs; an authorized third party runs the online store | Self Service Repair |
| Samsung | Self-Repair | Genuine parts, tools and manuals; a 90-day limited warranty on parts bought through the program; a network of repair locations if self-repair is not right for you | Samsung Self-Repair |
| Repair your own Pixel | Genuine parts from iFixit, repair manuals for Pixel 6a and newer phones, and a diagnostics app | Pixel repair help | |
| Motorola | Right to repair | Motorola’s US support page on repair options; check it for current details | Motorola |
Samsung’s page also says the Samsung Limited Warranty is not affected by self-repair, but that damage caused by a self-repair attempt may not be covered afterward.
How repairable are the phones in our library?
Only some phones have a published iFixit score, and none of them is a Samsung, Google or Motorola phone. These counts come from our own library of 41 phones, not from every phone on sale.
| Library fact | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phones with a repair page on this site | 41 | One page per phone, under /repair/ |
| Phones with an iFixit device page link | 35 | All 17 Apple, 13 Samsung and 5 Google phones; none of the 6 Motorola phones |
| Phones with at least one iFixit guide link | 14 | 28 guide links in total, on 12 Apple and 2 Samsung phones |
| Phones with an iFixit repairability score | 8 | All Apple; scores run from 4 to 7 out of 10 (one phone at 4, seven at 7) |
A missing score means we have not recorded one from iFixit’s device page; we never fill the gap with an estimate. How to read repairability scores explains the scale, and every per-phone repair page shows the score only when one exists.
Which repair guide should I read first?
Start with the job you are facing, then look up your phone.
- Battery replacement basics covers why batteries wear out, what the makers say about genuine batteries, lithium battery safety and disposal.
- Screen replacement basics covers professional service, maker self-repair programs, what can go wrong and when to hand the job to a professional.
- How to read repairability scores covers what iFixit’s zero-to-ten score measures and what it cannot tell you.
Each phone also has its own page that links to iFixit’s device page, the maker’s official program and our basics. For example, see the iPhone 16, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Pixel 11 and the Razr (2026) repair pages.
Do right-to-repair laws change phone repair?
Yes, increasingly, though the rules vary by place. Wikipedia says the European Union adopted its Right to Repair Directive (2024/1799) on May 30, 2024, with member states required to transpose it by July 31, 2026. It also lists US state laws for electronics, including California and Minnesota, with effective dates of July 1, 2024. Wikipedia says Oregon’s law prohibits parts pairing, the practice of blocking installation of replacement parts without manufacturer approval. Check your own state or country for what applies to you.
What should I check before I repair?
Check three things before you buy a part or book a shop. First, whether your phone is still under warranty, because Apple says its warranty does not cover accidental damage or batteries that wear down from normal use, and Samsung says damage caused by a self-repair attempt may not be covered. Second, whether your model is covered by the maker’s program: Apple says Self Service Repair covers specific iPhone models introduced in 2021 or later in certain countries or regions. Third, whether the job is one you are comfortable with. When in doubt, the makers themselves say to use a professional.
Related
Browse the phone library for phone-by-phone overviews, or the brand hubs for Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola. Repair jobs often start with a charging problem, so see USB-C explained and which charger is safe for my phone. For iFixit’s full index, see iFixit’s phone repair guides.