What’s Google’s stance on Right to Repair?

Google has historically been opposed to Right to Repair, like other manufacturers, but recently endorsed legislation in Oregon, released a white paper on Right to Repair and has taken other positive steps.

Google has pledged to run on carbon-free energy by 2030 and advocates for a circular economy to reduce material demand. With more options for repairable devices that stay in use longer, the carbon impact could decrease significantly and help Google meet its environmental goals.

Google discusses this in its white paper, saying “Ensuring our hardware devices last longer, or ‘product longevity,’ is key to our hardware sustainability strategy.”

In addition to its support for Right to Repair legislation, it has also made other improvements to repair and software support. In 2022, the company added more repair options, as shareholder advocates raised concerns, allowing more repair access for its Pixel line of smartphones. This includes making genuine Pixel parts available to independent repair shops and individual consumers. 

After PIRG led a campaign around Chromebook longevity, Google extended software support to 10 years.