The initiative brings together repair, reuse and electronic waste reduction to help people get more value from their technology.
17 October 2026 — This year’s International Repair Day theme, “Repair Brings Us Together,” is taking shape through a new initiative involving Google, iFixit and Closing the Loop.
To mark the occasion, Google and iFixit are equipping community repair groups with care packages containing ChromeOS Flex USB sticks, iFixit tools and repair materials. The goal is simple: help people get more use out of the computers they already own.
Helping older computers stay functional for longer
ChromeOS Flex, Google’s free browser-focused operating system, can help extend the useful life of compatible older PCs and Macs, keeping them functional and useful for longer.
The care packages include USB sticks preloaded with ChromeOS Flex, allowing repairers to test the software before installing it. Once an installation is complete, the stick can be reused on another compatible computer.
To be clear, you don’t need to buy a stick to get Flex. ChromeOS Flex is available free of charge directly from Google, and you can make your own USB installer. The preloaded stick just saves that USB setup step, and iFixit’s How to Install ChromeOS Flex guide walks you through installing it.
By putting these tools into the hands of community repair groups, Google and iFixit are helping make device-life extension more accessible.
Reuse here, recover there
The initiative also looks beyond repair.
Although the USB sticks are reusable, they’re still new hardware. Taking a broader approach to addressing electronic waste, Google is working with Closing the Loop through its One for One service, used by tech and telecom brands (including GSMA) since 2016.
For every USB stick distributed, an equivalent amount of electronic waste will be collected from unregulated waste streams in Africa and responsibly recycled.
Closing the Loop manages the collection and recycling process, ensuring that discarded devices reach specialised recycling facilities where valuable materials, including gold, silver and copper, can be recovered.
This adds another dimension to the initiative: while Google and iFixit help customers extend the useful life of their existing computers, Closing the Loop enables Google to integrate measurable waste reduction into the initiative, creating additional social and environmental value beyond repair.
Different areas of expertise, one shared goal
The collaboration demonstrates how different approaches can come together to deliver practical benefits for customers. By combining Google’s technology, iFixit’s repair expertise and Closing the Loop’s waste reduction service, the initiative supports longer device lifetimes while also addressing electronic waste already in the global waste stream.
Different expertise, one shared goal: creating better experiences for customers by bringing together practical solutions that help people get more value from their technology.
Learn more about the initiative in iFixit’s International Repair Day announcement.
Find out more about Closing the Loop’s One for One service.
