Do online products still need manuals?

Yes, online consumer products still need manuals or instructions for use whenever guidance is necessary for safe operation, proper installation, or to prevent misuse. However, legal frameworks in the US, Canada, and the EU increasingly accept digital or electronic formats (eIFU) depending on the product category.

United States & Canada:

• General Consumer Goods: Federal regulations (such as FTC and CPSC guidelines in the US) require adequate directions for safe use and clear safety warnings, but do not strictly mandate physical paper if digital access is practical, provided consumers can easily view and print them.
• Specialized Products: High-risk sectors like medical devices (regulated by the FDA in the US and Health Canada) heavily restrict electronic-only manuals to professional settings, often requiring paper copies for lay-users or upon request.

European Union:

• General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): Instructions and safety warnings are mandatory if a product cannot be used safely without them. They must be provided in the official language(s) of the target member state.
• Digital Shift vs. Paper Defaults: Newer EU rules (like the Machinery Regulation 2023/1230) permit digital instructions for certain goods, but consumer-facing and non-professional goods often still require essential safety information in paper form by default, or require the manufacturer to supply a free paper copy upon request.
• Regulated Sectors: For medical devices or specialized industrial equipment, electronic instructions are strictly governed by specific digital use regulations requiring risk assessments, free access, archiving, and fast on-request paper delivery.