Repair shop software free download: get the OVA, check the host, and finish first-run setup

A repair shop software free download should put a full shop system on a computer you already own — tickets, parts inventory and cash POS — without a monthly login or a cloud account. This page is about getting that download, what the file is, what the host computer needs, and how first-run setup works. For the broader "is it free?" pitch, see free repair shop software.

RepairAmigo is the example: free, Made in Texas, and built inside a busy repair shop that has processed more than 50,000 repair tickets. You download one VirtualBox appliance (OVA), import it, start it, and open it from any browser on the shop network.

What a repair shop software free download should include

"Free download" on a software site can mean a brochure, a demo with a timer, or a thin trial. For a phone, computer or console repair shop it should mean:

1. A real installable file, not only a signup form for a hosted trial.
2. Tickets, inventory and cash POS in the same system after install.
3. Owner, Manager and Technician roles with no ticket or user limits.
4. Your data on your computer, with a simple way to back it up and move it.
5. Setup you can finish the same day, documented step by step.
6. A way to wipe demo data before the first real customer.

If the download only opens a cloud account, it is not a self-hosted free download. See self-hosted repair shop software for that difference.

What you download: the RepairAmigo OVA

RepairAmigo is not a normal Windows or Mac app installer. The free download is RepairAmigo.ova — a VirtualBox appliance. Inside the VM is a locked-down Linux system that serves RepairAmigo to your shop network.

That design matters for the download day:

• One file to import. VirtualBox's Import Appliance walks you through it.
• It stays on your shop network. No ports to open on your router.
• It is separate from the host OS, because RepairAmigo runs inside its own locked-down Linux system.
• Remote support stays off until you click Allow.
• Back up the entire VM and run it on another computer as easily as you installed it.

More on the VM approach: why a local Linux VM is safer.

What the host computer needs

Before you download, pick a Windows PC, Linux computer or Intel Mac that can stay on during business hours. Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3 and later) are not supported as the computer that runs the VM; they can still open RepairAmigo in a browser once the VM runs on a supported host.

Minimums that match the live product:

• Memory: 8 GB (8192 MB) of RAM for the VM. The host needs that free on top of the OS and other apps. Do not lower the VM's memory.
• Processor: the VM is set to 8 CPUs, so a multi-core host works best.
• Storage: keep the VM on an SSD.
• Network: bridged adapter to the shop network. Every device that uses RepairAmigo must be on the same shop network, not a guest Wi-Fi.
• VirtualBox: install the free VirtualBox software for your host OS before you import the OVA.

How to get the free download and import it

Setup takes a few short steps, all covered in the setup guide:

1. Open the download page and download RepairAmigo.ova.
2. Install free VirtualBox for Windows, Linux or Intel macOS.
3. In VirtualBox, choose File → Import Appliance…, pick RepairAmigo.ova, then Next and Finish.
4. Select RepairAmigo and click Start. If VirtualBox asks about the bridged network adapter, click OK. If it can't find the network card, open Settings → Network and choose the host's active connection in Name.
5. After a minute or two, the VM screen shows its IP address. Open that address in a browser to run Setup and create the Owner account.

That is the whole free download path: get the OVA, import it, start it, open the IP.

First-run setup after the download

The first browser visit walks you through Setup and creates the Owner account. The VM ships with demo data so you can click around before you go live.

When you are ready for real tickets:

• Wipe the demo data with the Owner tools — see remove demo data (Owner data reset).
• Add Manager and Technician logins.
• Bookmark the VM's address on every counter device (or "Add to Home Screen" on a phone or tablet).
• Set a DHCP reservation on your router so the IP stays the same and bookmarks keep working.

What you get once it is running

After the free download and first-run setup, the shop uses one system from any browser on the network:

• Tickets — intake by customer phone number, status, comments and a printed receipt. See repair ticketing system.
• Parts inventory — parts deduct when a repair is saved. See repair shop inventory management.
• Cash POS — close the ticket at pickup on the same record. See point of sale for phone repair shops.
• Roles — Owner, Manager and Technician. No ticket or user limits.
• Optional Twilio — one-way customer texts through your own Twilio account if you want them.
• Warranty link per repair.

Keeping it reachable after download day

A free download only helps if the system stays up during business hours:

• Headless Start: start the VM with Headless Start so it keeps running after you close the VirtualBox Manager.
• Host stays awake: the computer that runs the VM must stay on and awake during business hours.
• Bridged adapter: leave the network adapter bridged to the shop LAN.
• DHCP reservation: same IP every day so bookmarks work.
• No VPN on counter devices while they use RepairAmigo on the shop network.
• No ports to open on the router for normal shop use.

Backups after you are running

Back up the entire VM and run it on another computer as easily as you installed it. That is also how you move shops or replace a host PC.

More in backing up repair shop data.

Quick checklist

• Host is Windows, Linux or an Intel Mac (Apple Silicon is not a supported host).
• Host has 8 GB of RAM free for the VM and the VM is on an SSD.
• VirtualBox is installed and RepairAmigo.ova is imported from the download page.
• Network adapter is bridged; devices are on the shop network, not guest Wi-Fi.
• The VM starts with Headless Start and the host never sleeps during business hours.
• The VM has a DHCP reservation so bookmarks keep working.
• Every counter device has RepairAmigo bookmarked.
• Demo data is wiped before the first real ticket.
• You can back up the entire VM and run it on another computer as easily as you installed it.

How RepairAmigo helps

RepairAmigo is free repair shop software you download as a VirtualBox OVA — built for cell phone, computer and console repair shops. It was built inside a busy repair shop that has processed more than 50,000 repair tickets. Made in Texas.

• Free download on your computer. RepairAmigo is a self-hosted VirtualBox VM on a Windows, Linux or Intel Mac computer. Your team uses it from any browser on the shop network, on desktop or mobile. Data stays on your own computer and network.
• Tickets, inventory and POS. Smart intake by phone number. Technicians record the repair performed, a status and comments. Parts deduct when a repair is saved. Built-in cash POS at pickup. Warranty link per repair. Optional one-way customer texts through your own Twilio account.
• Roles. Owner, Manager and Technician logins. No ticket or user limits.
• Your data. Back up the entire VM and run it on another computer as easily as you installed it.

A full Spanish edition is available, along with Portuguese and Hindi editions. Questions? Email support@repairamigo.com. See also cell phone repair shop software, repair shop management system or free computer repair shop software.

Download RepairAmigo free or read the setup guide.

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