Lost Assembly Instructions? How to Find the Manual or Video

Don't panic: most manuals can be found

Losing the assembly instructions is very common. They get thrown out with the packaging, stuck in a drawer, or damaged in a move. The good news is that many makers publish their manuals online, and even when they do not, there are several ways to get a copy.

The single most useful thing you can find is the model number. Almost every other step depends on it.

Find the model number

Look for a label, sticker or stamp on the product itself. Common places include:

• The underside or back of furniture, often on a white sticker or stamped into a panel
• Inside a drawer, cabinet or wardrobe, on a side panel
• The frame of a bed near the head or foot, or under a slat
• The base or rear of a grill, treadmill or exercise bike
• The bike frame, often under the bottom bracket or on the seat tube
• Your order confirmation email or the retailer account where you bought it

Check the brand's support page

Go to the maker's own website, not a search result page, and look for a section called support, help, assembly, downloads or manuals. Many brands let you search by model number or product name and download the PDF. Some also link to an official assembly video.

If you cannot find a search box, try the product page for your item. Manuals are often linked under specifications, documents or downloads near the bottom of the page.

Retailer product pages

If you bought from a larger retailer or marketplace, go back to the product listing, or find it through your order history. Retailers often attach the assembly instructions PDF to the listing, and sometimes a video. This also works when the maker is hard to identify, because the listing names the brand and model.

Search tips that work

A plain search for 'desk instructions' will not get you far. Be specific:

• Search for the brand plus the exact model number plus 'assembly instructions pdf'
• If you only know the product name, add the brand and the product type, such as 'bed frame' or 'bookcase'
• Add 'assembly video' instead of 'pdf' if you would rather watch
• Try the article number from the box or receipt if the model number fails
• Be careful with sites that ask you to install software or sign up to download a manual. Official brand and retailer pages are safer

Ask for a replacement

If you cannot find a copy online, contact the maker directly. Many support teams can email a PDF or post a printed copy, especially when you give them the model number and, if possible, a photo of the product and any label. The retailer's customer service team may also be able to help, particularly if you bought recently.

While you wait, take photos of the product from several angles if it is partly built or you plan to take it apart. Photos make it much easier to put things back the way they were.

If you are taking something apart

Many people look for lost instructions because they are moving. If you are taking furniture apart without a manual, work slowly and label as you go. Put a small piece of tape with a letter on each panel. Bag the screws and fittings for each stage separately and write on the bag what they held together. Take a photo after each step. When you rebuild, reverse the order.

Videos for your product

A video can be easier to follow than a replacement PDF, especially for large items. The maker's own video will match your model best. As more brands turn their manuals into animated films, it is worth checking the maker's support page for a video as well as the PDF. That is the kind of film Manual to Video makes for brands.