Can You Repair An Apple Watch Screen

Introduction

Cracked the glass on your Apple tree Watch? Time to become that fixed upward. Follow this guide to replace the screen—which includes the OLED display and fused glass digitizer (touchscreen).

As a precaution against damaging your device, this guide starts by disconnecting the battery, in the only way you tin can—by removing it.

Video Overview

Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.

Before starting repairs, take your spotter off the charger and ability it down.
If your touchscreen is broken and prevents powering off the sentinel, use this alternate method to power information technology down.

Prepare an iOpener (or grab a hair dryer or heat gun) and heat the face of the watch until it's slightly too hot to touch.

Prepare an iOpener (or grab a hair dryer or heat gun) and estrus the face up of the spotter until it's slightly too hot to touch.
Leave the iOpener on the watch for at least a minute to fully oestrus the screen and soften the adhesive holding it to the instance.
You may need to reheat the iOpener, or move it around on the screen as sections cool, to heat the screen enough to pry it off.

Because the gap between the screen and lookout man torso is so thin, a sharp blade is required to separate the two. Read the following warnings carefully before proceeding.
Protect your fingers by keeping them completely clear of the knife. If in doubt, protect your free hand with a heavy glove, such as a leather shop glove or gardening glove.
Be conscientious not to use too much pressure, as this might cause the knife to slip and cut you, or damage the sentry.
Wear middle protection. The knife or glass may break, sending pieces flying.

Using a curved blade minimizes the chance of scratching the case or groovy the glass. Simply pry with the curved section of the bract, and non the tip or apartment section.
Place the curved section of the bract in the gap betwixt the drinking glass and example on the lower edge of the sentinel face, and printing firmly directly downward into the gap.
Be very conscientious to maintain complete control over the knife—once the gap opens, if you're pressing too hard on the knife it may slip in and cut the battery.
This should wedge the gap open and crusade the glass to lift slightly upwardly from the example.
When the glass has lifted, gently rotate the knife downwards, opening the gap more by pushing the glass up.

Once yous've opened the gap enough, insert the tip of an opening option under the drinking glass.
Slide the pick along the bottom border to separate adhesive belongings the screen to the example.
Be conscientious non to insert the opening pick too far. Only about one/8" ( well-nigh three mm) is necessary, any deeper and you may damage cables.

Roll the opening pick up the side of the button side of the watch, gently pushing in to carve up the adhesive and widening the gap every bit y'all go.
Remember not to push the pick in also far—it's easier to avoid this by rolling the pick, rather than dragging a tip along.

Piece of work the pick around the top correct corner, and roll it forth the top edge of the screen.

Keep working the pick effectually the perimeter of the screen, rolling down along the left side to cutting the final of the adhesive.
Leave the option in place to continue the adhesive from resealing the screen in place.

While holding the first pick in place, use a 2nd to bank check that all of the adhesive is separated around the unabridged perimeter of the screen.

There are two cables connecting the screen to the inside of the picket, near the top left corner. Exist careful when prying or you may impairment these cables.
Pry slightly up on the right side of the screen, to gratis it from any remaining adhesive.
Pry up on the left to complimentary information technology as well—but practise non try to remove the screen every bit it is still held in place by two cables.

If you can meet the peak layer of your Strength Touch sensor amongst the display adhesive, it means the two layers of the sensor separated and you're going to need to replace or repair it.
iFixit screen and bombardment repair kits come up with a replacement Force Bear upon sensor, so if you got 1 of those, don't fret.
The top layer of the sensor may be adhered to the dorsum of the screen—if so, push button information technology dorsum downward and separate it.

Lift the screen up and shift it to the left, minding the display data and digitizer cables.

Identify the lookout on an elevated surface, at least 1/2" or 1 cm tall—a minor box or the edge of a book will work great. This will allow the screen to hang downwardly vertically and give amend access to the battery.
Be careful not to bump the screen or strain the cables while yous piece of work.

Use scissors to cut one of your opening picks to about the width of the battery. Try not to leave whatsoever abrupt corners.
Insert the modified option between the right side of the battery and the example.
Use constant, steady pressure level to slowly pry the battery upwards, separating information technology from the adhesive securing it to the system lath.
Be careful non to deform or puncture the battery.
On the larger (42 mm) models, it's possible to accidentally pry at the system board underneath the battery. Insert the option only far enough to go underneath the battery, not the organisation board.
If needed, apply a piddling high concentration isopropyl alcohol (xc% or greater) around and under the battery to aid weaken the agglutinative.
Do not endeavor to remove the battery as information technology is nevertheless connected.

Rotate the bombardment counterclockwise to expose its connector.

Concord the battery upwards and out of the way, to betrayal the battery cable connector.
Utilize a plastic opening tool, prying against the bottom of the case to separate the battery cablevision connector from the spotter's battery cable.
Remove the bombardment from the watch.
If the battery is visibly dented or deformed, information technology should exist replaced. For all-time results, supersede with a new battery whenever it is removed.

Fold the screen up and over to the right, to expose the cables underneath.

The brandish and digitizer cablevision connectors are secured below a small metal subclass that is adhered to the speaker.
Use a plastic opening tool to flip the bracket toward the display and up from the speaker.
If you simply pry toward the watch band y'all may tear the cables.

Steady the bracket from the left side using your fingers or tweezers.
At the same time, insert a small (1 mm) flathead screwdriver nether the tiny tab on the right.
Finally, place i finger behind the tab, and pinch the subclass hard between your finger and the screwdriver to disassemble the comprehend.
This releases two slotted tabs that hold the encompass to the bracket, and should free the cover.
Prying the cover off tin be challenging and may accept more than one effort. Be patient, and accept care not to pull on the bracket or tear the attached cables.

Grab the embrace with your tweezers and slide it toward the top of the watch to free the final slotted tab, and remove the embrace.

Carefully pry upwardly to disconnect the brandish data and digitizer cables.
Be careful not to touch any of the exposed pins straight, equally your finger oils may impede connectivity.
Remove the display.