Apple Watch SE Screen Replacement

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch

Comments: 9

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a broken, cracked, or defective display on your Apple Watch SE.

Replacing the display can cause issues with Apple Pay. If possible, to reduce the likelihood of problems, delete all your Apple Pay account info before the replacement, and then re-enter it with the new display installed.

You’ll need replacement adhesive to reattach components when reassembling the device.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
If your touchscreen is broken and you can't power off the watch, use this alternate method to power it down.

Step 2

Because the gap between the screen and watch body is so thin, a sharp blade is needed 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 careful not to apply too much pressure, as this might cause the knife to slip and cut you, or damage the watch.
Wear eye protection. The knife or glass may break, sending pieces flying.
Attach or remove the watch band as needed to provide more control as you make repairs.

Step 3

Prepare an iOpener (or use a hair dryer or heat gun) and heat the face of the watch to loosen the display adhesive.
Leave the iOpener on the watch for at least two minutes to fully heat the screen and soften the adhesive holding it to the case.
You may need to reheat the iOpener and repeat this procedure several times until the display adhesive softens.

Step 4

Place the edge of a curved blade into the thin gap between the display and the outer case. Start at the short side of the display, closest to the digital crown.
Press firmly straight down into the gap.
Once inserted, tilt the blade to pry the display open slightly.

Step 5

Insert an opening pick in the gap you've created.
Slide the opening pick along the short edge of the watch to cut the adhesive.

Step 6

When slicing near the crown, don't insert the opening pick deeper than 1/16th of an inch (~2 mm).
Slide the opening pick around the corner and along the long edge where the crown is located to cut the display adhesive.

Step 7

Slide the opening pick around the corner to cut the remaining adhesive on the short edge farthest away from the crown.

Step 8

Place the watch on a flat surface and use an opening pick to slice through any remaining adhesive.
When slicing near the crown, don't insert the opening pick deeper than 1/16th of an inch (~2 mm).
Slide an opening pick under the opposite display edge of the watch crown.

Step 9

Reinsert the opening pick on the short edge of the watch, next to the watch crown.
Twist the opening pick to loosen the display off the watch case.
Don't try to remove the display. It is still connected to the watch assembly.

Step 10

Be careful not to strain the display cables when you fold the display to the side.
Lift the display and carefully pull it in direction of the short edge farthest away from the crown.
Swing the display open to an upward position.

Step 11

The black foil which covers the display connectors is very fragile and likely to rip. To keep the tape intact while peeling it off, it's necessary to use high isopropyl alcohol or an iOpener.
Prepare an iOpener (or use a hair dryer or heat gun) and heat the face of the watch to loosen the adhesive tape.
You may need to reheat the iOpener and repeat this procedure several times until adhesive softens.
Alternatively, apply a little bit of high-concentration isopropyl alcohol (>90%) to a Q-tip and apply it to the black adhesive foil on top of the display connectors. Let it penetrate the adhesive for about two minutes.

This is impossible. The tape will rip even if you use isoprpyl alcohol AND the iopener.

r torrance andrews -

Step 12

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the right display cable connector.

Step 13

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the middle and left display cable connector.

Step 14

Use the pointed end of a spudger to open the right ZIF connector on the rear side of the display by bringing its flap in an upright position.

Step 15

Use the pointed end of a spudger to open the middle and left ZIF connectors by bringing their flaps to an upright position.

Step 16

Use a pair of tweezers to peel the left edge off the display cable sticker off the rear side of the display.
Do not try to remove the sticker all the way, you will reuse it when reassembling your watch. Only peel the area off which adheres the cable to the rear side of the display.

Again: impossible. Peeling the edges away destroys the cables on the sides. I now have the damaged face nicely removed but the side cales are destroeyd.

r torrance andrews -

Step 17

Use a pair of tweezers to peel the right edge off the display cable sticker off the rear side of the display.

Step 18

Carefully pull the display flex cables out of their ZIF connectors.
Only pull close to the ZIF connector and not on the watch body. Otherwise the display cable might rip.

Step 19

Separate the watch assembly and the display.

The NFC chip will need to be transferred from your old display to your new one or you need to remove the watch from your iPhone fully and then treat it like a new watch,

Dan -

Conclusion

To reassemble your Apple Watch SE follow these instructions in reverse order to reattach the screen and the battery.

Apply a little bit of high isopropyl alcohol (>90%) to a Q-tip or use a cleaning pad to gently remove the leftover adhesive on the edges of the watch case and the screen before installing new adhesive.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

Author

Dominik Schnabelrauch

Member since: 23/11/16

224698 Reputation

6 comments

any idea where I can purchase the replacement screen itself?

donald maida -

Would have nice to know about the NFC antenna before this. I now have no Apple Pay.

Care O -

Where is the NFC antenna? I wish they showed how the new one will adhere to the body. They have listed to buy a roll of adhesive tape but I don't get it.

David -

Does the pre-cut adhesive card have the necessary cuts to re-attach the crystal ?

RLRams -

Will I be able to preserve the NFC antenna after replacing the screen?

Jake_a_spade -

This was as simple as presented, and it still really did take me an hour and a half to complete. The old screen was shattered and just turned into glass splinters when I took it out, so it required digging out the entire adhesive seal caked with glass bits with the curved bladed knife. In my case, I am very glad I also bought the Tesa 61395 Tape - New / Precut Double-Sided Adhesive Card to form a new seal or else the new screen would not have stayed put.

Zachary Stauber -