Apple Watch SE Opening Procedure

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch
  • Comments: 2
Apple Watch SE Opening Procedure

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

10

Time Required

20 - 30 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to open your Apple Watch SE for repairs.

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

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

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    • 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.

Conclusion

To reassemble your Apple Watch SE, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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.

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

Author

Dominik Schnabelrauch

Member since: 23/11/16

201132 Reputation

2 comments

Pardon what may be a question with an obvious answer, but how do you re-close the Apple Watch SE (gen1)? Mine has popped open on its own after a few years of abuse and I can't get it to stay closed.

Other than the adhesive, which I will surely need to acquire and reapply, is there a mechanism that clips the screen to the rest of the watch/housing? If there is, I can't see it (or it broke and fell out when the watch opened.

Thanks in advance!

Trey Nader -

How would I reapply the adhesive? Are there any sensors I have to disconnect from the screen and/or reconnect after the new one is installed?

ArandomHitman -