Introduction
Use this guide to replace a worn-out or dead battery in your Apple Watch Series 4.
This guide shows the procedure on the standard, GPS-only version of the watch, but the cellular/LTE version is similar.
For your safety, discharge your battery below 25% before disassembling your Apple Watch. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair.
Note: If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
During the display opening procedure of the Apple Watch it is likely to damage the force touch gasket. If you separate the gasket layers or cut the cable, you'll also need to replace the Force Touch gasket itself.
You’ll need replacement adhesive to reattach components when reassembling the device.
Tools
-
-
Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
-
If your touchscreen is broken and prevents powering off the watch, use this alternate method to power it down.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
Once you've opened a small gap with the curved blade, remove the blade and insert the thinner edge of an opening tool into the gap.
-
Push the opening tool into the gap, using your thumb as a pivot to lift the display open a bit farther.
-
-
-
It's likely that the Force Touch sensor will stick to the display frame instead to the watch's body. In this case, insert an opening pick under the display and carefully separate the Force Touch gasket from the display.
-
Slide the pick around the display to separate the adhesive between the Force Touch gasket and the display.
-
-
-
Open the display at max. to an 45° angle, and use tweezers to peel off the adhesive between the display and the Force Touch gasket.
-
Thread the adhesive around and behind the display cables to get it off completely. Since the adhesive needs to be replaced anyway, you can cut it if that makes removal easier for you.
-
-
-
Carefully fold the screen to the back until you get enough space to pry out the battery.
-
Insert an opening pick between the battery and the Taptic Engine.
-
-
-
Slide the opening pick along the edge of the battery to loosen the adhesive.
-
Use constant, steady pressure to slowly pry the battery up, separating it from the adhesive securing it to the system board.
-
-
-
Carefully lift the battery and bring it in a 75° angle.
-
Use a pair of tweezers to peel the black sticker off the metal plate which covers the battery connector.
-
-
-
The following steps describe how to apply replacement adhesive in preparation for the resealing procedure.
-
Apply a little bit of high isopropyl alcohol (>99%) to a Q-tip or use a cleaning pad to gently remove the leftover adhesive on top of the Force Touch gasket.
-
-
-
Flip the Apple Watch upside down so the display lays flat while lifting up the case.
-
Remove the leftover adhesive from the back of the display.
-
-
-
Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the replacement adhesive with the blue protective film from the backing paper.
-
-
-
Hold the replacement adhesive diagonally to thread it over the display.
-
Slightly tilt the display forward so you can align the adhesive with the frame.
-
Position the replacement adhesive on top of the Force Touch gasket.
-
-
-
Use the pointed end of a spudger to make final position adjustments and press the adhesive into place.
-
To reassemble your Apple Watch Series 4 follow these instructions in reverse order to reattach the battery.
For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery: Charge it to 100% and keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Then use your device until it shuts off due to low battery. Finally, charge it uninterrupted to 100%.
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.
4 comments
Is the adhesive waterproof?
laws -
Hi laws,
iFixit makes no claims to the continued splash-resistance of the Apple Watch after applying this adhesive strip. It's probably going to be just fine, but we can't confirm that the Apple Watch will maintain its IPX7 waterproof rating after being repaired.
Ich habe jetzt 2 Uhren durch - besten Dank für die Hilfestellung. Ich habe mir die “Dichtungs-Klebestreifen” besorgt, waren für mich aber nicht praktikabel. Bei beiden Uhren hat sich die Force-Touch-Dichtung teilweise gelöst und der Klebestreifen hat zwar auf der FT-Dichtung gehalten, aber das Display kam wieder hoch, da der die FT-Dichtung eben nicht mehr am Gehäuse geklebt hat.
Ich habe mir eine Tube Smartphone-Dichtmasse besorgt, damit konnte ich die FT-Dichtung wieder befestigen und habe damit auch das Glas wieder optimal einkleben können. Da sich sich die Masse (wie die Klebestreifen auch) bei Hitze wieder entfernen lässt: für mich die praktikablere Lösung. Auch nicht ganz so frickelig…
carver -
Wie heißt der Kleber? T-7000?
Hi. I changed the screen on an apple watch series 4, now the screen works, whcih is great, but when I charge it, the green snake comes on but never charges. It heats up the bottom, gets very warm. Could it be the battery itself? Maybe needs a new one? Is rthere anything else that woudl be causing the battery to not charge and or heat up on the bottom when chaging the screen?
Derrick Brewer -