Opening Procedure

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch

Comments: 3

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 30 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to open your Apple Watch Series 7 for repairs.

Note: The opening procedure for the 41 mm and the 45 mm Apple Watch series 7 is the same. You can use this guide for both models.

This guide shows the procedure on the cellular/LTE version of the watch, but the GPS-only version is similar.

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

Tools

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 and apply it to the screen for at least two minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the watch—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
You may need to reheat the iOpener and repeat this procedure several times until the display adhesive softens.

Can confirm that if you want this to work, pop the iopener in for around 45seconds and then let it sit on the watch for 6 minutes, 2 minutes is just not enough.

Jeremiah Yoder -

Step 4

Be aware that a sharp tool easily scratches your watch housing when not handled with care. To avoid undesired scratches, take your time and work carefully rather than hastily.
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, most distant to the digital crown.
Once inserted, tilt the blade to pry the display open slightly and create a gap between the screen and the watch body.
The Apple Watch Series 7 display is equipped with a plastic bezel on its rear side. If you want to reuse your display, avoid using too much pressure with the knife or you may separate the bezel from the screen.

Tried this for almost an hour, and I could not lift the display off at all. Broke the screen and chipped pieces of the screen as well.

Excalibert89 -

Yeah prolly gonna suggest an actual spudger for this step, or to be more detailed. Kept reheating the IOpener every 10mins keeping the watch under it for 5mins etc and it never budged after 3 hours of fiddling. Eventually broke the fine edge of the blade and scratched the casing, now the blade can't catch the groove and $8 down the drain.

Jeremiah Yoder -

Step 5

Insert an opening pick in the gap your created.
Slide the opening pick along the short edge of the watch to slice the adhesive.

Step 6

Slide the opening pick around the corner and along the long edge on the opposite side of the watch crown to slice the display adhesive.

Step 7

Slide the opening pick around the corner to slice the remaining adhesive on the short edge of the watch next to the watch crown.
Don't try to remove the display. It is still connected to the watch assembly.

Step 8

Be careful not to strain the display cables when you fold the display to the side.
Lift the display and carefully pull it towards the watch crown.
Swing the display open to an upward position.