Introduction
Use this guide to replace a broken, cracked, or defective display on your Apple Watch SE.
You’ll need replacement adhesive to reattach components when reassembling the device.
What you need
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Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
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If your touchscreen is broken and you can't power off the watch, use this alternate method to power it down.
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Tool used on this step:Safety Glasses$3.19
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Press firmly straight down into the gap.
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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.
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Slide the opening pick along the short edge of the watch to cut the adhesive.
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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.
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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.
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Twist the opening pick to loosen the display off the watch case.
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Lift the display and carefully pull it in direction of the short edge farthest away from the crown.
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Swing the display open to an upward position.
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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 adhesive tape.
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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.
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Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the right display cable connector.
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Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the middle and left display cable connector.
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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.
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Use the pointed end of a spudger to open the middle and left ZIF connectors by bringing their flaps to an upright position.
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Use a pair of tweezers to peel the left edge off the display cable sticker off the rear side of the display.
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Use a pair of tweezers to peel the right edge off the display cable sticker off the rear side of the display.
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Carefully pull the display flex cables out of their ZIF connectors.
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