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This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your Garmin fēnix 7X, use our service manual.

  1. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew back plate screws: step 1, image 1 of 2 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew back plate screws: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Turn off the watch and remove the wrist band before proceeding.

    • Unscrew the four indicated screws.

    • Don't try to remove the back plate yet since there are ribbon cables still attached to it.

  2. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew screen assembly: step 2, image 1 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew screen assembly: step 2, image 2 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew screen assembly: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • Unscrew the four screws holding the screen on.

    • To avoid damaging the screen ribbon cables, carefully lift the screen off the body and angle it slightly to the left to expose the ribbon cables.

  3. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove screen assembly: step 3, image 1 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove screen assembly: step 3, image 2 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove screen assembly: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Detach the indicated ribbon cables which connect to the screen.

    • A plastic spudger may make this step easier and help prevent damage.

    • The screen should now be completely detached from the body. Lift the screen completely away from the body and set it aside with the ribbon cables facing up.

  4. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew main circuit board: step 4, image 1 of 2 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Unscrew main circuit board: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the final ribbon cable from the circuit board.

    • Unscrew the four indicated screws.

  5. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove main circuit board: step 5, image 1 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove main circuit board: step 5, image 2 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove main circuit board: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • Use a spudger to lift up the circuit board from the bottom until it loosens from the body.

    • Use the thin end of a spudger to lift up the back of the indicated connector until it comes free. The connector pivots at the tip so it's necessary to lift it from the back.

    • The connector may require some force before it comes free. Tilting the circuit board to apply pressure may be helpful here. Be careful not to damage the wires leading to the connector.

    • The circuit board should now be completely detach from the body. Set it aside.

  6. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove speaker retention clip: step 6, image 1 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove speaker retention clip: step 6, image 2 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove speaker retention clip: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Unscrew the retaining clip for the speaker.

    • Remove the retaining clip. Tweezers may be helpful here.

  7. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove back plate: step 7, image 1 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove back plate: step 7, image 2 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Remove back plate: step 7, image 3 of 3
    • Use a spudger to pry the speaker free of the body.

    • Brace your fingers on the back of the lugs and use your thumbs to press down on the battery until the back plate comes free.

    • The back plate may require some force to remove since there is some adhesive stuck to it.

    • To reassemble the device, follow the teardown steps in reverse.

    • Special care is needed on steps involving the gaskets which form the waterproof seals. See the next steps for these.

  8. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Before re-installing the back plate, re-install back plate gasket: step 9, image 1 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Before re-installing the back plate, re-install back plate gasket: step 9, image 2 of 3 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Before re-installing the back plate, re-install back plate gasket: step 9, image 3 of 3
    • Before re-installing the back plate, re-install the back plate gasket.

    • It's possible for the gasket to stick to the back plate during the removal of the back plate. If this occurs, remove the gasket from the back plate.

    • Locate the groove on the bottom of the watch body and press the gasket into it. The gasket and groove are not symmetrical so be sure to orient the gasket correctly.

  9. Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Before re-installing the screen assembly, re-install the screen assembly gasket: step 10, image 1 of 2 Garmin fēnix 7X Teardown, Before re-installing the screen assembly, re-install the screen assembly gasket: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • If the screen assembly gasket came loose during removal of the assembly, press it back into the groove on the underside of the screen assembly.

Lawrence Lee

Member since: 01/03/23

506 Reputation

2 Guides authored

4 Comments

Thanks for the teardown! How is the battery connected (if one needs to replace it)? And does the Epix Gen 2 follow the same teardown?

Rppp - Reply

it uses a connector, no soldering required. You can see in step 5 that the white battery connector is being removed. The connector is also visible at the photos with the battery from step 6, 7 and 9.

It seems Garmin has made some model changes. My Saphire Pro Fenix 6 (titan) from December 2019 has a battery connector already and the replacement battery fits perfectly despite the cables being about 4mm longer.

Joerg -

Awesome! Any suggestions for flimsy buttons? Thanks!

JuanRL - Reply

Thanks a lot guys for this teardown guide : I was able to successfully repair the light button of my 7X Solar that wasn't working !

Benoit S - Reply

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