How to Reseal an Apple Watch

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch
  • Comments: 0
How to Reseal an Apple Watch

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

15

Time Required

10 - 20 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the display adhesive in your Apple Watch and reseal it.

This is a general resealing guide based on an Apple Watch Series 6 44 mm. The resealing procedure for the Apple Watch Series 5 and newer models is more or less the same, despite slightly different inner workings.

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

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    • The following steps show how to apply new display adhesive with the display already installed. If you're installing a new screen or removed your screen jump to Step 6 of this guide.

    • Apply a little bit of isopropyl alcohol (>90%) to a cotton swab, or Q-tip (or use a cleaning pad) and gently remove the old adhesive on top of the watch frame.

    • To remove the adhesive on the side with the display cables, gently lay the display on the frame.

    • Avoid straining or tearing the display cables.

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    • Flip the Apple Watch upside down so the display lays flat and lift the watch body.

    • Avoid straining or tearing the display cables.

    • Gently remove the old adhesive on the rear side of the display.

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    • Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the replacement adhesive (including the blue protective film) from the backing paper.

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    • Hold the replacement adhesive diagonally and thread it over the display.

    • Slightly tilt the display forward to align the adhesive with the frame.

    • Position the replacement adhesive on the watch frame, where the old adhesive was located.

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    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to press the replacement adhesive into place.

    • To completely reseal your watch jump straight to step 14.

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    • Apply a little bit of isopropyl alcohol (>90%) to a cotton swab, or Q-tip (or use a cleaning pad) and gently remove the old adhesive on top of the watch frame.

    • To remove the adhesive on the side with the display cables, gently fold the cables down.

    • Don‘t fold the cable sharply and only bend them to avoid cable damage.

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    • If you‘re reusing your old display you need to remove the leftover adhesive from its rear side.

    • Gently remove the old adhesive on the rear side of the display.

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    • Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the replacement adhesive (including the blue protective film) from the backing paper.

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    • Hold the replacement adhesive diagonally and thread it over the display cables.

    • Slightly tilt the display cables forward to align the adhesive with the frame.

    • Position the replacement adhesive on the watch frame, where the old adhesive was located.

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    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to press the replacement adhesive into place.

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    • Lay your display flat on your working surface.

    • Hold the watch body in an upright position and grab the display cables with a pair of tweezers.

    • Before inserting the cables into the connectors, make sure the ZIF connector flaps are in an upright position. Otherwise, you risk damaging the cables.

    • Align the display cables parallel to the ZIF connectors and push them in.

    • No force is needed to push the cables into the connectors. If the cable doesn’t insert easily, it’s probably misaligned and needs to be gently removed and repositioned.

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    • Use the pointed end of a spudger and fold down the black flaps on top of the ZIF connectors to secure the cables.

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    • Carefully adhere the old heat dissipation stickers to the ZIF connectors on the rear side of the display or apply new heat dissipation stickers where the old ones were located.

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    • Use tweezers and a pair of scissors to lift and cut a corner of the protective film.

    • Remove the film from the display adhesive.

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    • Align the screen and press it down firmly onto the adhesive.

    • To improve bonding of the adhesive, apply a heated iOpener to the display. Then apply pressure for a few hours —for example, place your Apple Watch under one or two heavy books overnight.

    • Alternatively, you can use screen vice clamps around the perimeter of your device to set the new adhesive.

Conclusion

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

Author

Dominik Schnabelrauch

Member since: 23/11/16

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