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Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement

What you need

Video Overview

  1. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Power off your Apple Watch: step 1, image 1 of 2 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Power off your Apple Watch: step 1, image 2 of 2
  2. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Apply heat: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Prepare an iOpener (or grab a hair dryer or heat gun) and heat the face of the watch until it's slightly too hot to touch.

    • Leave the iOpener on the watch for at least a minute to fully heat the screen and soften the adhesive holding it to the case.

    • You may need to reheat the iOpener, or move it around on the screen as sections cool, to heat the screen enough to pry it off.

  3. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Observe all warnings: step 3, image 1 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Observe all warnings: step 3, image 2 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Observe all warnings: step 3, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Safety Glasses
    $3.19
    Buy
    • 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.

    • Feel free to attach or remove the watch band as needed to provide more control as you make repairs.

  4. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Pry up the screen: step 4, image 1 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Pry up the screen: step 4, image 2 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Pry up the screen: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • 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.

    • Do not insert the knife more than 1/16th of an inch (~2 mm).

  5. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

    • Don't try to fully open or detach the display yet.

  6. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Insert an opening pick under the display and carefully separate the Force Touch gasket from the display.

    • iFixit screen and battery repair kits include a replacement Force Touch gasket, so don't fret too much if yours is damaged.

    • Otherwise, to preserve the Force Touch gasket, pry carefully under the edge of the display. If the Force Touch gasket splits when lifting the display, or if you separate the gasket layers, you'll also need to replace the Force Touch gasket itself.

    • Slide the pick around the display to separate the adhesive between the Force Touch gasket and the display.

    • Don't insert the opening pick deeper than 1/16th of an inch (~2 mm).

  7. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3
    • To avoid straining the display cables, don't open the display all the way yet.

    • Open the display to about a 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.

  8. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Battery Disconnection: step 8, image 1 of 2 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Battery Disconnection: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Use a Y000 driver to remove the Tri-point screw securing the metal battery connector cover.

    • Remove the cover.

  9. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect the battery by prying its connector straight up with the edge of a pry tool.

    • Bend the connector up slightly to make sure it does not make contact by accident.

  10. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Battery: step 10, image 1 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Battery: step 10, image 2 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement, Battery: step 10, image 3 of 3
    • With the battery connector out of the way, insert the tip of a pry tool under the battery connector plate, which is part of the battery.

    • Lift the battery connector plate up and out of its recess.

  11. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3
    • Use scissors to cut one of your opening picks to about the width of the battery. Try not to leave any sharp corners.

    • Insert the modified pick between the edge of the battery and the case, on the side opposite the digital crown.

    • Use constant, steady pressure to slowly pry the battery up, separating it from the adhesive securing it to the system board.

    • If needed, you can also safely pry along the top edge of the battery, against the Taptic Engine.

    • Mind the display cables so you don't damage them when levering the battery out.

    • Make sure you don't puncture or deform the battery, as it can catch fire and/or explode if damaged.

  12. Apple Watch Series 2 Battery Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    Tesa 61395 Tape
    $5.99
    Buy
    • Remove the battery.

    • Be sure to remove the protective liner to expose the adhesive on your new battery before you set it in place.

    • If needed, try re-using the existing adhesive to secure the battery. Alternatively, try a small piece of double-sided tape such as Tesa 61395, or a dab of liquid adhesive such as E6000.

    • If you're using an iFixit repair kit, proceed to the guide linked in the conclusion below to install a new Force Touch sensor and re-seal your watch.

    • Alternatively, if you are just replacing the adhesive and not the sensor, see the adhesive replacement guide for applying new adhesive and then reassembling.

Conclusion

Once your new battery is set in place, continue from Step 10 of the Force Touch Gasket guide to re-seal your watch and complete your repair.

72 other people completed this guide.

Tobias Isakeit

Member since: 03/31/14

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19 Comments

Ordered the kit and replaced the battery, no dice! I believe the components in my watch failed victim to thermal breakdown since the battery got so hot. After the battery replacement my watch acted the same. It got real hot again, so I am not sure what is actually wrong with the watch. I think it is time for a new one.

These directions were easy to follow. The screwdriver in the kit didn’t work at all. luckily I have a good kit with the right tip. If you are confident and able, this procedure should take about 2 hours. Thank you IFIXIT for providing this product an the easy to follow instructions.

Thomas Bole [Abston ES] - Reply

Success! Following this guide and the gasket replacement guide saved having to buy a new watch. Like Thomas mentions in his review, the screwdriver was difficult to use. I eventually got it to turn the tiny screw by holding the watch from the bottom rather than just pressing down with the driver from the top.

A question: should I reset my watch after replacing the battery? Or will whatever throttling WatchOS put in place reverse itself?

dalexgray - Reply

Yay it worked! Was supposed to wait for my boyfriend to do it but got impatient and gave it a go.. easy peasy even with my baby having a hissy fit inbetween ?

Beth Almond - Reply

Thanks ! It worked perfectly in 30 minutes !

Benoit Maillard - Reply

This guide made the repair quite simple. Opening the watch proved to be quite straightforward once it got started. The biggest challenge was actually getting the Force Touch gasket connector aligned and reinserted, but even that wasn’t tough. I’m not sure why this repair is classified as very difficult, unless it’s to discourage people who find everything to be difficult.

I did find that I had to force restart the watch twice after replacing the battery to take care of some strange problems with sluggishness, but after that was taken care of it fixed so many problems and the watch now runs all day without seemingly random shutdowns. Previously if the battery said less than 50% I knew it would probably shut down with a workout. Now it runs like new.

Arle Lommel - Reply

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