Apple Watch Series 2 Adhesive Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Adhesive Replacement
6 steps

Flags

BackApple Watch - Series 2
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Cleaning the gasket

Apply a little bit of isopropyl alcohol (>99%) to a Q-tip or use a cleaning pad to gently remove the adhesive leftovers on top of the force touch gasket.
To remove the adhesive on the side where the display cables are running, fold down the display and carefully pull it away from the frame so there’s enough space.

Apply a little bit of isopropyl alcohol (>99%) to a Q-tip or use a cleaning pad to gently remove the adhesive leftovers on top of the force touch gasket.

To remove the adhesive on the side where the display cables are running, fold down the display and carefully pull it away from the frame so there’s enough space.

1024

Step 2

              Cleaning the display

Flip the Apple Watch upside down so the display lays flat while lifting up the case.
Remove the leftovers on the back of the display.

Flip the Apple Watch upside down so the display lays flat while lifting up the case.

Remove the leftovers on the back of the display.

Step 3

              Applying the new adhesive

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove replacement adhesive with the blue protective film from the backing paper.

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove replacement adhesive with the blue protective film from the backing paper.

Step 4

Hold the replacement adhesive diagonally to thread it over the display.
Slightly tilt the display forward so you can align the adhesive with the frame.
Position the replacement adhesive on top of the force touch gasket and use the pointed end of a spudger to move and press it into place.

Hold the replacement adhesive diagonally to thread it over the display.

Slightly tilt the display forward so you can align the adhesive with the frame.

Position the replacement adhesive on top of the force touch gasket and use the pointed end of a spudger to move and press it into place.

Step 5

Reconnect the battery as seen in the replacement guide you came from.
Remove the protective film from the adhesive.

Reconnect the battery as seen in the replacement guide you came from.

Remove the protective film from the adhesive.

Step 6

Align the screen and press it down firmly onto the adhesive.
To improve bonding of the adhesive you can use an iOpener to warm up the display. Then apply some pressure for a few hours (placing it under one or two heavy books overnight might be a way).
Alternatively, you can use screen vice clamps around the perimeter of your device to set the new adhesive.

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

To improve bonding of the adhesive you can use an iOpener to warm up the display. Then apply some pressure for a few hours (placing it under one or two heavy books overnight might be a way).

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      16 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 3 other contributors

                    Dominik Schnabelrauch

Member since: 11/23/2016

158,135 Reputation

                                      649 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       40







                                                        +37 more badges

Team

                       iFixit                        

                                                  Member of iFixit 



                    Community                     


                                            141 Members                     


                                            15,769 Guides authored

fredrik.liljeroth - Dec 19, 2018

Will the new adhesive be water proof?

or will the watch after replacement no longer be water proof?

Tobias Isakeit - Dec 19, 2018

The Apple Watch isn’t waterproof, but water resistant. After opening and resealing it there is no guaranty that the resistance is the same as before. More on that topic can also be read on Apples website (“Apple Watch can’t be rechecked or resealed for water resistance.“). But when resealed properly (using heat and pressure without damaging the force touch gasket in the opening process and cleaning off old residue) there shouldn’t be any concern for a normal daily use like washing hands or taking a shower. It might even work for a swim in a pool or an ocean, but I wouldn’t count on that 50M ISO rating ;)

Erica Rogers - Jun 1, 2019

Thank you iFixIt for top notch parts, instructions and tutorials. I’ve been an IT tech/specialist for many years, but still approach new repairs with caution, especially on Apple products, until I’ve done it at least once.

Tobias Isakeit - Jun 3, 2019

Yes, resealing the Apple Watch is a tough one. It is either disconnecting the display and go without the “exercise puzzle” but risk damaging cables and having to reconnect the display vs. keeping a steady hand and feeding the adhesive around the display.

I edited the guide to apply pressure on the closed watch for a longer time now. A few hours under some heavy books might do a better job.

Oh, and congrats on the repair.

kamilgoslawski - Aug 5, 2019

Adhesive gasket/strip did not fit. It was slightly undersized :( I ended up cutting tiny strips to fill the gaps. :(

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team