Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

6

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

1

  • Adhesive Replacement
  • 6 steps

Flags

0

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Introduction

This guide shows the procedure on the standard, GPS-only version of the watch, but the cellular/LTE version is similar. Any important differences are noted in the text.

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.

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                    Tobias Isakeit

Member since: 03/31/2014

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Ryan Hoover - Jul 18, 2019

Reply

My adhesive gasket I ordered from you doesn’t not look like the one you use. I don’t see how it could work either.

Kevin Male - Apr 23, 2020

Reply

My adhesive was larger than the rim so it had about 5-6 mm bump of extra plastic when I got it in the edge all around. Need it to be sealed so I didn’t want to cut anything. Fail.

Nicholas Goldsworthy - May 23, 2020

Reply

Yes mine was also larger than the adhesive seal that is advertised here.

iRepairMan - Dec 2, 2020

Reply

We believe this adhesive kit does not work all the time. there is still risk that with slightly water in-contact during activity, screen may slightly raised again. I think using glue E-8000 after wiping the edges of the watch with isopropyl is a good idea for long term safety.

Vangelis Angelakis - May 19, 2021

Reply

The Tesa adhesives that you sent are simply aweful. The cuts aren’t deep enough to safely remove the replacement adhesive with the blue protective film from the backing paper. Plus when you actually manage to do so, the adhesive’s dimensions are a bit short for the Series 3 42mm model.