Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Difficult
Steps
19
Time Required
1 - 2 hours
Sections
3
- Safety Requirements
- 2 steps
- How to Open Your Apple Watch Ultra
- 11 steps
- Battery
- 6 steps
Flags
1
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Introduction
There is a significant chance that you may break the OLED display panel during this procedure. Be sure to apply plenty of heat and be extremely careful during the prying stage.
If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions. For your safety, discharge your battery below 25% before disassembling your watch. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair.
You’ll need replacement adhesive to reattach the screen when reassembling the device. Your device will function normally, but will most likely lose its IP6X (Ingress Protection) rating.
What you need
Step 1
Power down your watch
- Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
- If your touchscreen is broken and you can’t power off the watch, use this alternate method to power it down.
Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
If your touchscreen is broken and you can’t power off the watch, use this alternate method to power it down.
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Step 2
Safety Requirements
- Because the gap between the screen/sensor assembly and watch body is so thin, a thin metal tool is needed to separate the two. Read the following warnings carefully before proceeding.
- Protect your fingers by keeping them completely clear of the front end of your tool. 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 iFlex to slip and cut you, or damage the watch.
- Wear eye protection. The glass may break, sending pieces flying.
- Attach or remove the watch band as needed to provide more control as you make repairs.
Because the gap between the screen/sensor assembly and watch body is so thin, a thin metal tool is needed to separate the two. Read the following warnings carefully before proceeding.
Protect your fingers by keeping them completely clear of the front end of your tool. 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 iFlex to slip and cut you, or damage the watch.
Wear eye protection. The glass may break, sending pieces flying.
Attach or remove the watch band as needed to provide more control as you make repairs.
Step 3
Soften the screen adhesive
- Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen for at least two minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
- A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the watch—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
- You may need to reheat the iOpener and repeat this procedure several times until the display adhesive softens.
Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen for at least two minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the watch—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
You may need to reheat the iOpener and repeat this procedure several times until the display adhesive softens.
Step 4
Opening procedure
- Place the point of an iFlex along the edge opposite the Digital Crown and position it in the seam between the screen and the outer case.
- Press the iFlex firmly straight down into the gap.
- The gap between the screen and the watch case is very tight. Don’t try to push in your iFlex with sheer force, or you risk damaging the screen. Rather take your time and heat the screen multiple times with the iOpener.
Place the point of an iFlex along the edge opposite the Digital Crown and position it in the seam between the screen and the outer case.
Press the iFlex firmly straight down into the gap.
The gap between the screen and the watch case is very tight. Don’t try to push in your iFlex with sheer force, or you risk damaging the screen. Rather take your time and heat the screen multiple times with the iOpener.
Step 5
Lever up the screen
- Once inserted, lever the iFlex to pry the screen up slightly.
- The adhesive requires time and constant force to loosen—it probably won’t loosen from the initial pry. Reheat the screen and keep applying constant force until the adhesive loosens.
- You can heat the screen with a hair dryer or hot plate, but be careful not to overheat the screen. The surface should be slightly too hot to the touch.
Once inserted, lever the iFlex to pry the screen up slightly.
The adhesive requires time and constant force to loosen—it probably won’t loosen from the initial pry. Reheat the screen and keep applying constant force until the adhesive loosens.
You can heat the screen with a hair dryer or hot plate, but be careful not to overheat the screen. The surface should be slightly too hot to the touch.
Step 6
Insert an opening pick
- Insert an opening pick in the gap you created.
- Remove the iFlex.
Insert an opening pick in the gap you created.
Remove the iFlex.
Step 7
Slice the adhesive
- Insert only the tip of the opening pick (<2 mm) to prevent damaging the antenna pin.
- Slide the opening pick around the corner and along the top edge of the watch to slice the display adhesive.
Insert only the tip of the opening pick (<2 mm) to prevent damaging the antenna pin.
Slide the opening pick around the corner and along the top edge of the watch to slice the display adhesive.
Step 8
- Insert only the tip of the opening pick (<2 mm) to prevent damaging the antenna pin.
- Slide the opening pick around the next corner towards the Digital Crown to slice the corner adhesive.
- Stop just before the Digital Crown and continue with the next step.
Slide the opening pick around the next corner towards the Digital Crown to slice the corner adhesive.
Stop just before the Digital Crown and continue with the next step.
Step 9
- Start again from the top left corner of the watch and slide the opening pick along the edge with the speaker and action button to slice the adhesive.
Start again from the top left corner of the watch and slide the opening pick along the edge with the speaker and action button to slice the adhesive.
Step 10
- Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge of the watch to slice the display adhesive.
Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge of the watch to slice the display adhesive.
Step 11
- Slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner to cut the remaining adhesive.
- Try not to slice near the Digital Crown and side button to prevent damaging the display cable. If you must slice near the Digital Crown, don’t insert the opening pick deeper than 2 mm.
Slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner to cut the remaining adhesive.
Try not to slice near the Digital Crown and side button to prevent damaging the display cable. If you must slice near the Digital Crown, don’t insert the opening pick deeper than 2 mm.
Step 12
Lift the screen
- Insert the opening pick between the screen and frame at the opposite edge of the Digital Crown.
- Lever the opening pick to lift the screen until you can get a good grip.
- Don’t try to remove the screen all the way yet. It is still connected to the watch body.
Insert the opening pick between the screen and frame at the opposite edge of the Digital Crown.
Lever the opening pick to lift the screen until you can get a good grip.
Don’t try to remove the screen all the way yet. It is still connected to the watch body.
Step 13
Swing open the screen
- Be careful not to strain the display cable when you swing open the screen.
- Lift the screen up and carefully pull it towards the Digital Crown.
- Swing the screen open to an upward position.
Be careful not to strain the display cable when you swing open the screen.
Lift the screen up and carefully pull it towards the Digital Crown.
Swing the screen open to an upward position.
Step 14
Remove the two connector bracket screws
- Unscrew the two 2.3 mm-long Y000 securing the metal connector bracket at the bottom edge of the watch.
Unscrew the two 2.3 mm-long Y000 securing the metal connector bracket at the bottom edge of the watch.
Step 15
Remove the bottom connector bracket
- Use a pair of tweezers to remove the bottom connector bracket.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the bottom connector bracket.
Step 16
Disconnect the battery
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up the battery connector towards the battery.
- During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your device and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your watch back down completely before you continue working.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up the battery connector towards the battery.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your device and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your watch back down completely before you continue working.
Step 17
Remove the upper battery screws
- Unscrew the two Y000 screws securing the top edge of the battery:
- One 2.1 mm-long screw with a 0.8 mm-wide thread that’s covered by a metal bracket
- One 2.9 mm-long screw with a 1.1 mm-wide thread
Unscrew the two Y000 screws securing the top edge of the battery:
One 2.1 mm-long screw with a 0.8 mm-wide thread that’s covered by a metal bracket
One 2.9 mm-long screw with a 1.1 mm-wide thread
Step 18
Remove the metal bracket including the screw
- Use a pair of tweezers to remove the bracket carrying the screw.
- Although the screw sits nicely in the bracket it’s not captive and can fall out.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the bracket carrying the screw.
Although the screw sits nicely in the bracket it’s not captive and can fall out.
Step 19
Remove the battery
- Use an opening pick to lift up the battery.
- Remove the battery from the case.
- Don’t reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
Use an opening pick to lift up the battery.
Remove the battery from the case.
Don’t reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
If possible, turn on your device and test your repair before installing new adhesive and resealing.
To reassemble your Apple Watch Ultra, follow these instructions in reverse order. Apply a little bit of high isopropyl alcohol (>90%) to a Q-tip or use a cleaning pad to gently remove the leftover adhesive on the edges of the watch case and the screen before installing new adhesive.
For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.
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.
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