Apple Watch - Series 10 (46mm) Battery Replacement (2025)

• Before starting this repair, remove your watch from the charger and let its battery drain completely—the watch should shut down from low battery. A charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.

• Letting the battery drain completely also prevents accidentally turning your watch back on when gripping it during repair.

• Throughout the rest of your repair:

• Attach and remove the watch bands as needed to get a better grip or stabilize your watch.

• To remove a band, firmly press in the small, oval button on the underside of the watch and slide the band out of its groove.

• Consider placing your watch on something soft like a clean cloth to help stabilize it and prevent damage.

• If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your watch. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.

• Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.

• Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3mm from the tip.

• Strong adhesive secures the perimeter of the screen to the frame. Heating the screen softens the adhesive, making it easier to separate.

• Heat an iOpener and lay it on the screen for two minutes to soften its adhesive.

• Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun—but be careful as extreme heat can damage the screen and/or battery.

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• The gap between the screen and frame is extremely small. You'll need a thin tool such as an iFlex to create an initial gap.

• Don't grip the iFlex or similar metal tools by the edges—they're very sharp. Consider wearing gloves to protect your hands.

• Insert the iFlex at a downward angle between the bottom edge of the screen and frame.

• Prying up the screen may take multiple attempts. If you're having trouble, apply more heat and try again.

• With one hand, push down firmly on the watch's frame to secure it in place.

• With your free hand, hold the iFlex and push the edges up to make it more rigid.

• The iFlex should be slightly "U" shaped.

• Pry up the screen enough for the iFlex to lay flat on its own.

• The iFlex doesn't need to be inserted far, as it can easily damage the screen cables near the bottom right corner of the watch.

• Leave the iFlex inserted under the screen.

• Do not insert your opening pick more than 3mm under the screen when separating the adhesive, as you risk damaging your watches internals.

• Keep the iFlex flat to maintain a gap between the screen and frame while inserting an opening pick.

• Insert an opening pick between the screen and iFlex.

• Remove the iFlex.

• Slide the opening pick around the bottom left corner and up the left edge.

• Continue sliding your pick along the top edge and around the top right corner, stopping just after the digital crown.

• Don't slide your pick past the digital crown—you risk damage to the screen cables.

• Insert the long edge of an opening pick between the left edge of the screen and frame.

• Twist the pick to lift the screen and separate any remaining adhesive.

• Pull the right edge of the screen over the digital crown.

• If the screen feels stuck, go back around it with an opening pick to separate any adhesive.

• Swing up the left edge of the screen so it's upright. The screen should be to the right of the digital crown.

• During reassembly:

• This is a good point to plug in your watch and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power it back down completely before you continue working.

• Follow this guide to apply new screen adhesive and reseal your watch.

• Use a tri‑point Y000 screwdriver to remove the 1.1mm‑long screw securing the battery connector bracket.

• Use tweezers to remove the battery connector bracket.

• During reassembly, make sure the longer section of the bracket goes over the battery press connector.

• Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.

• Heating the battery will soften the strong adhesive securing it, making the battery easier to remove.

• Heat an iOpener and lay it on the battery for two minutes to soften the adhesive.

• Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun—but be careful as extreme heat can damage the battery.

• Be careful not to puncture or bend the battery—it can leak dangerous chemicals and catch fire.

• Insert an opening pick between the bottom edge of the battery and frame.

• Pry up the battery with the opening pick until it starts to separate from the frame.

• This requires time and constant pressure. If you're having trouble, apply more heat and try again.

• Slide the pick farther under the battery and lift until all the adhesive is separated.

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• Remove the battery from the frame.

• To install a new battery:

• Use a spudger and tweezers to remove all the old adhesive from the battery recess.

• If your replacement battery doesn't have adhesive pre-installed, put strips of thin, double-sided tape on the logic board (not directly on the battery) where the old adhesive was.

• Reconnect the battery cable press connector to its socket on the motherboard.

• Remove any liners from the battery adhesive or double-sided tape.

• Firmly press the battery into place to secure it with the adhesive.