Install Series 2 Display on a Series 3 with Apple Pay
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 10 Steps
Finding a Series 3 Display is both a challenge and a hit to the wallet. Even if you manage to snag one, you'll notice Apple Pay sits out after the swap—Apple ties the NFC hardware in the display directly to the mainboard, similar to how TouchID is paired. A Series 2 Display might look like it fits, but popping it on will just make your watch super hot and drain the battery fast—the connectors align but the internals don't play nice. The real snag is just the NFC module, so if you move the S3 NFC chip from your broken display onto a working S2 display, you’re golden. I snapped photos during this repair on the job—since the company closed last week, I can finally share these with you. Enjoy the guide, and if things get tricky, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
- Check out this Series 3 Apple Watch that's got a display issue. Bummer, right?
- Let's get that fixed up and back to shining!
Step 2
- Let's kick things off by taking out that shattered display. The more it’s shattered, the easier it pops off! Easy peasy, right?
- Next up, clear away any sticky residue and tape from the Force Touch Sensor, and give it a good look over for any damage. If you find something off, don’t hesitate to swap it out!
Step 3
- On the right side, you’ll find the module with the NFC and Light Sensor. It’s held on with some sticky adhesive dots, two little solder bumps (for the NFC antenna), and a bit of copper tape.
- Snip the copper tape to free up the NFC module.
Step 4
- Grab your trusty Xacto #17 blade and carefully chisel away the NFC module from the display that's seen better days.
- Try to keep that blade nice and parallel to the display for a smooth operation.
Tools Used
Step 5
- Great news! The NFC module is now free as a bird. There's a little tape hanging out on the back of it; just grab your tweezers and give it a gentle peel.
- Look closely and you'll spot two shiny solder bumps down there. These are your buddies connecting the NFC antenna.
- If you're thinking about using alcohol or any other solvent to tidy things up, just a tiny dab will do! We want to keep that Light Sensor in tip-top shape.
Step 6
- Here's a fresh (probably recycled) Series 2 Display I picked up online, marked with a '2' just for fun. Next, gently remove the NFC module from the display—feel free to toss it or sprinkle it on your breakfast cereal, no judgment here. Be a little careful during removal; I got a bit overzealous and took off some of the black tape covering the NFC antenna, but no worries—it's all good. This also gives you a peek at a corner of the NFC antenna. If you need a hand along the way, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 7
- Let's get started by putting a little bit of 'Z Tape' on the back of the module. This tape is pretty cool because it lets electricity flow through it vertically, but keeps it from going sideways.
- In this picture, you can see that the release layer is still on the Z Tape. Don't worry, we'll peel it off before we attach the module to the Series 2 Display.
Step 8
- Absolutely! That's our Series 2 Display paired up with the NFC module from the S3 Display that took a hit. Getting this aligned just right is key, so make sure you place it carefully and don't just throw it on there haphazardly.
Step 9
- Sometimes things run smoothly, and other times you'll need to reflash the OS to get everything working together smoothly. Good luck tracking down those elusive IPSW files. If you hit a snag or need a hand, you can always schedule a repair and let the pros handle it.
Step 10
- Once you've tackled everything, it's time to set up Apple Pay on your Watch! You’ll see it communicates smoothly with the NXP TagInfo app.
- Just a heads-up: I had to grab an Android phone for testing the NFC because Apple keeps their apps at a distance from the deeper NFC magic on iPhones.
