Apple Watch Series 6 Battery Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 21 Steps
Heads up: The battery swap for the 40mm Series 6 Apple Watch has a slightly different groove than the 44mm version. Also, make sure to drain your battery below 25% before diving in. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Ready to give your Apple Watch Series 6 a new lease on life? Here’s your step-by-step guide to swapping out that tired battery for a fresh one. We’re showing the ropes on the cellular/LTE version, but don’t worry—if you’ve got the GPS-only model, the process is basically the same. Heads up: the battery replacement dance is a little different between the 40 mm and 44 mm sizes, and this guide covers both. Before you dive in, double-check that you’ve got the right replacement battery. If your old battery looks a bit swollen, handle it with care. For extra safety points, drain your battery below 25% before cracking open your watch—less juice, less risk. You’ll also need new adhesive to stick everything back together once you’re done. If you get stuck or want a pro to handle it, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
If your touchscreen's on the fritz and you can't power down the watch normally, no worries—use this quick trick to turn it off and get things back in order.
- First things first, give your watch a little break from the charger and turn it off before diving into repairs.
Step 2
Keep those fingers safe and sound by keeping them far, far away from the knife's edge. If you're feeling extra cautious, throw a heavy glove on your free hand - like a leather shop glove or a gardening glove - for some added protection.
Easy does it! Apply gentle pressure to avoid any knife slippage or damage to the device. We're in this for a successful repair, not a trip to the doctor's office.
Safety first! Throw on some eye protection to shield yourself from any flying debris, just in case the knife or glass decides to break apart.
Pop off or snap on the watch band as needed—makes handling this little gadget way easier while you work your repair magic.
- Since the space between the screen and the watch body is super tight, you'll want to grab a sharp blade to help you out. Make sure to read the following warnings carefully before diving in!
Step 3
You might need to warm up the iOpener again and repeat the process a few times until the adhesive lets go. Patience is key—keep at it and you’ll get that display off!
- Get your iOpener ready (or grab a hair dryer or heat gun) to warm up the face of your watch and loosen that stubborn display adhesive.
- Place the iOpener on the watch for at least two minutes to ensure the screen gets nice and toasty, making it easier to peel away from the case.
Tools Used
Step 4
- Grab a curved blade and gently slide its edge into the narrow space between the display and the outer shell. Start from the short side opposite the digital crown, where the gap is smallest.
- Apply steady pressure straight down into that gap to get the blade in place.
- Once it’s seated, tilt the blade slightly to carefully pry the display open a bit more.
Step 5
- Slip an opening pick into the gap you made earlier—like a pro sliding into DMs.
- Glide the pick smoothly along the short edge of the watch to slice through that stubborn adhesive.
Step 6
- Take your opening pick for a spin—glide it around the corner and along the long edge, right across from the watch crown, slicing through that stubborn display adhesive as you go.
Step 7
- Gently slide your opening pick along the edge to slice through the last bit of adhesive on the short side of the watch, right next to the crown. Keep it steady and patient—you're almost there! If you need a hand, remember you can always schedule a repair.
Step 8
- Get your watch and place it on a flat surface - now it's time to get started! Use an opening pick to carefully slice through any remaining adhesive that's holding things together.
- Next, slide an opening pick under the opposite display edge of the watch crown. This is where the magic happens, and you'll start to see the display come loose.
- Now, gently twist the opening pick to loosen the display off the watch case. You're making great progress - keep going!
Keep in mind: don't try to peel away the display just yet—it's still hanging out with the watch assembly. When you're working around the watch crown, avoid slicing too close to it to dodge damaging those delicate display cables. If you do need to slice near the crown, keep your opening pick shallow—no more than 1/16th inch (about 2 mm). If you need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 9
Watch out for those display cables when you swing the screen to the side—they don’t like yoga!
- Gently lift the display and guide it toward the watch crown like you're opening a tiny treasure chest.
- Flip the display upward—think of it as giving your watch a cool high-top haircut.
Step 10
- Grab your iOpener, or go wild with a hair dryer or heat gun, and gently warm up the back of the watch. This helps loosen that stubborn battery glue. Let the heat do its thing for at least two minutes before moving on.
Tools Used
Step 11
Heads up! From here on out, popping the battery out of the 40 mm watch gets a little different compared to the 44 mm version.
- Rocking a 40 mm watch? Time to jump into this step.
- Sporting a 44 mm watch? This is your moment—carry on to this step.
Step 12
Handle that battery with care! Poking or squishing it can lead to some seriously dramatic fireworks—keep it safe and intact.
Hold up—don't yank the battery out just yet. It's still tethered to the watch, so let’s keep things chill for now.
Get ready to unlock your Apple Watch Series 6's secrets - literally! The next four steps will walk you through the process of removing the battery from your 40 mm device. It's easier than you think, and with these simple steps, you'll be a pro in no time!
- Slide an opening pick gently between the battery and the Taptic Engine. We’re about to break free!
- With a firm and steady hand, coax that battery up slowly, peeling it away from the adhesive that's trying to hold on tight. You’ve got this!
Step 13
The battery flex cable is long enough to let you position the battery outside the watch case, but watch out for tugging the cable when lifting the battery out of its slot—gentle is the way to go.
- Gently lift the battery and swing it out of its spot like you're picking up a slice of pizza—smooth and easy.
Step 14
- Grab the flat end of your spudger, slide it under the battery connector, and gently pop it loose. Easy does it—no need for superhero strength here!
Tools Used
Step 15
- Pop the battery out like it owes you lunch.
Putting a damaged or wonky battery back in your device is just asking for trouble—let’s keep things safe and swap it for a good one!
When reusing your old battery during reassembly, you can stick with the original adhesive to hold it in place. If that's not an option, remove the old adhesive first by wiping it down with high-concentration isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Then, secure the battery with a small piece of double-sided tape like Tesa 61395 or use a dab of liquid adhesive such as E6000. Need a hand? You can always schedule a repair.
Step 16
Handle the battery carefully—avoid puncturing or bending it, since damage could cause it to catch fire or explode. And hold off on removing it completely just yet; it’s still connected to the watch assembly. If you need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.
Here are four simple steps to help you pop out the battery from your 44 mm Apple Watch Series 6. Let's get that battery out and keep your watch ticking!
- Gently slide an opening pick in the gap between the battery and the Taptic Engine. Apply steady, even pressure to carefully lift the battery away, working to loosen the adhesive holding it to the mainboard. If you find yourself stuck or need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 17
The battery flex cable gives you some wiggle room to set the battery outside the watch case for the next steps—just handle it gently and don’t yank it out of its spot.
- Gently lift the battery out of its spot and set it aside, opposite the Taptic Engine—like you're giving it a little vacation from the watch case.
Step 18
- Unscrew that little 1.2 mm-long tri point Y000 screw and let’s get this party started!
Step 19
- Time to get a little handy! Use a trusty pair of tweezers to carefully remove the metal shield that's covering the battery connector.
Tools Used
Step 20
- Let's get started! Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry up and disconnect the battery connector. Take your time and make sure it's completely disconnected before moving on to the next step.
Tools Used
Step 21
Avoid reinstalling a damaged or misshapen battery — it’s a safety no-no. Keep it safe, and if you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
If you’re sticking with your old battery, feel free to reuse the leftover adhesive—it’ll do the trick for holding things in place.
Want a fresh start? Wipe off the old adhesive with some high-strength isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth, then use a little double-sided tape like Tesa 61395, or a tiny drop of liquid adhesive like E6000.
- Give your device a quick test run before locking everything back down—always good to be sure!
- Stick the new battery in place using pre-cut adhesive or double-sided tape. The trick is to put the adhesive inside the device where the old stuff was, not straight onto the battery. Press it in—firmly, but don’t Hulk out.
- Ready to put it all back together? Just reverse the steps! Before sealing things up, swipe away any leftover gunk with a Q-tip dipped in high isopropyl alcohol (>90%) or a cleaning pad—your device will appreciate the spa treatment.
- Want your new battery to perform like a champ? Calibrate it after you’re done with the guide.
- Don’t toss old parts in the trash—recycle them at an R2 or e-Stewards certified facility. Mother Earth gives you a thumbs-up.
- If you hit a snag, try some basic troubleshooting, or get help from the Answers community. Still stuck? You can always schedule a repair.
Success!
Before you seal everything up, power on your device to make sure your repair went smoothly—bonus points for catching sneaky issues early!
Stick that new battery in place using pre-cut adhesive or some trusty double-sided tape. Pro tip: put the adhesive where the old stuff was, not directly on the battery. Give it a good press so it’s snug.
Ready to put everything back together? Just reverse these steps. For a clean finish, swipe a little high isopropyl alcohol (>90%) on a Q-tip or cleaning pad to clear away any old sticky residue from the case edges and screen before adding fresh adhesive.
Want that battery working like a champ? Calibrate it after the install for peak performance.
Got old parts? Drop your e-waste off with an R2 or e-Stewards recycler—they’ll handle it the right way.
If your repair hit a snag, try some classic troubleshooting. Still stuck? The Salvation Repair Answers community is always around, or you can schedule a repair.
