⟐ Answered March 07, 2026 at 18:00 MST

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Apple screen is broken, what is the solution?

⟐ Answered January 05, 2026 at 19:31 MST

Thank you for your help.

⟐ Answered July 16, 2025 at 3:43 MST

⟐ Commented July 15, 2025 at 14:07 MST

⟐ Answered April 03, 2025 at 4:22 MST

⟐ Edited April 02, 2025 at 19:52 MST

⟐ Commented March 03, 2025 at 21:53 MST

History: Two or three years ago, my son was given this watch; the screen was coming off and wouldn't stay in place. I ordered a new battery and force touch sensor for it and replaced the swollen battery, sealed it back up after verifying it was working, and sent it back to him. He must have used it for a year or so, then decided to upgrade, whereupon it went into a box where it sat for another year or possibly longer.

He eventually asked if I wanted it, and I said sure, I'll take it. Once it arrived, I ordered a charger and tried to bring it up. I got the red exclamation mark in a circle with the text "support.apple.com/watch/restore" underneath it in white.

Okay, I'm thinking probably a dead battery by now, given how long it's been sitting, so I ordered one from iFixit. Put it in and tried to charge it; after that it would show the Apple logo for a second then shut back off. I tried every internet solution there was out there for button presses, reseating the battery connector, hard reset, three presses on the crown, etc. Finally went to try the last one which was to let the battery die. Took a two or three weeks as I recall, but it finally did.

Back on the charger again, eventually started showing the red snake, which turned green when it was on the charger, but from there it was stuck. The snake would never go away; I could sometimes get the apple logo for a second with a hard reset (both buttons held down) but it would go right back to the snake afterwards. Spent another couple of months fiddling with it again, but never could get it to do anything else.

Finally requested a replacement battery from iFixit, which they shipped out promptly. With the new battery, I was back to the apple logo again, at least. Once more went through all the internet solutions, but no change. Let it die again, which took something like another two or three weeks, but eventually it started showing the red snake and finally wouldn't turn on.

Back on the charger again, and in a while it showed the green snake while on the charger, then red when off, but it seemed to continue to charge, as the snake went away and now it's back to the one second Apple logo and back off again.

So that's where I'm currently stuck at. If it was an iPhone, iPad or iPod, I'd do a restore, but with the watch not having been paired to a device, there's no way to connect to it to do a restore.

I'm out of ideas, so I'm hoping the iFixit community can help me out. I've been looking at the possibility of an iBus S1 programming cable, but honestly the $70 or $80 it's going to cost me is putting me off, especially when I get buy a working watch for less than that; there's one on eBay right now in good condition with charger and extra watch bands for $59.

I admit I just don't want to accept defeat, but I'm having a hard time with the idea of buying a tool that costs more than the watch is worth.

What do you guys think, any ideas for me?

This isn't so much an answer as it is an update with the hope that someone has some suggestions.

The watch has been relegated to a box as the only other thing I could think of to do was to purchase an iBus S1 adapter that would allow me to connect the watch to a computer and use iTunes to do a restore. That was put on hold due to the cost of the iBus adapter, so I set up an eBay search and let it run for the last couple of years. I just couldn't justify paying more for the adapter than what I could buy a perfectly functional Watch.

Welp, the search finally paid off and I picked up the S1 at a reasonable cost. I was able to plug the watch into my computer and see it come up. When I click on Update, however, it doesn't go to the Apple servers, but rather opens up a file open menu looking for an IPSW file (which, of course, I don't have).

I then went and downloaded 3uTools, which gave me a little more information. What I found is that the watch is stuck in Recovery mode. I can click the button to exit recovery mode, but it just comes back up in recovery mode again. It turns out that I can actually get it into DFU mode as well, but once you exit that, you're back in Recovery mode.

So I went looking through the Flash options on 3uTools, with no luck for the simple reason I can't find an IPSW file for that watch. At this point it appears there are no longer any firmware updates left that are signed for the watch1,2 version. As far as I can tell, the Series 3 is the oldest that can still be updated with iTunes, and also the oldest one available on 3uTools.

The last resort I can find is the company called MFC that makes and/or distributes the iBus adapters has software and IPSW downloads that may be able to get this watch updated, but now I'm right back at the same point where I can't justify paying $79 USD for a license when I can buy a fully functional watch on eBay for around $50, some as low as $35.

So, any ideas out there? Is there a way to update the watch without a signed IPSW? Is there a software tool I haven't found yet that can do the job for less than the cost of a watch? Have I missed anything? I'm certainly open to ideas at this point.

P.S. I happened to pick up both an iBus S1 and an S2 in case anyone needs the use of one, I'd be happy to help.

⟐ Edited by author January 21, 2025 at 22:35 MST

First of all, I do not know which version of Apple Watch this is. Someone gave it to me, but did not tell me which model it is. I believe it is an Apple Watch SE, but I am honestly not sure.

Well, the Watch simply does not turn on. When I connect it to the MagSafe Charger, I see the Apple Logo for about half a second, and then it disappears. If I play with the buttons a little bit, sometimes I can get it to turn back on... but the Watch itself I cannot get to boot. I would think this is either and issue with the battery or the button itself. Since I have little to no experience with the Apple Watch, I figured I would like to hear from you guys before I get inside. What do you guys think this issue is?

⟐ Commented December 22, 2024 at 12:16 MST

⟐ Answered December 20, 2024 at 9:15 MST

now it’s not charging. It shows the Apple logo, wich fades to red after a few seconds. About half a minute later is repeats this.

Tried to reboot by pushing both buttons for 30 seconds, but no result thus far.

Anybody have a solution?

⟐ Answered December 03, 2024 at 2:36 MST

⟐ Commented August 26, 2024 at 14:02 MST

I have a third party band that’s stuck on my Original Apple Watch. Apple wants to charge >$200 to remove the band, which is worth far more than the watch at this point. The release button won’t press down with this band on. Is there anywhere in the San Francisco area or via mail that I can get this repaired?

Thanks

There is no visible damage. The only symptom is that the release button barely budged when trying to depress it.

The Watch, aside from the stuck band is in full working order. I would just like to get this band removed so that I can change bands again.

Thanks

⟐ Commented April 06, 2024 at 13:11 MST

⟐ Answered February 17, 2024 at 0:56 MST

Now my display works fine, force touch works fine, but I cannot get my Apple Pay working. When I double press the power button it shows my credit card and message "Move closer...", but the payment terminal doesn't see my watch. (It was working fine before the screen/force touch replacement)

The question is am I right the force touch gasket is the NFC antenna? Am I missing something? Maybe some wire contact or some additional gasket

⟐ Answered September 20, 2023 at 4:19 MST

⟐ Answered September 11, 2023 at 21:06 MST

I changed my swollen battery and it all seemed ok. The screen was working fine at this point. I then detached the screen to place a new adhesive and when reassembling I may have misfitted the digitizer connector and damaged it. Now everything seems to work except for touch.

Is there any way of replacing the connectors/ribbons?

Thank you.

⟐ Answer edited June 19, 2023 at 6:05 MST

I’ve replaced the display and Force Touch sensor on my original (Series 0) Apple Watch.

The procedure is a near success: The display inevitably falls out of the case, however. I’ve noted instructions for heating and clamping to no avail.

There are two identical parts included with my repair kit (I also purchased the tool kit). They look like screen protectors but with a large notch in one corner. Are they gaskets for the Force Touch sensor? Adhesive layers? Knowing whether the large-surface-area inside section of this part or the outer ring is the segment to use would be also very helpful.

What is this part?

Thanks!

⟐ Commented May 27, 2023 at 19:19 MST

⟐ Commented May 03, 2023 at 9:09 MST

⟐ Commented February 02, 2023 at 18:19 MST