iFixit - Answers With Device "Apple Watch Series 3"

Apple Watch Series 3: My crown Fell off.

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:26:52 -0700

My digital crown has completely fallen off my watch..my dog actually bit the crown and it is literally off the watch..can apple replace my crown for a fee?

⟐ Commented January 26, 2026 at 7:26 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: [AU] Any gotchas replacing cellular iWatchS3 display?

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:14:30 -0700

Hi,

My FiL fell and shattered his 42mm iWatchS3 display, I switched it off and carefully removed the display, I left the battery connected and the force sensor appears to be intact all the flex cables detached no problems.

So I'm trying to decide whether to get the relevant display from AliExpress, or put it in the too hard basket.

So my concerns:

Is there some sort of cellular radio difference that I need to watch out for, I'm in Australia, I assume the eSIM data is stored on the watch and that with the new display cellular data will "just work"?

I need to check if he uses Apple Pay (NFC) as I believe you lose that unless you transplant the NFC over from the smashed screen, any transplant instructions, I found a video with hot air and soldering four tiny jumper wires, yikes, he might have to do without Apple Pay?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6To9gMYVT0...

Will the watch lose its waterproofing?

Should I replace the battery at the same time as it's over 5 years old, FiL reckons the battery is still good, it's not bulging?

Any other gotchas, the video above at around the 130 second mark suggests that as well as Pay not working, the new NFC could stop the watch booting?

Thanks!

Apple Watch Series 3: Replace broken ZIF connectors on the screen

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:16:40 -0700

Hi everyone,

While removing the screen from my Apple Watch Series 3 GPS+Cellular using a suction cup, I applied more pressure than I should and broke the ZIF connectors on the screen:

The soldering terminals appear to be mostly intact; maybe only one missing on the middle socket.

Do you think it would be possible to repair it somehow? If so, where do you think I can find the reference oft the ZIF connectors I would need to put back into the screen?

This is not critical, as I was only repairing the watch that was in the drawer for years to give it to a friend. But, if I could fix it with a workaround, that would be great. Thank you beforehand!

Apple Watch Series 3: Need a Y000 0.6mm screw

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:20 -0700

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase some 0.6mm Y000-type screws that go into the apple watch series 3.

Where would be the best place to purchase them?

Thanks,

Jay

Apple Watch Series 3: apple watch housing mod

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:11:46 -0700

hypothetically what are the possibilities of switching out the Apple Watch frame/housing with other colors or even a different watch generation's frame? I have an Apple Watch 3

⟐ Answered January 31, 2025 at 12:11 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Beside the battery what else do I need

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 12:24:39 -0700

I am replacing battery because it will not hold a charge. 38Mm.

Besides the battery, what else to I need?

⟐ Answered January 13, 2025 at 12:24 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Why does none of the numbers work except for the top 3? The bottom of

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:24:49 -0700

Why does the phone only recognize the top 3 numbers? The screen will not recognize any touch except on the top.

⟐ Answered December 06, 2024 at 14:24 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Apple Watch Series 3 cellular battery in Apple Watch Series 3 gps?

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:07:17 -0700

I have a Apple Watch Series 3 gps and cellular the cellular has a broken screen but the battery works and the gps has a dead battery. I’m just wondering if I could use the battery from the cellular version to see if it would work before ordering a new one.

⟐ Answer edited December 04, 2024 at 18:07 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Apple Watch series 3 no touch after screen replacement

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 02:43:29 -0700

I recently replaced the screen on my Apple Watch series 3 Nike + edition. The screen comes on and the buttons work but there is no reaction from the device when I touch the screen. I have tried force restarting it dozens of times and it has changed nothing. The old broken screen does not work at all so I believe that trying to use the old digitizer will not work. Anyone have any ideas?

⟐ Answered December 03, 2024 at 2:43 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Model 3 but the factory battery is from model 2

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:32:54 -0700

I ordered the model 3 kit, but when I opened my watch, the battery is not the same. I looked at the box, yes I kept it, and it is model 3. However, the battery that the watch has is the A1760.

Has anyone seen this before?

⟐ Answer unaccepted August 29, 2024 at 4:32 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Need help! Hoping someone's able to help this old repair tech!

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:52:48 -0700

Ok so I'm a certified electronics repair engineer and have worked for Geek Squad repair tech team for 5 years fixing the hardware itself and I worked 1 year for Ubreakifix, 25 years self taught tech repair so im well versed at this point, but....this Apple Watch series 3 I am blindly having problems. I have an apple watch series 5 that had a lock screen when I got it and I managed to do a day 1 factory restore and it works fine.... so anyway the series 3 watch I have , had im assuming a critical software update it was in the middle of and I figure that it failed at some point, so the issue im having now is once the watch is on the charge and the watch turns on it gets stuck in the apple boot screen and just stays there till I keep the watch off the charger and let it die... I've tried the reset option of holding the power button and digital crown down till its supposed to reboot and that's supposed to factory reset it???? IDK apple watches are kinda new to me so can anyone give me some advice a list of things to try??? Like can I use my mag charger to connect it to my PC'S iTunes and reset it there?? I really need some help and I'm a tech of over 25 years but even a great Repair Tech needs a Lil help sometimes lol

⟐ Answered April 19, 2024 at 11:52 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: find out the cost of fixing a cracked Apple watch screen

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 07:55:49 -0700

I would like to find out the cost of fixing a cracked Apple watch screen. the model is series 3 42mm

⟐ Answer edited February 17, 2024 at 7:55 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Apple watch 3 can charge but not turn on

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 07:49:13 -0700

Hi! my apple watch 3 will not turn on but when I charge it gets hot after 2-3 hours. I also tried tried the crown button reset it still didnt work. Is it because the screen is broken or the battery?

At first the apple logo shows up but it got stuck there and nothing happened so I tried the crown button reset now nothing shows and it wont light up.

⟐ Answered November 26, 2023 at 7:49 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Apple watch series 3 digital crown flex replacement Possible?

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:25:47 -0700

Apple watch series 3 digital crown flex replacement Possible ?or not possible ?

Apple Watch Series 3: Does anyone know what part this is?

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 15:11:22 -0700

I cracked the screen of my watch a while back and the screen finally popped off today. Some of the ribbon cables were unplugged and when I went to insert them in, I noticed this part (circled in red) was torn on the bottom (circled in blue). I didn’t think anything of it, as it looked as just tape at the time, and inserted the cables but the screen does not turn on. When I went to look up repair guides, some watches have it and some don’t and when I research for a replacement set of cables, they aren’t featured in the picture. Does anyone know what this part is?

⟐ Answered August 17, 2023 at 15:11 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Apple watch stuck in a boot loop

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 01:30:40 -0700

Alright, here's the situation: Couple days ago I've noticed that for some reason the apple watch wasn't connected to my phone which was weird but wasn't the first time it happened to me so I just turned it off. Ever since I tried turning it back on it's been stuck in a boot loop and I've tried everything with no success. Force restart, force restart while on charger, letting it run out of battery and then trying to force restart after it charges and nothing. I'm running out of ideas and have no idea what to do next. Bringing it to apple is not an option for me.

⟐ Commented August 04, 2023 at 1:30 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: My screen popped out

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 11:02:33 -0700

Dropped my Apple Watch and the screen popped out. It separated below the gasket and touch sensor as the screen an touch are still working even while separated from the phone. Anyone else experienced this? I’m stumped.

⟐ Answered April 28, 2023 at 11:02 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: Apple Watch Series 3 screw replacement

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 21:23:14 -0700

Specifically I’m looking for the Y000 screw for the metal plate that hold the ForceTouch and battery tab. I lost it waiting for the correct part as I ordered the Cellular and not Cellular and GPS battery.

⟐ Edited by author April 16, 2023 at 21:23 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: What all parts is needed?

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:23:47 -0700

I see a few different parts listed for the 42mm series 3. my screen is falling off basically but i know it does still work. what all should be bought to do the screen replacement?

⟐ Commented March 20, 2023 at 19:23 MST

Apple Watch Series 3: My watch wont pair with phone

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 21:20:40 -0700

My apple watch series 3 will not pair with my iphone 12 pro. Every time I try to pair it, it will say the watch needs to be updated, but when I try to update it, it said there was some error about internet connection, even though I can verify it was connected to the internet.

I took it to the apple store, the lady sent it into the apple fixing center, and they called us and said to pay 150$ for a logic board replacement. However, this should just be a software fix...

⟐ Answer accepted March 04, 2023 at 21:20 MST