Replacing the glass on your Apple Watch Series 4: how it works

A knock against a doorframe or a drop on the pavement, and the glass on your Apple Watch Series 4 shows a crack. Annoying, but rarely a reason to panic: the screen underneath usually keeps working just fine. Still, this isn't a job for at home.

Why this isn't a do-it-yourself job

The glass is fixed to the display with a thin layer of adhesive, not simply resting on top. To remove it, the device first needs to be heated to a precise temperature, after which the display carefully comes loose from the housing. Then comes the trickiest part: lifting the glass off the display module with a thin wire, without damaging the screen's polarising layer. One wrong move and you're no longer just replacing glass, but the whole screen.

The battery connector and power cables also need to be disconnected first, before anything happens to the glass. With a hairdryer and a screwdriver, you won't get far here.

What you can do yourself

1. Tape over the crack with a piece of tape, so no glass splinters come loose while you're wearing it.
2. Touch the crack as little as possible, even just to feel how bad it is.
3. Avoid water and sweat on the damaged spot. Your Watch is water resistant, but a crack can compromise that protection.
4. Test the touch response around the crack. If the screen no longer responds well there, that's useful information for the technician.

When to come to FIXNOW

As soon as you notice a crack, chip, or dull spot on the glass, it's best to come by. At FIXNOW, the glass is separated from the display and the new glass is vacuum-laminated on with OCA film — the same method Apple originally uses to apply the glass. We then check the screen's function before you get the device back. You pay a fixed price per model, so you know where you stand in advance. Don't live near Antwerp or Wolvertem? Then simply mail in your Apple Watch.

Can you keep wearing it with cracked glass?

For a while, yes, but the risk increases. Glass splinters can come loose and irritate your wrist, and moisture or dust can get in through the crack. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that the display also gets damaged.

Does your data stay safe during the repair?

Yes. Only the glass and display are worked on, not the storage memory. Making a backup beforehand is still a good idea, just to be safe.

Is this the same as a screen repair?

Not quite. If the display under the cracked glass still works normally, a glass replacement is enough. If the screen no longer responds well or shows lines, the technician will look at that separately with you.

Not sure whether it's the glass or the whole screen? Come by FIXNOW in Antwerp or Wolvertem — we'll take a look together with you.