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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

                          20 - 40 minutes

Sections

2

  • Opening Procedure
  • 9 steps
  • Battery
  • 4 steps

Flags

1

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Introduction

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your watch. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

You’ll need replacement adhesive when reassembling the device. Your device will function normally, but will lose its IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

What you need

Step 1

              Power down your watch
  • Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
  • Remove the watch band.

Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.

Remove the watch band.

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Step 2

              Loosen the adhesive
  • Apply a heated iOpener to the rear side of the watch for 5 minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
  • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.

Apply a heated iOpener to the rear side of the watch for 5 minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.

A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.

Step 3

              Insert an opening pick
  • Insert an opening pick into the recess between the watch frame and the top edge of the back cover.
  • Push the opening pick to create a gap between the back cover and the watch frame.

Insert an opening pick into the recess between the watch frame and the top edge of the back cover.

Push the opening pick to create a gap between the back cover and the watch frame.

Step 4

              Pry up the back cover assembly
  • Twist the opening pick to widen the gap between the back cover assembly and the watch frame.
  • Pry upward to loosen the back cover assembly.
  • Don’t try to remove the back cover assembly all the way yet. It’s still connected to the motherboard.

Twist the opening pick to widen the gap between the back cover assembly and the watch frame.

Pry upward to loosen the back cover assembly.

Don’t try to remove the back cover assembly all the way yet. It’s still connected to the motherboard.

Step 5

              Free the back cover assembly
  • Carefully lift up the bottom edge of the back cover assembly to make sure it isn’t adhered to the watch frame anymore.
  • Avoid straining or tearing the sensor or battery cables.

Carefully lift up the bottom edge of the back cover assembly to make sure it isn’t adhered to the watch frame anymore.

Avoid straining or tearing the sensor or battery cables.

Step 6

              Open the watch
  • Grab the back cover assembly and carefully bring it into an upright position next to the watch housing.

Grab the back cover assembly and carefully bring it into an upright position next to the watch housing.

Step 7

              Disconnect the battery cable
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.
  • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 8

              Disconnect the sensor cable
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the sensor cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the sensor cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 9

              Remove the back cover assembly
  • Remove the back cover assembly.

Remove the back cover assembly.

Step 10

              Loosen the battery adhesive
  • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover for 2 minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath the battery.
  • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.

Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover for 2 minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath the battery.

Step 11

              Free the battery cable
  • Reposition the battery and sensor assembly cables by folding the battery cable to the left and then the sensor cable to the right side of the back cover assembly.
  • Do not bend the cables sharply to avoid cable damage.

Reposition the battery and sensor assembly cables by folding the battery cable to the left and then the sensor cable to the right side of the back cover assembly.

Do not bend the cables sharply to avoid cable damage.

Step 12

              Pry up the battery
  • Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the bottom edge of the battery.
  • Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.
  • Pry upwards to loosen the battery.

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the bottom edge of the battery.

Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.

Pry upwards to loosen the battery.

Step 13

              Remove the battery
  • Remove the battery.
  • Do not reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
  • Secure the new battery with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. In order to position it correctly, apply the new adhesive into the device at the places where the old adhesive was located, not directly onto the battery. Press the new battery firmly into place.

Remove the battery.

Do not reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.

Secure the new battery with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. In order to position it correctly, apply the new adhesive into the device at the places where the old adhesive was located, not directly onto the battery. Press the new battery firmly into place.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

During reassembly, apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our TicWatch E3 answers community for help.

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                    Dominik Schnabelrauch

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