You may be eligible for a free repair if you have an Apple Watch Series 2 or Series 3 with a cracked display.
Apple has confirmed that cracks may be formed along the rounded edge of an Apple Watch display “under very rare circumstances.” Eligible units will be fixed at no cost to the user.
Apple Watch is surprisingly robust for a wearable with a large glass display. I’ve walked into countless walls and door frames wearing mine (while sober) and I’m yet to break it.
But certain Series 2 and Series 3 units with aluminum bodies may suffer cracks that aren’t brought on by user clumsiness, Apple says.
Apple Watch repair program covers cracked screens
A new Screen Replacement Program has been launched to fix eligible units.
“Apple has determined that, under very rare circumstances, a crack may form along the rounded edge of the screen in aluminum models of an Apple Watch Series 2 or Series 3,” Apple explained.
Photo: Apple
Affected units include those sold between September 2018 and September 2019, so Apple’s program covers models shipped through this month. But what about others?
Has Apple found a fix?
The rather specific timeline Apple is sticking to suggests that it has eliminated this issue — perhaps by tweaking Series 2 and Series 3 displays in production — so that it won’t resurface later.
But it’s also possible that exactly the same displays are being used, and the repair program will be extended at a later date to cover models sold after September 2019. We’ll have to wait and see.
The good news is that the program covers eligible Apple Watch units for free years from the date of purchase.
How to claim your free repair
If you have a Series 2 or Series 3 that has suffered this problem, you can claim a free repair by contacting Apple Support, visiting the Apple Store, or seeking out an authorized repairer.
Note that stainless steel and ceramic Apple Watch models are not covered by this program, and Apple won’t fix shattered screens that show signs of accidental damage.
