Apple Watch (Gen 1) Screen fell off

@Richard from San Diego,

So what happened??? seems you didn’t finish your post...

Glad to hear it!

@splintah,

May I suggest that you look at the latest replies, for example mine from April 20 of this year?

Was your watch under warranty?

1 month out of warranty. Gen 2 stainless - fairly expensive and these guys simply didn't care at all. Oh well I am done with iwatches

Hi

Some other users have experienced screen detachment issues with their Apple Watch. This can be due to various causes, including not handling the device in accordance with Apple's guidelines.

Whilst Apple has not announced an exchange or repair extension program for Apple Watch, you may wish to ask the Apple Store to check whether your issue is covered by any internal policy regarding swollen batteries on first generation Apple Watch models.

Otherwise, I'm afraid that no-one here can intervene in your support case. It is also not allowed here to conduct polls.

The exact same thing just happened to me. I was sitting in a conference room at a work meeting and the screen fell completely off. My watch has not been damaged in anyway. We are in triple digit heat right now but I was sitting in an air-conditioned room when it happened. Hoping to get it fixed but I know that it is outside the warranty period. How would you know if it is the battery swelling?

Apple Watch is not user-serviceable and Apple does not offer a screen repair or screen replacement service for Apple Watch.

If the issue is not covered under warranty or any other Apple policy (be sure to ask), then your Apple Watch may instead be eligible for replacement via chargeable, out-of-warranty service.

Contact Apple Support (mail-in service may be available, if required), make a Genius Bar reservation or visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider to arrange for your Apple Watch to be inspected and to establish your available service options:

• US: Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support
• Elsewhere: Select your country for Apple Watch service and repair information

I'm afraid that no-one here can tell you what Apple will decide in your specific case. You are not talking to Apple here - this is a user-based technical support community.

In the meantime, note that Apple advises that you should not continue using a damaged Apple Watch.

As previously advised, the screen on Apple Watch is not replaceable.

Rather than repairing it, Apple will instead replace an Apple Watch with a damaged or detached screen. This applies regardless of whether the issue is addressed under warranty, via AppleCare+ or via chargeable service, as appropriate for any given user.

The OP's Apple Watch was certainly not "okay", in August 2017, given that the screen had been "dangling from the Watch housing".

The same happened to me today. While sitting on a flight, I notice the screen of my Series 1 steel watch is hanging by its cable. I bought this watch near the end of this model’s availability, so it is not that old. It has never been dropped.

”Jonathan UK” represents Apple very poorly here. People do not pay premium price for defective materials and bureaucratic response to problem reports. I have owned Apple products since the original 1984. The build quality of the Series 1 and Jonathan’s response are both substandard.

Not one to reward manufacturers of bad product, I will neither pay Apple to repair this watch nor purchase a replacement. However, I see that iFixit has instructions and kit to replace Apple Watch adhesive. (Apparently, there is a market for this.)

I got the worst, they said they could cover it if the battery was determined to have swelled but in my case it wasn't apparent. There is definitely a problem with these watches, when the screen pops off neatly like someone used a glass cutter it means there was uniform pressure to make it come off like that, could be gasses from the battery built up inside the stainless steel case or perhaps faulty adhesive. If you look at pictures of people who have actually damaged their watches it is cracked like a phone would, looks like a spider web.

I had the same experience as above.

I am going to try and get an appointment at the genius bar, (always a challenge as they are always backed up for a week or so).

I have spent a ton of money on Apple over the years in Imacs, MacBooks, Ipods, Iphones.....Over the years I have also seen a decline in the quality and reliability of the products Apple is marketing.

My buggy iPhoneX is probably the last iPhone I will own, and the only Apple product I will still have is a MacBook,

There is now very good competition in the tech marketplace and I am going to go elsewhere when I choose a tech product in the future.

I have the same problem with my Apple Watch S1. I do actually have the S3 watch and was thinking of upgrading to the new Apple Watch Series 4, but now this has happened to my first watch, I am really worried it might happen to the new one! I absolutely love all Apple products but this has seriously worried me now. The watches are expensive and should last a lot longer. You really dont expect the front to fall off for absolutely no reason whatsoever!