About a year after the first Apple Watch was released, I started getting messages from users who were having trouble removing the strap from their watch.
While I was able to help these people remove the strap without damaging the watch, I have never encountered this problem myself. Till today.
Having just upgraded to the Apple Watch 7, I was cleaning my old watch before reselling it and noticed one end of the strap was stuck. Seriously stuck.
This strap has been on my watch for a year, and I don’t think I’ve taken it off at all during that time.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET.
How is the wristband fitted?
Apple designs its products very precisely and sometimes this can backfire on customers. Small spaces can actually get filled with dirt and grease.
In order to remove a stuck bracelet safely, it is useful to know how it is held in place.
To release a strap, press the pill-shaped button on the back of the Apple Watch.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET.
This button presses on a small hollow in the bracelet, which allows it to slide.
Two things can prevent this:
- the button may get stuck;
- a “wrinkle” of the bracelet can get stuck.
Here I press the button with a plastic tool from my iFixit kit. If you don’t have one, you can use a toothpick or something similar.
Sometimes a methodical push back and forth along the button can unlock it, but not this time.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET.
Necessary material
It’s time to unveil my secret repair weapon: isopropyl alcohol. I use it for all sorts of things, from cleaning circuit boards to freeing straps from the Apple Watch. You can use hot water, but in my experience isopropyl alcohol is much more effective.
Some people worry about it damaging their gadgets, but I’ve been using this compound for 30 years with no problems. Use it sparingly, don’t soak the watch in it, and you’ll be fine (if you’re worried, use hot water).
Don’t use lubricants like WD-40, as they will stink up your strap! Isopropyl alcohol evaporates without leaving a residue.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET.
Oh, and my other other secret weapon: simple cotton swabs.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET.
Unlock Wristband
Pour some isopropyl alcohol into the bottle cap, dip your cotton swabs in it, and apply some around the pimple.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET.
Also apply a little on the edge of the bracelet. The isopropyl alcohol slips very well into the interstices and helps free the stuck parts.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Then press the button and move the bracelet.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
You may need to apply isopropyl alcohol a few times for this to work.
Image: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
My bracelet was really stuck, but taking my time I was able to remove it without damaging anything. I then used a little isopropyl alcohol to clean the end of the strip and the slot it fits into and everything was back to working perfectly.
Source: ZDNet.com