How do I initiate an Apple Watch battery replacement?

[BigBlur]

My Series 7 dropped to 79% battery health and battery life has been getting horrible.

I've logged into my account, selected the watch along with these options, and clicked Continue...


Perfect, yes...I need to send it in, so I click Get started...


Wut? I thought they were going to help arrange shipment. None of these options pertain to battery service.


Am I doing something wrong? Is it because I don't have AppleCare+? Do I have to call or chat with them instead? Going to an Apple Store is not an option since the nearest one is 3+ hours away. (Yes, I know it's sent in to replace the watch and not the battery itself.)

 

[BugeyeSTI]

AppleCare+ definitely makes the process easier. I took mine in to an Apple Store so I'd say you'll need to contact support and ask how to proceed. Your watch doesn't have AppleCare+ so the watch you'll receive back will have the SPo2 sensor disabled if you're in the USA. If you're anywhere else, the watch will be an exact replacement of the watch you send in..

 

[Night Spring]

Click on any one of the options on the last screen, and click continue, and you get a message saying something like, "sorry we are unable to process your request," followed by a page asking you to connect with support by email, chat or phone. That's as far as I went as I don't actually need service on my watch. Do let us know if you get anywhere. Good luck.

 

[maximage77]

I pointed out this website error to Apple a few months ago and just copped a pile of gaslighting about how it must have been my fault and I wasnt doing it properly. It makes you select "battery issue" a couple of times to get to that point then gives you all the options for every other hardware fault BUT battery ones. Also only gives you the option to post in, not actually take it in store. I had to live chat someone, who then couldn't even confirm if the local Apple Store would replace the battery in house or send it off. They booked me in, then I got in store to find out they just send it off anyway, so I may as well have just posted it myself.

 

[BigBlur]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, their support pages definitely seems to be bugged. Glad I wasn't the only one.

I've been going back and forth whether I should upgrade or do the battery replacement. I did order the S10 Black Friday deal for $330 just in case that's what I want to do...which is probably exactly what Apple wants. 😅

I haven't received it yet, but after giving it some more thought I figure paying an extra $125-ish for a brand new watch is a decent deal if I trade in my S7 ($330 - $105 trade-in = $225 vs. $100 battery replacement). That's probably the route I'll go. Just have to hope I don't have any horror stories with the trade-in.