Google Can’t Repair Cracked, Broken Pixel Watch Screens

Google Pixel Watch owners may want to be more careful with them.

The search giant has recently confirmed to the press that it doesn't have any repair option for the Google Pixel Watch, forcing people who only want theirs repaired to replace them entirely.

A Google Pixel Watch costs $349 or $399, depending on which configuration customers want.

Google Pixel Watch Repair Problems

Google Pixel Watch owners are unsatisfied with how difficult it is to have their cracked or broken Google Pixel Watch screens replaced. According to a report from The Verge, Pixel Watch owners have vented their frustrations about this issue on Reddit and in Google support forums.

However, the publication managed to review an official Google support chat from a Pixel Watch owner with a damaged screen. In it, a support representative explained that Google doesn't have any repair or service centers that will repair their smartwatches for them.

Google spokesperson Bridget Starkey added that Google doesn't have any repair option for the smartwatch at the moment. They also included that the customer in question can contact the smartwatch's customer support team to check on replacement options.

Furthermore, Starkey referred to Google's hardware warranty policy, which states that the limited warranty that the smartwatch comes with doesn't cover the following circumstances:

1. normal wear and tear
2. accidents
3. misuse
4. neglect
5. disassembly
6. alterations
7. servicing other than by Google-authorized technicians, and
8. external causes (e.g. liquid damage, exposure to sharp objects, excessive force, anomalies in electrical current supplied to the Google product, and extreme thermal or environmental conditions.)

As such, the warranty policy leaves Pixel Watch owners on their own, forcing them to find a way to repair their cracked or broken screens. They can also have their Pixel Watches replaced, but they'll need to fork over the equivalent of a new Pixel Watch to get their replacement, as one Pixel Watch owner found out.

Whether Google will handle repairs for cracked or broken Pixel Watch screens remains to be seen. However, it is technically possible to replace a broken Pixel Watch screen with a new one.

iFixit's Input

While getting repairs on cracked or broken Pixel Watch screens from Google is seemingly impossible, replacing them with a new one is possible, albeit complicated. According to a 9to5Google report, How-to website iFixit has a guide that shows how to replace a cracked or broken screen.

The repair process shows that the screen, regardless of its condition, isn't easily accessible, though the watch itself looks promising in terms of future repairability.

Unfortunately, buying a replacement display isn't possible as of press time, as there's no current way to officially buy one. This sourcing issue is made worse by Google not offering repair options for its Pixel Watches.

By contrast, a Samsung smartwatch is straightforward to repair, with iFixit listing out repair part costs and Asurion listing Samsung smartwatch repairs on its website. However, past precedence has shown that Samsung is an exception to the rule - Apple's smartwatches have also been difficult (and expensive) to repair.