Whoops! Google doesn’t know how to repair your broken Pixel Watch screen

Google Pixel Watch always on display shows a green watch face that looks like an analogue clock.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Watch out Google Pixel Watch owners, Google has revealed that it can’t repair your Pixel Watch screen if it breaks. If yours gets a crack, you’re going to be stuck with it – unless you get a whole new watch.

What’s more, there’s a good chance that damage to your Pixel Watch isn’t covered by the gadget’s limited warranty – which has exemptions for damage caused by “normal wear and tear”, “accidents”, and “alterations” among other common sources. Plus, there’s no option to buy an extended warranty with more protections (something akin to Apple’s Apple Care).

Adding insult to injury is that technically the Pixel Watch is repairable – iFixit even has an in-depth how-to guide for replacing a damaged screen. But there’s a major barrier to the self-repair route; where do you get the parts? Google doesn’t sell replacement screens, and neither do third parties. Your only option would be to buy another Pixel Watch and take the screen off that. You might be able to find a watch that’s damaged but has a perfectly good screen at a decent price on a site like eBay, but given the time and other equipment you need to perform the fix most people would be better off just getting a full-on replacement.  

This seems very wasteful to fix something like a small yet annoying crack, but it is the only option you have according to Google support staff (via The Verge). 

Ready for round two? 

This somewhat ridiculous reparability situation has picked up steam recently as we head into Google’s upcoming Pixel event on October 4. During this annual event, we’ll not only meet the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones – Google will introduce an all-new Google Pixel Watch 2 as well. 

Early official teaser shots of the device seem to reveal that its design is nearly identical to its predecessor. This includes a screen similar to the one causing all these reparability problems.

Google Pixel Watch 2 close up from the front

The Google Pixel Watch 2 teaser image (Image credit: Google)

If this is the case, then alongside any new features it demonstrates Google needs to make sure that it announces robust repair options for the new Watch. Otherwise, we might have a tough time recommending the new gadget.

If Google doesn’t take action into its own hands, it might soon be forced to provide easy access to replacement parts. A right-to-repair bill just passed in California, and the European Union has plans to introduce robust repair rules too. The Californian law joins similar rules passed in New York and Minnesota and would require electronics manufacturers to provide replacement parts for three years if the gadget costs over $50 (around £40 / AU$77), and for seven years if it costs over $100 (around £80 / AU$155) – though it’s yet to be seen how widely available these replacement parts will be, and the rules won't go into effect until 2024.

You might also like:

Hamish Hector
Senior Staff Writer, News

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

Read more
The Google Pixel 9 Pro on an orange background
The Google Pixel 9 Pro may have a serious design issue, with some units literally peeling apart
Google Pixel Watch 3
Google to tweak Pixel Watch emergency calls as it tries to fix a problem Apple has had for years
Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button
The Pixel Watch just got a secret display upgrade in Wear OS 5.1, but here’s why you probably shouldn’t use it
Pixel Watch 3
Google Pixel Watches may be about to get a battery-extending charging feature - and it's one Pixel owners already love
Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button
Google Pixel Watch 3's potentially life-saving Pulse Detection feature finally gets cleared for launch in the US
Pebble Family
Pebble is back! The iconic smartwatch is returning with its OG founder and 'hackable' software
Latest in Smartwatches
Garmin Instinct 3 in Neotropic Green
"I'm an idiot": Garmin user reveals how fixing one setting completely changed their training after months of making no progress
A garmin forerrunner 55 on an orange background with the phrase lowest price
Sprint! The best cheap Garmin for runners is back down to its lowest-ever price
Half-Life running on a smartwatch
This Redditor installed a game engine on their smartwatch, and now it runs Doom, Quake, and Half-Life
Apple Watch Series 10 experience
How can we make wearables more sustainable, and is it even possible?
Apple watch pair with iphone
I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box
Garmin Instinct 3 next to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
New figures claim the smartwatch market just shrunk for the first time ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is to blame
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough