This week, Apple has launched a new service program that offers free out-of-warranty repairs to Apple Watch Series 2 owners whose device suffers from a swollen battery.
According to a report from MacRumors, Apple Retail Stores and Authorized Retailers were informed of the policy change on Friday through the company’s internal portal.
“Apple has determined that under certain conditions, some Apple Watch Series 2 devices may not power on or they may experience an expanded battery.”
The document notes that “some” Apple Watch Series 2 models will not power on or exhibit a swollen battery “under certain conditions”. If your device falls into a certain category after a physical device assessment, Apple will repair the device for free. The minimum requirements required to be eligible were not specified.
The program appears to be limited to Apple Watch Series 2 42mm models, suggesting that the issue is not present on the 38mm models. Repairs are available to owners up to three years after their purchase date, even if they didn’t purchase Apple’s extended warranty.
Apple has not yet released an official statement regarding the matter, nor have they updated the Exchange and Repair Extension Programs webpage.
