How to Change a Watch Battery

You can change a simple snap-back watch battery at home with a small kit, but take a screw-back or water-resistant watch to a jeweler — and replace a dead battery promptly, because a leaking one can ruin the movement.Here’s how to tell which kind you have and what to do.

When to do it yourself

Home battery changes make sense for inexpensive quartz watches with a snap-off caseback. You’ll need a case knife or a two-dollar caseback tool, a soft cloth, and the correct battery (the old one is stamped with its size, e.g. SR626SW). Pry the back off gently at the notch, note how the battery sits, slide the old one out, drop the new one in the same way, and press the back on until it clicks.

When to take it to a jeweler

• Screw-down casebacks(four small screws or a screw-in back) — these need proper tools and re-sealing.
• Any water-resistant watch— opening it breaks the gasket seal, and a jeweler will pressure-test and re-seal it so the rating holds.
• A watch you care about— a $10 professional change avoids scratches and a cracked back on a gift that matters.

Why not to leave a dead battery in

A dead watch battery can leak corrosive fluid that damages the movement, so replace it promptly rather than leaving the watch dead in a drawer. If a watch is going to sit unused for a long time, having the battery removed is safer than leaving a dying one inside.

The no-battery alternative

If battery changes sound like a hassle, that’s a great reason to gift a solar watch (like a Citizen Eco-Drive) that never needs one, or an automatic that runs on wrist motion. See our automatic vs solar comparison.