Will a Repair Affect Water Resistance or Face ID?

A repair can affect water resistance: once a phone has been opened or repaired, it may no longer be water-resistant, even if it was designed to be. Face ID depends on what is repaired and on the condition of the parts around it, so at Archway Tech Repairs, 647 Holloway Road, London N19 5SE, we check the device first and explain the options before any work starts.

These are two of the most common questions we hear at the counter, usually from someone holding an iPhone with a cracked screen or a battery that no longer lasts the day. This guide gives you the straight answers, explains why they are the answers, and sets out what to check before and after a repair so you know where you stand.

Will a repair affect my phone’s water resistance?

It can. Our published warranty policy says it plainly: once your device has been opened or repaired, it may no longer be water-resistant, even if it was originally designed to be. A repaired device may not retain its original manufacturer water-resistance rating, and that is true whoever carries out the repair.

The reason is simple. Water resistance on a modern phone depends on the phone being sealed as it left the factory. Most repairs, such as a screen replacement, a battery replacement or a charging port repair, mean opening the phone. After that, the original seal is no longer the original seal.

Because of this, the shop is not responsible for any water or liquid damage that happens after the repair, and we recommend avoiding exposure to water or moisture once your device has been serviced or repaired. In practice that means treating a repaired phone as if it is not waterproof: keep it away from the bath, the pool and the rain where you can.

Does that mean I should not get my phone repaired?

No. It means you should know the trade-off before you decide. For most people, a phone with a working screen, a healthy battery or a charging port that charges again is worth far more than a water-resistance rating they hope never to test. If keeping water resistance matters to you for a particular reason, tell the technician during the free in-store check-up so we can talk it through with you.

Will a repair affect Face ID?

It depends on what is being repaired and on the condition of the Face ID parts before the repair. Face ID relies on several precision components near the top of the display, including the infrared camera, flood illuminator, dot projector, front-facing camera and proximity sensor. A repair that does not involve that area is a different job from one that does.

The bigger issue is often the damage that brought the phone in. As we explain in our guide to Face ID not working after dropping an iPhone, a drop can damage or misalign the Face ID components even when the screen still looks fine. If the phone has a cracked screen, impact damage near the notch, screen separation or damage around the front camera, Face ID parts may already have been affected before anyone opens the phone.

That is why our warranty policy is honest about it. The shop is not responsible for non-functional components such as Face ID, Touch ID, the camera or the speakers if the issue was pre-existing before the repair, discovered during the repair, or occurred during the repair process. We recommend checking your device thoroughly before and after any repair.

Why does a dropped phone make Face ID harder to predict?

Because the force of the drop matters more than how the phone looks. We have assessed devices where the screen was intact, the phone powered on normally and the cameras appeared to work, yet Face ID had stopped because an internal sensor was damaged in the impact. If Face ID was already failing before the repair, replacing the screen fixes the screen problem; it does not by itself fix a damaged sensor.

What should I check before I hand my phone in?

A few minutes of checking makes the conversation at the counter much clearer:

• Test Face ID. Lock the phone and try to unlock it with your face. Note whether it works every time, sometimes, or not at all, and whether you see a message such as “Face ID is not available”.
• Test the front camera. Take a selfie. Blurry images or focusing problems can point to damage near the sensors.
• Note any water exposure. If the phone has been near water or liquid, say so. Water-damaged devices are excluded from the free check-up and carry separate terms.
• Back up your data. Backing up important data before any repair is always recommended wherever possible.
• Tell us what matters to you. If Face ID or water resistance is important for your work or daily use, mention it at the start.

How does Archway Tech Repairs handle a repair like this?

Every repair follows the same steps, so you know what is happening before you pay for anything:

1. Walk in or call. Bring the phone to 647 Holloway Road, London N19 5SE, or call 020 7263 0607 first. No appointment is needed.
2. Free in-store check-up. A technician inspects the device and identifies the fault. Water-damaged devices are excluded from the free check-up.
3. Quote and options. The repair options and expected cost are explained before any work starts. If the cost changes once the device is opened, you are told before work continues.
4. Repair. Carried out in store, from screens, batteries and charging ports to board-level motherboard work.
5. Testing. The device is checked before it goes back to you.
6. Warranty. Applicable repairs are covered under the published warranty policy: 28 days on LCD/screen repairs and 14 days on applicable parts repairs and charging port repairs, with one free re-repair for the same issue subject to the stated conditions.

Many common repairs, such as screen repairs and battery replacements, are completed the same day, depending on the fault and parts availability. Repair times and costs vary depending on the device, the extent of the damage and the availability of replacement parts.

What about phones that have already been in water?

Water damage has its own rules. A non-refundable charge applies to devices with water or liquid damage, because the fee is charged whether or not the device can be successfully repaired, and water-damaged devices cannot always be saved. If a water-damaged device is successfully repaired, it comes with a limited seven-day re-repair guarantee for the same issue. If your phone has just been in water, read what to do immediately after dropping your phone in water and bring it in as soon as you can.

Common questions about water resistance and Face ID after a repair

Will my iPhone still be waterproof after a screen replacement?

You should not rely on it. Once a device has been opened or repaired, it may no longer be water-resistant, even if it was originally designed to be. We recommend avoiding exposure to water or moisture after the repair.

Will Face ID work after my screen is replaced?

It depends on the condition of the Face ID components before the repair and on what the repair involves. If Face ID already had a fault, for example after a drop, a screen replacement does not by itself fix it. Test Face ID before you hand the phone in, and tell the technician what you found.

Is a Face ID problem after a drop usually a software problem?

If the issue started immediately after a drop, hardware damage is often the more likely cause, and restarting the phone will not usually resolve it. A professional diagnosis is the way to find out which part is affected.

Are you an Apple repair centre?

No. Archway Tech Repairs is an independent repair provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. We repair iPhones, Samsung phones and other devices in our own shop.

What warranty do I get on a screen repair?

Our published warranty policy gives 28 days on LCD/screen repairs, with one free re-repair for the same issue subject to the stated conditions. The warranty does not cover cracks, physical damage, water damage or damage caused after the repair. Full details are on the warranty policy page.

Do I need an appointment?

No. Walk in to 647 Holloway Road, London N19 5SE. The nearest station is Archway Underground. You can call 020 7263 0607 first if you want to check before you travel.

Get your phone checked at Archway Tech Repairs

If you are weighing up a repair and want a straight answer about water resistance or Face ID for your own phone, bring it in for a free in-store check-up (water-damaged devices excluded). See our iPhone repair and Samsung repair pages for the work we do, or read what customers say on our testimonials page.

Archway Tech Repairs, 647 Holloway Road, London N19 5SE. Call 020 7263 0607, email info@archwaytechrepairs.co.uk or use our contact page.

Written by the Archway Tech Repairs Technical Team, specialists in diagnosing and repairing phones, laptops, tablets, MacBooks and other everyday devices for customers across North London. Reviewed by: Archway Tech Repairs Technical Team. Archway Tech Repairs is an independent repair provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. Repair times and costs vary depending on the device, extent of damage and availability of replacement parts. A repaired device may not retain its original manufacturer water-resistance rating.