Is your Apple Watch battery swollen? The fix may be free

Instagram has dropped Apple Watch app support. — AFP Relaxnews

Apple may provide free repairs for specific models of the Apple Watch Series 2 that are suffering from swollen batteries.

According to an internal document obtained by MacRumors, Apple has determined that some of its smartwatches may not turn on or their screen may come off due to the battery expanding.

The document also states Apple will service eligible devices free of charge and authorise coverage for three years after the original date of purchase.

The policy was issued to its United States, Canadian, Mexican, and European operations, and though it makes no mention of South-East Asian customers, MacRumors says it's likely to be applicable worldwide. 

According to MacRumors, photos have been circulating on its forums of Apple Watch devices with swollen batteries that have caused the displays to burst open, though the majority of the incidents involved the first-generation models released in 2015. 

A separate document stated that only the 42mm-sized Apple Watch Series 2 models – including Sport, Edition, Hermès, and Nike+ versions – were eligible, though an Apple staff would need to conduct a visual-mechanical inspection first. 

The document adds that the warranty status of the device would not affect the coverage.

However, the policy does not apply to the original Apple Watch, Series 1 and Series 3 models, or any 38mm-sized models.