B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft
Flight enroute [from] ZZZZ; reached cruise flight at FL340. Windscreen L-1 heating element began to glow brightly shortly after level-off and the window cracked. [Priority was requested] with [ATC] on HF radio and a return to ZZZZ was initiated. QRH procure for 'Window damage-Forward' was referenced. Flight landed at ZZZZ uneventfully.
B737 pilot reported a cockpit window heat failure; which resulted an return to the departure airport.