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Stop using and charging the device. Do not press, puncture, crush, or throw away the battery. If it is hot, hissing, smoking, leaking, burning, or rapidly expanding, move people and pets away, leave the area, and call 911 from a safe location. A swollen lithium-ion battery is damaged and can pose a fire hazard; it is not safe to keep using while you arrange service. The EPA classifies swelling as battery damage and a potential fire hazard.
First, decide whether it is an emergency
A cool, stable device with a bulging case still needs prompt attention, but it is different from a battery that is actively failing. If the device is hot, hissing, smoking, leaking, burning, rapidly expanding, or giving off a strong chemical odor, treat it as an emergency:
- Do not touch it, pick it up, or try to remove the battery.
- Move people and pets away. Leave the area, closing doors behind you if practical and safe.
- Call 911 from outside or another safe location, and tell responders a lithium-ion battery is involved.
- Do not put it in a vehicle or carry it to a recycling site.
Do not try to fight a battery fire or improvise a response with water or an extinguisher. Consumer guidance should prioritize evacuation and emergency services; Apple’s battery-fire instructions are intended for trained recycling personnel, not a general consumer response.
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Swelling can push the parts around a battery out of alignment. Look for physical changes rather than relying on a battery warning or a particular percentage of battery health.
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- Phone: the screen or back cover lifting, a frame seam opening, or the case becoming warped.
- Laptop: a raised trackpad or keyboard deck, a bulging battery compartment, a warped case, or a computer that rocks instead of sitting flat.
- Either device: unusual heat, rapid battery drain, or trouble charging can occur, but none alone confirms swelling.
- Escalation signs: chemical odor, hissing, leaking fluid, smoke, or rapid heating mean stop handling it and follow the emergency steps above.
Dell identifies a warped case, a raised trackpad, and a laptop that no longer sits flat as signs of a swollen battery. A screen lifting is not a reason to press it back into place: the battery may be underneath.
What to do right now
- Stop charging and using it. Do not keep it plugged in to finish a task or wait for the battery to run down.
- Unplug the charger only if safe. If doing so means touching a hot, smoking, leaking, or visibly failing device, leave it alone and get clear.
- Power it off only if it is cool and responsive. Use the normal shutdown method; do not press on a bulging screen, case, or trackpad.
- Move it only if it is cool and stable. If it can be handled without force, place it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from paper, fabric, furniture, and other flammable materials. Do not leave it in direct sun, near a heater, or in a hot car.
- Contact the right service or disposal provider promptly. Start with the manufacturer or a qualified repair provider for a device that may be serviceable; contact your local household hazardous-waste program for disposal guidance.
The EPA says to contact the manufacturer or local household-hazardous-waste authority for instructions. Its lithium-ion battery FAQ was updated April 14, 2026. Dell likewise advises against using or charging a swollen battery. Dell’s disposal guidance was last modified July 6, 2026.
Should you remove the battery yourself?
Do not open a device just because its screen or case has lifted. A swollen cell can be damaged by prying, bending, twisting, heating, crushing, or puncturing it. If the pack is stuck, do not pry harder.
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Phones and other devices with built-in batteries
For most consumers, the safer choice is to leave an internal phone battery to a trained repair professional. Modern phone batteries are commonly adhered inside the device, and the space created by a lifted screen does not make the cell safe to remove. Apple says iPhone battery replacement should be done by Apple, an authorized provider, or another trained technician. Apple’s battery guidance explains its service options and risks from damaged or nongenuine batteries.
Laptops with removable batteries
If a battery is designed to detach externally and comes free without force, removal may be possible only when it is cool, stable, and undamaged. Stop if it catches, is swollen against the chassis, or requires tools or force. Do not put a damaged battery back into the laptop.
Laptops with internal or stuck batteries
Use a qualified technician, or consult the exact model’s service procedure only if you have the required experience and the device is cool and stable. Do not use sharp or metal tools near the pack. Dell warns that a battery stuck in a device should not be forcibly freed and that a swollen battery should not be reassembled into the computer. See Dell’s swollen lithium-ion battery handling document.
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How to keep a cool, stable device while arranging service
Keep the device away from flammable materials in a cool, dry, ventilated place, and minimize handling. Do not squeeze the case, freeze it, submerge it, bury it, or place it in direct sunlight. Do not seal a hot, smoking, leaking, or actively venting device in an ordinary airtight container.
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Container advice depends on the situation. If a cool swollen battery has already been removed safely, Dell recommends a nonflammable container such as metal or ceramic while it awaits delivery to a recycling facility. Dell’s guidance covers this handling step. For a stable battery while a disposal route is being identified, the EPA suggests a safe location such as a container with a fire suppressant like sand or kitty litter. Follow the EPA’s qualification: this is not a response to an imminent fire. If you are unsure how to isolate a severely swollen pack, call your local fire department or hazardous-waste authority for direction rather than experimenting with a container.
How to arrange repair or disposal
In the United States, do not put a swollen battery or a device containing one in household trash or a curbside recycling bin. A recycling symbol does not mean a lithium-ion battery belongs in household recycling. Nor should you assume that a store collection box accepts damaged batteries: ordinary collection programs may exclude them.
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- Contact the manufacturer first if the device may be under warranty or a service plan. Ask whether it offers a swollen-battery safety replacement and what to do with the device. Do not ship it until the manufacturer confirms the process.
- Ask a qualified repair provider whether it can safely handle a swollen pack, replace the battery, and route the old one through an appropriate disposal channel.
- Call your municipal household-hazardous-waste program or state environmental agency if the manufacturer or repair provider cannot take it. Ask for a route for damaged lithium-ion batteries.
- Confirm acceptance before going to a drop-off point. Call2Recycle’s locator can help identify locations, but its warning says damaged or defective batteries require special handling and do not belong in ordinary collection boxes. Use the locator, then verify acceptance with the specific location.
Use this exact question when calling: “I have a swollen lithium-ion battery in a phone/laptop. Do you accept damaged or defective batteries, and should I bring the entire device or only the battery?” Transport it only if the receiving facility and local authorities say that is safe. If it is heating, smoking, leaking, or otherwise actively failing, do not drive it anywhere.
Do not mail or ship a swollen battery through ordinary post or a standard return label. Damaged batteries can be subject to transportation restrictions, and Dell specifically says not to mail a swollen battery. Arrange handling directly with the manufacturer or a facility that confirms it can accept the battery.
Can you fly with a swollen phone or laptop?
No. FAA guidance says damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries and devices containing them must not be carried in either carry-on or checked baggage. See the FAA’s lithium-battery baggage guidance. This restriction is for damaged batteries; it is distinct from the rules for ordinary, undamaged phones and laptops. The FAA’s PackSafe page covers portable electronic devices with batteries.
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If swelling appears while you are away from home, do not take the device onto an aircraft or into checked luggage. Contact the airline and a local repair provider or hazardous-waste authority for a safe local route. If the device overheats, expands, smokes, or burns during a flight, notify the crew immediately.
Protecting data without extending the risk
A device that still starts is not necessarily safe to keep using. Do not charge it to back up files or leave it plugged in to preserve access. If data is important, tell a repair provider before handing over the device and ask whether it can safely isolate the battery while preserving data. Ask about data handling or chain of custody if the device contains sensitive information.
A brief backup might be reasonable only if the device is cool and stable, there are no emergency signs, it can be done without charging or pressing the device, and you can stop immediately if its condition changes. This is a cautious exception, not a reason to keep using the device or delay arranging service.
Repair, replace, or check warranty coverage?
Before paying for a repair or disposing of the battery, check the manufacturer’s service route if the device may be covered. Warranty and service-plan treatment depends on the product, purchase date, country, terms, and the cause the manufacturer identifies; do not assume swelling is automatically covered or excluded. If documentation is needed, photograph the device from a safe distance without handling it.
- Manufacturer or authorized service: A good starting point for built-in phone batteries, devices under warranty, or repairs where model-specific procedures matter. Apple’s service information covers iPhone and Mac battery options, with estimates depending on model, location, coverage, and inspection. Apple battery service and recycling and its iPhone battery service page provide current service routes; neither establishes one universal price.
- Independent repair provider: Ask whether the technician has experience with swollen cells, what replacement part will be used, and how the removed battery will be handled. Part quality, fit, provenance, and installation vary, so a low price alone is not a safety assurance.
- DIY: Consider only for an experienced repairer using the exact model’s procedure and proper tools, and never if the pack is hot, leaking, damaged, stuck, or requires force. A repair guide is not a substitute for professional handling of an active hazard. iFixit’s swollen-battery guide explains handling risks; its iPhone battery parts listing is not a recommendation for beginners to remove a swollen phone battery.
- Replace the device: Compare repair cost with the device’s value and condition if it is old, has several faults, has a damaged screen or chassis, or has no practical replacement battery. A qualified provider may still be able to remove and recycle the pack safely.
If a battery is swollen, do not buy a replacement part and start prying as a first response. Secure the device safely and arrange its handling before deciding whether to repair or replace it.
Why lithium-ion batteries swell
Swelling occurs when gas builds up inside a cell. Aging, heat exposure, physical damage, manufacturing defects, and internal degradation can contribute; it is not always the result of overcharging. Dell attributes swelling to gas buildup associated with age, heat exposure, or manufacturing defects, while iFixit describes gas release when internal layers are damaged, defective, or degraded. Dell’s explanation and iFixit’s battery guide provide further detail. Squeezing or puncturing the pack cannot repair it and can make the hazard worse.
Quick Recap
Reduce the chance of battery damage
- Keep devices away from extreme heat, direct sun, and hot-car interiors. Google’s Pixel safety guidance warns against exposure above 113°F (45°C), including on dashboards and near heating vents; that is an environmental warning, not a safe operating temperature for a swollen battery. Read Google Pixel safety guidance.
- Use compatible chargers and replacement parts from a source you can verify. Avoid using a device with a damaged case or battery.
- If storing a device long-term, follow its manufacturer’s battery-storage guidance rather than leaving it fully charged or completely depleted for extended periods. This is general battery care, not a remedy for a battery that has already swollen. iFixit’s guide discusses swollen-battery causes and care.
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