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Swollen phone battery: is it dangerous and what to do

A swollen battery can be a fire risk. What to do straight away, and how to get it replaced.

Guide

Written by Ali, who has been fixing electronic devices since 2019. Updated .

Yes, a swollen battery can be dangerous. Stop using and charging the phone, don’t press on it, and get the battery replaced. A swollen lithium-ion battery is damaged inside, and if it is punctured or overheats it can catch fire.

Signs your battery is swelling

  • the screen is lifting away from the frame, or there’s a gap at one edge
  • the back panel bulges or has cracked without being dropped
  • the phone rocks when laid flat on a table
  • the screen shows pressure marks, or touch stops working in places

Why batteries swell

Phone batteries are lithium-ion. As they age, or if they are damaged, overheated or charged with a faulty charger, reactions inside can produce gas. The gas has nowhere to go, so the battery puffs up. It’s more common in older batteries and in phones left charging in hot places.

What to do straight away

  1. Stop charging it. Unplug it and don’t put it back on charge.
  2. Switch it off if you can do so without pressing hard on the screen or back.
  3. Don’t press, squeeze or bend it. Don’t try to push the screen back into place.
  4. Don’t puncture it or try to remove the battery yourself.
  5. Keep it away from heat. Don’t leave it in a car, on a radiator or in direct sun.
  6. Put it somewhere safe, on a hard surface away from anything that can burn, until you can bring it in.
  7. Don’t post it loose. Damaged lithium batteries need special handling in the post. Bring it in person instead.

If the phone gets hot, hisses, smokes or smells of chemicals, move away from it and don’t touch it.

Can I get my data off first?

If the phone still works and you can use it without pressing on it, back it up over Wi-Fi without charging it. If not, don’t force it. Tell us when you bring it in.

Is it worth replacing the battery?

Often, yes. Once the swollen battery is removed, the rest of the phone may be fine. Swelling can sometimes damage the screen or back glass. If it has, we tell you on your quote. To check how healthy a battery is before it gets to this point, see battery health.

Swollen battery replacement in Nuneaton

Bring your phone to Ezone Repairs at 9 Harefield Road, Nuneaton CV11 4HA, or call 024 7634 1341 first if you’re not sure it’s safe to carry. Battery replacement is quoted for your model before any work starts. iPhone battery prices are listed by model on our prices page, for example £29.99 for an iPhone 11. See battery replacement.

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