A swollen laptop battery is a fire risk. Stop using it, unplug it, do not charge or press it, and keep it away from heat. Here is the safe next step.
A swollen laptop battery is a safety risk. Stop using the laptop, unplug the charger, shut it down, and do not charge, press, bend or puncture it. Keep it on a hard, non-flammable surface away from heat, then arrange a safe replacement.
Do not wait to see if it settles. A swollen lithium-ion battery will not go back to normal.
How do I know if my laptop battery is swollen?
Swelling shows up as a physical change in the laptop body, not as a software problem. Look for:
- the trackpad is raised, uneven, or hard to click;
- the base panel is bulging, or the laptop rocks on a flat desk;
- the keyboard is lifting or the keys sit unevenly;
- a gap appears between the screen and the body, or the case seams are opening;
- the laptop suddenly runs hotter, or the battery drains very fast.
A sweet or chemical smell, hissing, or visible smoke means leave the area and keep people away from the device. Do not try to carry on using it.
What should I do first?
Do these steps in order.
- Save nothing more. If the laptop is on, shut it down normally, or hold the power button if it will not respond.
- Unplug the charger and every cable.
- Move the laptop to a hard, non-flammable surface such as a tile floor or a metal tray, away from curtains, paper, beds and sofas.
- Do not charge it again, even briefly.
- Do not press the swollen area, flatten it, or try to pry the case open.
- Do not try to pull out a battery that is glued in. Pulling or puncturing a swollen cell can cause a fire.
- Keep it away from sunlight, hot cars, heaters and flammable items.
If you can see smoke or heat from the laptop, move away and call the fire services (999).
Why do laptop batteries swell?
A lithium-ion cell swells when gas builds up inside it. The common causes are:
- age and wear, because cells break down chemically over time;
- heat, from blocked vents, dust, a hot room, or using the laptop on a bed;
- keeping the laptop plugged in at 100% for long periods;
- poor-quality or wrong chargers, or damaged charging circuitry;
- physical damage, such as a drop or pressure on the base.
Swelling is not caused by anything you did wrong on the software side. If a laptop battery has swelled once, the same cell will not recover.
Can I keep using it or throw it away?
No to both. Do not keep using it, and do not put a swollen battery in household rubbish. Damaged lithium-ion batteries can start fires in bins and rubbish trucks. Keep it in a non-flammable container, away from heat, until you can hand it over for proper handling. Local councils and electronics collection points handle old batteries, and a repair shop can take a swollen battery out safely during a replacement.
How should I send or bring it to TechFix?
Walk-in is the safer route. Bring the laptop during our hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, carried in a non-flammable container rather than a bag stuffed with other items, and tell staff at the counter it is swollen.
Couriers may not accept a swollen battery. If you cannot walk in, WhatsApp 012-770 7120 first so we can advise before you pack anything. Do not post a swollen laptop without speaking to us.
Back up what you can only if the laptop is still safe to start, and do not turn it on just to copy files. TechFix does not offer data recovery, so your backup is your safety net.
What happens once it is with a technician
A swollen cell can push against the trackpad, keyboard and base, so the technician checks those parts for warping or damage as well as replacing the battery. They also look at the charging circuit, because a fault there can be part of the cause. Tell the counter if the laptop was dropped, left in heat, or charged with a non-standard charger, as that helps with the diagnosis.
Related guides
If the battery was only draining fast and is not swollen, see laptop battery draining fast. For a real example from another brand, read Microsoft Surface battery swelling danger. Surface owners can see Surface battery replacement. MacBook owners can see MacBook battery replacement.
Can I prevent a battery from swelling?
You cannot stop ageing, but you can slow it and catch problems early:
- keep vents and fans clear of dust, and never run the laptop on a bed or sofa;
- use the charger made for your laptop, and replace frayed cables;
- do not leave the laptop charging under pillows or blankets or in a hot car;
- if the laptop stays plugged in all day, use any battery care or charge limit option your maker provides;
- replace a battery that is clearly worn, before it becomes a hazard, and treat very fast drain together with a warm base as a warning sign.
If you ever notice the trackpad lifting or the base bulging, treat it as swollen straight away, even if the laptop still seems to work.
When to bring it in
Bring it in as soon as you notice any swelling. For Windows laptops, our battery replacement page explains the service. TechFix supplies the replacement battery and does not fit batteries you bought yourself. After the battery is replaced, we can also check the charging circuit and charging port, because a faulty charger or port can be part of the cause.
You can book online, read the fee policy, or WhatsApp 012-770 7120 first. We courier repaired laptops back to you free, but a swollen battery needs a conversation first.
