Laptop Battery Swelling: Warning Signs and What to Do

Why laptop batteries swell

Most laptops run on lithium-ion polymer battery cells, sealed in soft pouches. As cells age, or when they're stressed by heat, constant full charge or physical damage, chemical reactions inside can produce gas. The pouch puffs up like a pillow, and because it's packed tightly inside the laptop, it pushes on whatever is around it.

A swollen battery is not something to wait out. It won't shrink back, and a damaged lithium-ion cell can overheat or catch fire. The good news is that it usually gives you visible warning signs first.

Warning signs to watch for

• The trackpad lifts or stops clicking properly. On many laptops the battery sits right under the trackpad, so it's often the first thing to change. A trackpad that feels stiff, clicks on its own, or sits higher than it used to is a classic sign.
• The bottom case bulges. Run your hand across the underside. A rounded or raised area, or a bottom panel that has started to separate from the frame, is a red flag.
• It wobbles on a flat table. If the laptop rocks or spins when you press a corner, something inside is pushing the base outward.
• The keyboard is raised or uneven, or some keys feel different from others.
• The lid won't close flat, or there's a new gap between the screen and the keyboard when it's closed.
• Gaps open up along the seams, or screws on the bottom panel seem to be pushed out.
• The battery drains fast, the laptop shuts off suddenly, or it won't charge past a certain point. These can come before any visible swelling.

What to do right now

If you notice any of the physical signs above, follow these steps in order:

1. Stop charging. Unplug the charger from the laptop and the wall.
2. Save your work and shut down. If the laptop is on, save open files and power it off fully rather than putting it to sleep.
3. Move it to a safe spot. Place it on a hard, non-flammable surface such as a tile floor, stone counter or concrete, away from curtains, bedding, paper and anything that burns.
4. Don't press on it. Don't close the lid hard, sit anything on it, or try to push the bulge flat.
5. Keep it cool. Keep it out of sun, away from heaters and out of a hot or cold car.
6. Leave it switched off until the battery is replaced.

Can I keep using it if the swelling is small?

It's not worth the risk. Even a slightly swollen battery is a damaged battery. Continued charging and heat make it worse, and the pressure can crack the trackpad, damage the screen or bend the case, turning a battery replacement into a bigger repair.

Don't fly with a laptop you suspect has a swollen battery, and don't pack it in checked luggage. Airlines restrict damaged lithium batteries for safety reasons.

Back up your files, safely

If you haven't backed up recently, you'll understandably want your files. If the laptop is cool and not obviously hot or smoking, a brief session on battery power, unplugged, while you copy files to an external drive or cloud storage is generally reasonable. Keep it short, stay with the laptop, and stop if it gets warm or the bulge grows. If the swelling is severe, skip this and let a technician advise you.

Battery replacement: what's involved

In most modern laptops, the battery is internal. On many Windows laptops, it's screwed in under the bottom panel. In MacBooks and many thin laptops, the cells are held in with strong adhesive, which takes care and the right technique to remove without damaging the swollen pouch.

Once the swollen battery is out, the technician checks the trackpad, keyboard and case for pressure damage. The old battery needs to go to a proper battery drop-off or household hazardous waste depot, never the regular garbage.

How to prevent it next time

• Avoid heat. Don't use a laptop on a bed, couch or pillow where vents get blocked, and don't leave it in a car.
• Use battery-saving charge settings. Many laptops offer a setting that holds the charge below full, often at around 80%, when you're plugged in for long stretches. On a Mac, look for Optimized Battery Charging in the battery settings. On Windows laptops, it's usually in the manufacturer's own app.
• Use the right charger from a reputable source.
• Store it half charged if you won't use it for a while.

For more on how lithium-ion batteries age, and the same warning signs in phones, read our phone battery guide.

When to call a technician

A swollen laptop battery needs replacing, not watching. Woman Wireless On The Go can assess it at your home or workplace and give you a free quote before any work starts, so you don't have to carry a damaged battery anywhere. See our computer repair service and the areas we cover. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247 any time, day or night.

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