Laptop Battery Swelling? Here's What to Do Next

Have you noticed a strange bump in your laptop’s keyboard or trackpad? Is the back panel bulging out? Are your keys or trackpad suddenly failing to work? These are the signs of a swelling lithium-ion laptop battery — and it’s critical to take them seriously because a swollen battery can be a fire hazard.

However, you don’t need to panic! We’re here to show you the next steps to take when your laptop battery is swelling. Read on and learn what you can do right now to minimize the safety hazards of a swollen battery, plus how to get your laptop back in working order.

What You Should Do Right Now With Your Swollen Laptop Battery

We’ll cover the details of swollen batteries in a minute, including what causes a battery to swell and how to prevent it. First, take these steps right away to minimize the safety risk:

• Turn the laptop off immediately, using the Shut Down option rather than Sleep. If the laptop is charging, remove it from the charger right away.
• Do not use or charge your laptop while the battery is swollen. Although it may still work, using the laptop in this condition puts you at risk of an explosion or fire.
• Place your laptop somewhere that it’s unlikely to be moved or disturbed, away from anything flammable. If possible, store it in a non-flammable metal container, in a room with a concrete or tile floor as far as possible from the rest of your home. (A garage or shed is a good choice.)
• In most cases, you shouldn’t try to remove a swollen battery on your own. If you have a confident grasp of basic computer repair, you can try removing it yourself — but if in doubt, leave it to the professionals. (Jump down for more detailed instructions on removing a swollen battery.)
• Find a qualified laptop repair professional and take your computer to have the battery replaced. You’ll want to use a local store, as it’s not safe to send a device with a swollen battery through the mail. If you bought your computer within the past three years or so, it may be under a service warranty, so check with the manufacturer before you take it in. The computer experts at Micro Center replace and install laptop batteries every day, and we have the knowledge and expertise to replace yours safely.

Signs of a Swollen Laptop Battery

Sometimes, a swollen battery is easy to spot. If any part of the laptop is noticeably bulging or swelling, you can be pretty sure that a swollen battery is to blame. (Thankfully, no other parts of a laptop are prone to swelling!) The trackpad, keyboard, and bottom panel are the most common places where you might notice a swollen battery.

Other times, a swollen battery will cause issues elsewhere in your laptop before it becomes evident to the naked eye. These are some of the major signs to look out for:

• Your laptop rocks back and forth when you place it on a flat surface, and it’s not missing any of its rubber feet.
• Some keys on your keyboard aren’t working correctly, even after you’ve thoroughly cleaned the keyboard.
• Your trackpad doesn’t respond to finger movements correctly and/or its buttons are difficult to click.
• Your laptop has a significant gap between its keyboard and screen when closed, or it doesn’t close completely at all.
• Parts of your laptop’s bezel case keep popping out of place.

If you’re not sure whether your battery is swollen, try removing the bottom panel of your laptop. With most laptops, you’ll at least be able to see the battery and determine whether it’s developed any bubbles or bulges. (If you can’t see the battery, you’ll need to take it to a professional.)

Why Do Laptop Batteries Swell?

A swollen lithium-ion battery results from components breaking down inside the battery. This breakdown can happen simply because the battery is old, or because it’s been damaged by heat or improper charging.

When the components of a lithium-ion battery don’t function correctly, they can generate excess current that produces gasses, which build up inside the battery and cause the exterior to bulge outward. Laptop batteries are divided into rectangular cells, and one cell may experience swelling while others continue to function normally. However, even one swollen cell is dangerous.

That’s because the gasses inside a swollen battery are extremely flammable and highly toxic. They may catch fire if exposed to air, and they can cause severe damage to your respiratory system if you breathe them in. For that reason, you should never, ever puncture a swollen battery, and, in general, it’s critically important to be careful when handling them.

Preventing a Swollen Laptop Battery

With proper care, most laptop batteries will never experience swelling. These are some key things you can do to help prevent a swollen battery:

• Don’t leave your laptop constantly plugged in. A lithium-ion battery needs regular cycles of charging and discharging to maintain its components.
• Keep your laptop away from extreme heat as much as possible. A lithium-ion battery’s components can break down very quickly when subjected to severe heat, especially for long periods (such as being left in a hot car).
• If you’ve noticed that your laptop battery has stopped holding a charge well, replace it sooner rather than later. The longer you keep using a worn-out battery, the more likely it is to develop a bulge.
• Only use reliable OEM chargers for your laptop. If you need to use a charger other than the one your laptop came with, verify that it matches your laptop’s specified charger voltage. Avoid using cheap no-name chargers, even if they’re seemingly the right voltage. They’re often manufactured with poor quality control and can damage your battery.
• When ordering a replacement for your battery, verify that you’re using the exact right model, and only use a replacement from a known manufacturer. The best option is to get a replacement battery from your laptop’s manufacturer or reputable third-party manufacturer that produces high-quality replacement laptop batteries.

Can I Remove the Battery Myself?

We strongly recommend against removing a swollen battery yourself. However, if you’re confident in your ability to remove a laptop battery, you need to ensure proper safety precautions, including:

• Wear eye protection and gloves in case of an explosion, and keep a fire extinguisher and/or a tub of water handy to put out a potential fire.
• Take your laptop to an outdoor space if possible. If that’s not realistic, find a well-ventilated place with a tile or concrete floor, far away from anything flammable.
• Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to puncture the battery. Be extra careful with sharp tools, even screwdrivers, when working around a swollen battery.
• Don’t slide anything under the battery to pop it out. You might accidentally puncture a cell on the other side.

Once you’ve successfully removed the battery, place it by itself in a sealed metal container. Fill the container around the battery with sand or dirt if possible to help prevent fires. Do not throw it in your household trash or recycling. Instead, take your battery to an authorized battery recycler near you — although you should call first to verify that they accept swollen batteries.

Can You Fix a Swollen Laptop Battery?

Unfortunately, it’s too late to save a laptop battery once it begins to swell. Your only option is to have the swollen battery removed and replaced with a new one. Again, a swollen battery is a hazard to your safety, so you don’t want to wait. Get your laptop to a computer repair professional ASAP.

Fortunately, with Micro Center’s laptop battery replacement service, you’ll always know your computer is in good hands. Our certified repair pros offer both PC and MacBook battery replacements, and we’ll be happy to order a replacement battery for you to ensure you get exactly the right one. We’re ready to get your laptop back in shape (literally) — so, visit your local Micro Center now and enjoy walk-in, same-day service for your laptop battery.