Lithium-ion batteries can swell as they age or if they have been damaged, overheated or charged with poor-quality accessories. Gas builds up inside the battery pouch and it slowly expands, pushing against everything around it.
Warning signs
- The screen is lifting away from the frame at one edge
- The back cover is bulging or has popped open
- The phone rocks when laid flat on a table
- The touchscreen behaves oddly where pressure builds
- The phone gets unusually hot
What to do now
- Stop charging the phone
- Do not press on the swelling or try to flatten it
- Never puncture the battery
- Keep it away from heat and flammable materials
- Back up your data if the phone still works, then book a repair
Why a professional replacement
A swollen battery is under pressure and can be damaged further while the phone is opened, so do not try to remove it yourself. A repair business should remove it with suitable tools and dispose of it responsibly. If the swelling is caught early, the screen may not need replacing, so do not wait for it to get worse.
Related repair pages
What the repair involves, what to ask and which listed businesses to contact. Each business sets its own prices and repair terms.
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