SellUsediPhoneFast · Safe · Simple
An iPhone with a swollen battery must not be charged, pressed, punctured or shipped, because a swollen lithium-ion battery can overheat, vent smoke or catch fire, and U.S. shipping rules prohibit mailing damaged or defective lithium batteries. Signs include a screen lifting from the frame, a bulging back and a phone that no longer lies flat. The safe path is to stop using the phone, store it on a non-flammable surface and take it to an Apple Store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider or a battery recycling drop-off. After a professional battery replacement, the phone can be sold normally through Sell iPhone for Cash.
- Stop: do not charge, press, bend or puncture the phone.
- Store: on a non-flammable surface, away from heat and flammable items.
- Do not ship: damaged lithium batteries are prohibited in standard mail.
- Next step: battery replacement or recycling at an in-person service location.
How do I recognize a swollen battery?
Recognize a swollen battery by 6 signs. The table lists each and what it looks like.
| Sign | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Lifted screen | A gap between the display and the frame, often along one edge |
| Bulging back | The back glass curves outward or cracks from the inside |
| Rocking on a table | The phone spins or rocks when laid flat on its back |
| Display pressure marks | Light spots or ripples on the screen from internal pressure |
| Heat | The phone feels warm without heavy use |
| Battery warnings | Battery Health shows Service, or the phone shuts down unexpectedly |
A single sign is enough to treat the battery as swollen. A bent frame can look similar, but it does not lift the screen from the inside. Can You Sell a Bent iPhone? explains the difference.
Why should it never be shipped?
A swollen iPhone should never be shipped for 3 reasons:
- Fire risk: a damaged lithium-ion battery can enter thermal runaway, a self-heating reaction that produces smoke and fire.
- Shipping rules: the U.S. Department of Transportation's hazardous materials rules and the U.S. Postal Service prohibit mailing damaged, defective or recalled lithium batteries through ordinary channels.
- Handling pressure: parcels are stacked and dropped, which can puncture a swollen cell.
A free prepaid shipping label for a phone sale covers undamaged devices only. Do not use it for a phone with a swollen battery. How to Pack and Ship an iPhone Safely When You Sell It covers normal shipping.
What should I do right away?
Do 5 things right away when a battery swells:
- Unplug the charger and stop charging.
- Turn off the phone, if it responds, by holding the side button and a volume button.
- Remove the case gently without pressing on the screen or back.
- Place the phone on a non-flammable surface, such as a ceramic tile or a metal tray, away from heat, sunlight and flammable items.
- Arrange an in-person service or recycling drop-off.
Do not try to remove the battery at home, press the bulge down or put the phone in a freezer.
What are the safe disposal options?
Safe disposal options for a swollen iPhone include 4 in-person routes:
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Apple Store | Battery replacement or recycling through Apple |
| Apple Authorized Service Provider | Battery replacement with genuine parts |
| Battery recycling drop-off, such as a Call2Recycle location | Safe recycling of damaged batteries, where the location accepts them |
| Local household hazardous waste facility | Disposal under local rules |
Call ahead to confirm the location accepts damaged batteries. Never put a phone with a swollen battery in household trash or curbside recycling, where batteries cause fires in collection trucks and facilities. How to Dispose of an iPhone Battery Safely covers disposal in detail.
Can I sell an iPhone with a swollen battery?
An iPhone with a swollen battery cannot be sold by mail, because it cannot be shipped safely. The phone can be sold after a professional battery replacement, when it is graded on its condition like any other phone. A phone whose screen or back cracked from the swelling is graded with that damage after the battery is replaced.
| Situation | Path |
|---|---|
| Battery swollen, phone otherwise fine | Replace the battery in person, then sell |
| Battery swollen, screen lifted but undamaged | Replace the battery, check the screen, then sell |
| Battery swollen, screen or back cracked | Replace the battery, then sell with the damage declared |
| Battery swollen, repair not worth it | Recycle in person |
Is a battery replacement worth it before selling?
A battery replacement is worth it before selling when the phone is recent enough that its working offer exceeds the replacement cost by a clear margin. Apple lists battery service prices by model, and AppleCare+ includes battery service when battery capacity falls below 80% of its original capacity. For older models where the replacement cost approaches the phone's value, in-person recycling is the practical choice. Does Battery Health Change What You Get to Sell an iPhone? explains how battery health affects the offer.
Why do iPhone batteries swell?
iPhone batteries swell when chemical reactions inside the lithium-ion cell produce gas, which expands the pouch. Common causes include:
- Age: batteries degrade over hundreds of charge cycles.
- Heat: leaving the phone in a hot car or charging under a pillow.
- Physical damage: a drop or pressure that damages the cell.
- Uncertified chargers: poor-quality chargers that do not regulate power.
- Long storage at full or empty charge: a phone kept in a drawer for years.
Old phones stored in drawers are a common source of swollen batteries, which is a reason to sell or recycle unused phones sooner.
Is it safe to keep using a phone with a swollen battery?
Keeping a phone with a swollen battery in use is not safe, because charging and heat increase the swelling and the risk of thermal runaway. Pressing on the screen during use can also damage the cell. Back up the phone only when it can be done without charging, such as over Wi-Fi with the remaining charge, and then turn it off.
How do I back up data from a phone with a swollen battery?
Back up data from a phone with a swollen battery only when it still has charge and turns on, using iCloud over Wi-Fi without connecting a charger. Keep the phone on a non-flammable surface during the backup and stop if it becomes warm. When the phone does not turn on, recover data from an existing iCloud or computer backup. Data safety never justifies charging a swollen battery.
What should I do with old phones stored in drawers?
Check old phones stored in drawers for swelling before doing anything else. Lay each phone flat and look for a lifted screen or bulging back. Phones with no swelling can be charged, backed up, erased and sold. Phones with swelling go to in-person recycling. Is My Old iPhone Worth Anything? Selling Older Models covers older models in good condition.
Does a swollen battery void AppleCare+ or the warranty?
A swollen battery caused by a defect can be covered under Apple's one-year limited warranty, and AppleCare+ covers battery service when capacity falls below 80%. Damage from heat or physical impact may be treated as accidental damage. Check coverage at checkcoverage.apple.com and describe the swelling when booking service.
How do buybacks handle swollen batteries that arrive?
Buybacks handle phones that arrive with swollen batteries as hazardous items, isolating them for safe recycling. A swollen battery that develops in transit can also damage other packages and endanger carriers. That is why sellers check for swelling before every shipment and do not ship any phone with signs of battery damage.
What should I never do with a swollen battery?
Never do 7 things with a swollen battery:
| Action to avoid | Reason |
|---|---|
| Charge it | Charging adds heat and gas |
| Press the bulge flat | Pressure can rupture the cell |
| Puncture it | A punctured cell can ignite |
| Remove it at home | Prying near the cell can puncture it |
| Put it in a freezer | Condensation and temperature swings add damage |
| Ship it | Prohibited and unsafe in transit |
| Throw it in the trash | Batteries cause fires in collection trucks and facilities |
What if the phone starts smoking or gets hot?
When a phone with a swollen battery starts smoking or becomes very hot, move away from it and keep others away. When it is safe to do so, move it outdoors to a non-flammable surface using a non-flammable tool, such as metal tongs, or leave it where it is if moving it is unsafe. Call 911 if a fire starts and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Do not touch the phone with bare hands.
How do I prevent battery swelling in a phone I plan to sell?
Prevent battery swelling in a phone planned for sale with 4 habits: keep it between 0° and 35° C (32° and 95° F), use Apple or MFi-certified chargers, avoid charging under pillows or blankets and do not store it for months at 0% or 100% charge. Apple recommends storing a device at about 50% charge when it will be unused for a long time. Selling a replaced phone soon after an upgrade also avoids years of drawer storage.
Does battery replacement change the phone's grade?
A battery replacement with a genuine Apple battery does not lower the grade. iOS lists the replacement in Parts and Service History as a genuine part. A non-genuine battery shows as an unknown part and can lower the offer. Selling an iPhone With an Unknown Part Message: Does It Lower the Price? explains the message.
How long can a swollen phone be stored safely?
A swollen phone should be stored only for the few days needed to reach a service or recycling location. Keep it turned off, uncharged and on a non-flammable surface, away from beds, sofas, paper and other flammable items. Check it daily for further swelling or heat. Arrange the drop-off as soon as possible rather than storing it for weeks.
Are other Apple devices affected the same way?
Other Apple devices with lithium-ion batteries, such as iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods and MacBooks, can also develop swollen batteries, and the same rules apply: stop charging, store safely, do not ship and use in-person service or recycling.
Frequently asked questions about swollen iPhone batteries
Is a swollen iPhone battery dangerous?
A swollen iPhone battery is dangerous, because the damaged lithium-ion cell can overheat, vent smoke or catch fire, especially when charged, pressed or punctured. Stop charging it, turn the phone off, place it on a non-flammable surface away from heat and take it to an Apple Store, an authorized provider or a battery recycler.
Can I mail an iPhone with a swollen battery?
An iPhone with a swollen battery must not be mailed, because U.S. Department of Transportation hazardous materials rules and U.S. Postal Service rules prohibit shipping damaged or defective lithium batteries through ordinary channels. Use an in-person battery replacement or recycling drop-off instead, and call ahead to confirm the location accepts damaged batteries.
Can I sell an iPhone with a swollen battery?
An iPhone with a swollen battery cannot be sold by mail. After a professional battery replacement at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, the phone can be sold normally and graded on its condition, with any screen or back damage from the swelling declared in the quote form.
How do I know if my iPhone battery is swollen?
Look for a screen lifting from the frame, a back that bulges or cracks from inside, a phone that rocks when laid flat, pressure marks on the display, unusual warmth or a Service message in Battery Health. Any one of these signs is enough to stop charging the phone and treat the battery as swollen.
Where can I dispose of a swollen iPhone battery?
Dispose of a swollen iPhone battery at an Apple Store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, a battery recycling drop-off such as a Call2Recycle location that accepts damaged batteries or a household hazardous waste facility. Never put it in household trash or curbside recycling, where lithium batteries cause fires. Check the phone for swelling before any charge, shipment or drop-off.
Sources and references
- Apple Support: iPhone battery and performance, and battery service pricing.
- U.S. Department of Transportation, PHMSA: lithium battery transportation guidance.
- U.S. Postal Service: Publication 52, mailing lithium batteries.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): used lithium-ion batteries.