How to Safely Remove a Swollen Battery from Your Laptop

This article explains how to remove a swollen battery from your laptop safely.

Most laptops run on Lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries nowadays. These Li-ion batteries help your laptop to perform smoothly and generally last for a good amount of time. For this, you should know to increase your laptop’s battery life.

However, over time, these laptop batteries degenerate and swell up. This degeneration can be caused by anything from age to overcharging or overheating. Whatever the reason, a swollen battery poses a threat to you. Removing these swollen batteries with appropriate safety measures is simple, but you can always visit a professional technician if you are uncomfortable.

Swollen batteries are easy to spot. You will notice your case bent or disfigured from the bottom or feel the keys and mousepad rising during use.

Before I explain the steps to you, here are the tools or objects you need to keep in handy before beginning-

• Screwdriver or Torx screwdriver (if needed)
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Fire extinguisher (optional)
• Container to transport the battery

You will likely not need these items at all, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Now we move on to the steps on how to remove swollen batteries-

Step 1

Shut down the system. Ensure the laptop is completely switched off; if it feels hot, wait for it to cool down. Do not force open the laptop while it’s hot or running.

Step 2

Make sure your setup is in an open space. Have all the safety measures by your side, and do not operate without wearing safety glasses and gloves.

Step 3

Set your laptop face down on the table and remove all the screws from the back cover to remove it. Once unscrewed, pop up the cover gently until it comes off. You should hear a pop sound signaling the cover has been removed successfully.

Step 4

This is the primary step. Carefully remove adhesive, tape, screws, etc., holding the battery in. Use caution and make sure you don’t puncture the battery. 

Step 5

Remove the battery from the laptop, carefully turn it over, and disconnect it.

Step 6

Store the battery in the container for disposal and replace the battery, and close the back cover again. 

These swollen batteries are filled with toxic chemicals and are a nightmare to dispose of in an environment-friendly way. Once you have removed the battery, the best way to dispose of it is to take it to the e-waste recycling center. They can dispose of the batteries in the least harmful way to the environment.

Conclusion

Removal of batteries is a simple operation, but it does have its risks, however low they may be. So if you follow these steps correctly with all the necessary precautions, you should not face any significant problems replacing your swollen laptop battery.

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