Can You Mail A Phone With A Swollen Battery? (No, And Here's What To Do Instead)
A swollen lithium battery is a damaged battery. Carriers don't allow damaged lithium batteries in the mail, because they can overheat or catch fire in transit. USPS treats them as non-mailable.
How To Tell If Your Battery Is Swollen
- The screen is lifting or has a gap at the edge
- The back bulges, or the phone rocks on a flat table
- The screen has pressure spots or new lines
- The case suddenly fits tight
What To Do Right Now
- Stop charging it.
- Don't press on it, and don't try to push the screen back in.
- Keep it somewhere cool, away from anything that burns. A metal or ceramic dish works.
- Back up your data if the phone still works and isn't hot.
- Call or text a repair shop. Don't ship it.
Our Swollen Phone Battery post has more.
Your Options
- Near San Diego? Call or text (720) 413-8150 and we'll talk through it with you. We don't take walk-ins, but call or text first and we can usually fit you in.
- Far away? Use a local repair shop, or contact the manufacturer. Don't mail it.
- Done with the phone? Recycle it at a battery or electronics drop-off. Never put it in the trash.
Why We Ask Before You Mail It In
When you get a mail-in ticket, we ask whether the battery is swollen or the screen is lifting. If the answer is yes, we'll help you find a safer option instead. That keeps you, the carrier and us safe. Learn more about mail-in repair and how to pack a device.