Signs people usually notice are a trackpad that's lifting or won't click, a keyboard that bulges, a gap opening along the case seams, or a laptop that rocks on a flat table. Dell's guidance for a swollen lithium-ion battery:
- Stop using the laptop.
- Unplug the charger and let it run on battery until it won't turn on.
- Don't press on, pry at, puncture or bend the battery, and don't use tools to force out a battery that's stuck.
- Contact the manufacturer about a replacement, and take the old battery to an approved recycling point. Don't put it in household trash.
Check the health number first
Battery health is full charge capacity divided by design capacity. The CheckMyBatt battery check works it out from your Windows battery report. As a rough guide:
- 80% and up: normal wear. No reason to replace it.
- 60–79%: noticeably shorter runtime. Replace it if you regularly work away from an outlet.
- 40–59%: worn. Plan a replacement.
- Under 40%: Dell calls this significantly degraded. Replace it.
The bands above 40% are our own everyday guide, not a manufacturer standard.
Then ask whether the runtime still works for you
A laptop that lives on a desk can run for years on a battery at 60%, because it's almost always plugged in. A laptop you carry to class or job sites needs more. Health tells you how much is left; your day tells you whether that's enough.
What the cycle count adds
Batteries are rated to keep a certain share of their capacity for a certain number of cycles. Apple, for example, rates recent MacBook batteries to keep up to 80% of their original capacity at 1,000 cycles. Check your maker's rating for your model. If your battery is badly worn at a low cycle count, mention it when you contact support.
Replacing it
- Find the right part. The NAME field in your battery report is the battery's model or part code. Your laptop's exact model number matters too, since one model line can use different batteries.
- Prefer the maker's battery. Dell warns that using a non-Dell or incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Off-brand batteries vary widely in quality.
- Check whether it's user-replaceable. Your laptop's service manual on the maker's support site shows the steps. Many newer laptops have the battery inside the case, and some glue it in place.
- Recycle the old one. Lithium batteries don't go in household trash. Take it to an approved recycling center, or ask the maker about a return.
Keeping the new one healthy
- Keep it cool. Heat is the biggest wear factor you control.
- If the laptop stays plugged in most of the time, look in your maker's settings app for a charge limit option.
- Don't store it empty for long periods.