MBP Retina 13" mid 2015 – slight battery swell

[ThreeThousandHorses]

Hi,

I just noticed a slight swelling on the top (keyboard) and bottom of my MacBook. On the bottom it's just enough to make it sit on the case instead of the rubber feet. On the top (keyboard) you can barely make out a curvature.

It sits on my desk plugged in and turned on 99% of the time. I use it for work. Once in a while when an issue pops up I reboot it.

System reports battery is in normal condition. It has 257 cycles on it.

What should I do here? What would you do?

 

[Fishrrman]

Once a battery begins to swell, it's dangerous to keep using it.

Do you have a brick n mortar Apple Store nearby?
If so, it is open?
If so, make an appt and take it to the genius bar.

It should cost you $199, but the price is worth it considering what you get:
- a new Apple-brand battery
- installation included
- a short warranty.

If you DO NOT have an Apple Store nearby, call Apple.
DON'T call a 3rd-party provider. CALL APPLE.
They'll send you a shipping box to return it to a repair center, do the job and send it back to you.

A question:
How often did you keep it connected to the charger?

 

[CoastalOR]

Hi,

I just noticed a slight swelling on the top (keyboard) and bottom of my MacBook. On the bottom it's just enough to make it sit on the case instead of the rubber feet. On the top (keyboard) you can barely make out a curvature.

It sits on my desk plugged in and turned on 99% of the time. I use it for work. Once in a while when an issue pops up I reboot it.

System reports battery is in normal condition. It has 257 cycles on it.

What should I do here? What would you do?

I have a 15” 2015 MBP that had a slight battery swell. I called Apple Support and paid the $199 + shipping to have the battery replaced. The repaired MBP is scheduled to be returned via FedEx today.

 

[ThreeThousandHorses]

Once a battery begins to swell, it's dangerous to keep using it.

Do you have a brick n mortar Apple Store nearby?
If so, it is open?
If so, make an appt and take it to the genius bar.

It should cost you $199, but the price is worth it considering what you get:
- a new Apple-brand battery
- installation included
- a short warranty.

If you DO NOT have an Apple Store nearby, call Apple.
DON'T call a 3rd-party provider. CALL APPLE.
They'll send you a shipping box to return it to a repair center, do the job and send it back to you.

A question:
How often did you keep it connected to the charger?

I keep it connected pretty much all the time.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I keep it connected pretty much all the time."

That's why it swelled up in the first place.
Keeping it "on charge" all the time is the WORST way to maintain the battery.
Don't do it with the new one.

Every 3rd day, take if OFF charge and run the battery down to about 45%.
Then reconnect it.

Every NIGHT (whether you shut down or just let it sleep), pull the charger plug out of the wall.
Plug it back in the next morning...

 

[ThreeThousandHorses]

OP wrote:
"I keep it connected pretty much all the time."

That's why it swelled up in the first place.
Keeping it "on charge" all the time is the WORST way to maintain the battery.
Don't do it with the new one.

Every 3rd day, take if OFF charge and run the battery down to about 45%.
Then reconnect it.

Every NIGHT (whether you shut down or just let it sleep), pull the charger plug out of the wall.
Plug it back in the next morning...

Great tip. I'll try that. Maybe the swelling will go down. 😅

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Maybe the swelling will go down."

The swelling WILL NOT "go down".
Once the battery swells, it must be replaced.
Go back and reread my post 2 above.

 

[ThreeThousandHorses]

OP wrote:
"Maybe the swelling will go down."

The swelling WILL NOT "go down".
Once the battery swells, it must be replaced.
Go back and reread my post 2 above.

It was meant as a joke. You know, like a doctor would say... "Apply this, the swelling should go down in a few days".

Anyways, it *does* go down a bit if I unplug it and let it get cold. That's not to say your recommendation to replace it is a bad one.