Safety guide
iPhone 13
swollen battery
If the screen on your iPhone 13 is lifting, or the phone no longer sits flat, the battery may be swelling. Stop charging it and get it checked. Here's what to do, what Apple charges, and why it happens to ageing phones.
Updated 9 November 2026 ยท US prices, before sales tax
Do this now
- Stop charging it, and stop using it if you can. Charging a swollen battery can make it worse.
- Don't press the screen back down or try to open the phone yourself. Pressure on a swollen lithium-ion battery is a fire risk.
- Keep it somewhere cool and away from anything flammable, not in a pocket or under a pillow.
- Back it up if it still turns on, then book a repair with Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
- If it gets hot, smokes or smells, move away from it and don't try to handle it.
Signs of a swelling battery
- The screen lifts at one edge, or there's a gap between the screen and the frame.
- The phone rocks when you lay it on a table.
- The screen shows pressure marks, or touch stops working in one area.
What Apple charges
| Repair | Without AppleCare+ | With AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | $89 | $0 when health is under 80% |
| Screen, if the swelling damaged it | $279 | $29 |
| Other damage | $499 | $99 |
Apple's US estimates. Apple inspects the phone and confirms the final price; if swelling has damaged other parts, it may quote a bigger repair.
Why it happens
Lithium-ion batteries can swell as they age, when gas builds up inside the sealed cell. Heat, a worn battery and long periods at full charge make it more likely. The iPhone 13 came out in 2021, so many are on their original battery: in Envirofone's battery index, the median iPhone 13 tested was at 82% health, and 39.6% were below 80% (Envirofone iPhone Battery Health Index, September 2026).
As of 9 November 2026, Apple doesn't list a recall or US service program for iPhone 13 batteries. In January 2026 a half-price iPhone 13 battery offer was reported in China, running to 30 April; it wasn't listed on Apple's website and didn't apply in the US. Check Apple's service programs page for the latest, and ask at your appointment. If your phone has AppleCare+, a battery below 80% health is replaced at no charge.
Fix it or replace it?
If only the battery needs replacing, $89 is a small fraction of a new phone, and the iPhone 13 likely has about 2 more years of iOS updates. If the swelling has cracked the screen or bent the frame, the bill goes up, and that's when comparing with a new phone makes sense.
See what fixing your iPhone 13 costs compared with upgrading.
Price my iPhone 13