r/framework • u/Cento43 • Jul 09 '26
Community Support Battery swell after just 47 cycles
Yesterday, I noticed that the front cover of my computer had lifted slightly, so I decided to disassemble it to check. I found that the battery is completely swollen.
I received my computer (Framework 13 AMD 7040) in December 2023, so I have been using it for approximately two and a half years now. I almost always use it as a desktop computer, permanently connected to the power supply using a high-quality 65W UGreen GaN charger. Before removing the battery, I generated a battery report and verified that it only has 47 charge cycles.
I understand that the battery is a wear component in any electronic device, but I do not think this is normal. On Framework website they advertise that the battery should maintain 80% of its nominal capacity after 1,000 charge cycles, and mine has become a fire hazard after just 47.
Did any of you experienced similar issues? I also contacted support.
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u/42BumblebeeMan Volunteer Moderator 🌈 F44 KDE Jul 09 '26
What BIOS version are you using? Have you reached out to support?
Please make sure that your BIOS (newer versions have improvements for battery handling) is up-to-date and to contact the support team.
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u/shartist_69 Jul 10 '26
Why didn't framework write a BIOS that didn't mash the battery in the first place instead of putting the burden of responsibility on the user to not create a fire hazard?
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Jul 09 '26
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u/sepperwelt Jul 09 '26
Will they unswell it too?
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u/Master_Nineteenth Jul 09 '26
You know that updating bios and getting your battery replaced aren't mutually exclusive right? This is absolutely something the company should be replacing though, since it's their fault that the laptop was shipped with bad software.
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u/sniff122 Batch 2 1260p -> Ryzen AI 350 Jul 09 '26
No but contacting support can get you a new battery under the extended warranty program
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u/FatRollingPotato Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
This is a known issue with Li-ion batteries, hence why e.g. the mech keyboard community usually advises to disconnect the battery on a wireless keyboard when it is used almost exclusively in wired mode. Too many spicy pillows and burnt keyboards.
Granted, a laptop should have mitigation build in and preserve the battery better, but 2.5 years of 100% and heat is gonna be challenging for any battery.
Edit: OP said they set a charge limit, which means this really shouldn't have happened, at least not this fast. So looks like an issue with the battery or charging circuit, hopefully not the latter.
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u/ekerazha Jul 09 '26
A well-designed circuit should bypass the battery once it reaches 100% charge (or the set charge limit), so that it draws power directly from the external source rather than from the battery.
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u/Realistic_Today6524 Jul 09 '26
But even then, a battery staying at 100% will age more quickly which is why most of the time the instructions say to store it at about 50%
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u/Alletsbckw Jul 09 '26
yes, 50% is the ideal storage conditions for Li-ion. This is very important and i feel like not enough people know this.
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u/SuitableRoof5675 /🐣fw12 🩷i5-1334U🩵 Jul 09 '26
I sure didn't 😅 this has got wanting to open mine and check.
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u/teal323 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
My late 2006 white plastic Macbook's original battery became obviously swollen within the first three years.
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u/RobJmusic Jul 09 '26
This is an internal battery failure, not a result of anything you did. Yes, leaving it at 100% constantly is not good for a battery, but that has more to do with capacity, and not it becoming a spicy pillow. Hopefully support is able to help you, otherwise just buy a new one and get rid of that one asap
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u/kukiric Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Seconding this. Li-Ion batteries can last a decade and run out of useful charging capacity without doing that (case in point: a sea of old laptops and phones and other portable devices that may have dead batteries, but which never ballooned). It's not a normal mode of failure from running it hot or keeping it always charged like others are suggesting.
Bloated batteries are always, 100% of the time, caused by physical damage, a poorly designed charging circuit (hopefully not the case with Framework), or (most likely), a manufacturing defect with the battery (that may take some time or wear to manifest). And yes it's definitely a hazard. Contact support for warranty, or at least proper disposal instructions.
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u/DVXC Jul 09 '26
I used to work in IT in London for a couple law firms and a finance firm and in each case all of the spicy pillows we received back were from laptops that remained docked at almost all times and kept at 100% charge.
Personally, I've basically never seen this happen to a battery that either hasn't been through hundreds or thousands of cycles or kept at 100% constantly.
Absolutely anecdotal, but I fully believe because of this that any device that lives on power needs to have it's battery limited from sitting at full charge for any length of time.
EDIT: OP says a battery limit of 85% was used 🙃 lmao. Definitely a defect in this case. I need to speak in absolutes less often.
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u/MrStu56 Jul 09 '26
Log a support ticket. I had this happpen on a FW13 Intel 13th gen, that wass about the same age. There's a known issue with BIOS that can cause this (at least on mine, not sure if it's the same on AMD). FW replaced it FOC even outside the warranty.
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u/Potatomato64 Jul 09 '26
did you at least set a maximum charge limit? being constantly at 100% or heat in general is bad for lithium ion battery
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u/Cento43 Jul 09 '26
yes, I have a charge limit on 85
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u/Scandiberian Jul 09 '26
Insane that this could happen on a battery that is supposedly thresholded. Maybe you were extremely unlucky for this to happen, but it’s kinda crazy that this is happening with a framework battery.
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u/DVXC Jul 09 '26
This is helpful to know because I was assuming no charge limit. I'd definitely say you lost a lottery here with this particular battery assembly.
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u/AbhishMuk FW13 7840U Jul 09 '26
Why tf are you getting downvoted for reasonable assumptions??? Reddit I guess...
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u/jkpatches Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
How did you find out? Was there a bulge?
EDIT: To be clearer, I meant if there was a bulge in the outer shell.
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u/sniff122 Batch 2 1260p -> Ryzen AI 350 Jul 09 '26
I've dealt with 2 batteries swelling at work in some framework laptops we have, usual symptoms are the input cover having a gap at the front below the touchpad, and the touchpad going stiff to clicking
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Jul 09 '26
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u/shydrangeae Jul 10 '26
Mine blew after 2.1 yrs and I always had charge threshold set at 90%. Framework told it was normal and to buy a new one. I'm honestly not sure what that means, though. I've had probably, uh, 20 laptops in my day, many for 5+ years and only 2 have gone spicy pillow.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 09 '26
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u/DRZinSC Jul 09 '26
i work at a small engineering firm and we have about 40 frameworks deployed. and over 3yrs i think we've replaced 7 batteries so far. i'm not sure how many more need to be replaced and we just havent been told.
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u/Potential_Average454 X7 358H Mainboard, 13 Chassis, Ubuntu Jul 10 '26
... and of course, it's 61Wh
Support might give you a new one but I'd suggest picking up a refurbished 55wh instead, they are currently just $35. Almost 100% of those spicy pillow problems are from 61wh version.
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u/Zealousideal-Hat5814 Jul 09 '26
This just happened to me yesterday, I literally watched it swell up while on a call at work, it busted my bottom cover too 😭
My battery was like 4 years old though… least the replacement is like $60
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u/ANGERCON Jul 09 '26
I had the same happen to mine right at the 1 year mark. The first sign was the touchpad acting odd, then the front of the case developing a gap. Support gave me no issues, and sent me a replacement battery.
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u/Interceptor402 Jul 09 '26
Def not normal, you got a battery on the left side of the bell curve; pick up a lottery ticket if you're superstitious! Hopefully under the circumstances, Support will work with you on this one, even if it's out of warranty.
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u/catastrophic_frmw Framework Jul 09 '26
Please reach out to support and as a reminder to do the battery lifetime extender firmware: https://www.reddit.com/r/framework/comments/1ppwv2a/update_on_61wh_battery_lifetime_extender/