MacBook: the trackpad lifts or the case won't close, that is the battery swelling
The trackpad no longer clicks, the Mac no longer sits flat, one day it won't close. That isn't wear: it is a battery in the process of swelling.
A lithium battery at the end of its life, or with a defect, produces gas. Since it is enclosed in a MacBook's thin case, the gas pushes on what is above it: the trackpad, then the keyboard, then the lid.
The signs
- The trackpad is domed, no longer clicks, or clicks on its own.
- The Mac rocks on a flat surface.
- The bottom case is coming away, or the screen no longer closes fully.
- Battery life collapsed at the same time.
Why not to wait
A swollen battery can puncture, and a punctured battery can catch fire. It can also break the trackpad and keyboard, dearer to replace than itself. We remove it discharged, with non-metallic tools, and store it safely before recycling.
The repair
New battery, fresh adhesives, trackpad and keyboard check, then calibration. Prices per model are on the prices page; allow one to two days depending on availability. Your data isn't involved.
While waiting for the appointment
Stop charging the Mac, don't leave it in the sun or in a car, and don't try to “push the trackpad back”. Bring it as it is.
Also worth reading
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Butterfly keyboard, Touch Bar, end-of-life battery, screen flex: Intel MacBook Pros stack up known weaknesses. What is worth it, and what we advise against.
Coffee on the MacBook keyboard: what to do in the first ten minutes
A liquid on a MacBook isn't a death sentence, if you cut the power fast and don't switch it back on. The method, and what we do next at the workshop.
