The new year started with an unpleasant bang for a user on Reddit: His Steam Deck exploded, as he mentioned in a post on January 1, 2025. Here you can read why the Deck went up in flames, whether this can happen to you as well, and how to behave correctly.
What happened to the Reddit user? On January 1, 2025, the Reddit user WhispieBoiiii posted in the SteamDeck subreddit pictures of his exploded Steam Deck (Launch Edition). Since he had removed the back cover beforehand, you can see well what condition the expensive device is in.
WhispieBoiiii claims that after unpacking his suitcase from a trip, he noticed through his hard plastic carrying case that the Steam Deck started to swell. He then removed the back cover, extracted the SSD, and unplugged the battery of the Deck.
For further storage, he left the device in the included carrying case. However, the battery continued to swell until it exploded in the case just two hours later. Meanwhile, he keeps the corpse
of the device in a grave of cat litter to avoid further fire development.
Another Reddit user also recently noticed that the Steam Deck battery is swelling. However, this user has not yet reported an explosion. In the meantime, WhispieBoiii’s device looks like this:
Warning, battery! This is why the Steam Deck exploded
Why did the Steam Deck explode? WhispieBoiiii describes in his comments under the Reddit post that he discovered the Steam Deck was swelling after a trip. He identified the built-in battery as the cause, which was getting larger and hotter.
On the official website for the Steam Deck, the type of battery used is not specifically named. However, the swelling and subsequent explosion fit the behavior of an aging lithium-ion battery:
In lithium-ion batteries, energy is created through a chemical reaction. If such a battery is used for an extended period, the reaction may no longer complete correctly after some time, leading to the formation of gases that cause the swelling of the battery or device.
This can lead to gas leakage and even, as happened here, explosions (ifixit).
Therefore, not only the Steam Deck can be affected by this problem, but any device that contains such a battery. This can be the Nintendo Switch, your phone, the laptop, or even regular household appliances.
The phone is swelling – what to do?
How should you behave correctly in this situation? If you discover a swollen battery in any of your devices, you should no longer use the device. Do not charge it anymore. If in doubt, store the device in a fireproof bucket filled with sand or cat litter.
Do not puncture the battery!
The defective battery must be replaced to continue using the device. You can have this done at an electronics repair shop in your area. Those who are skilled with electronics can also try to do it themselves. You can find relevant instructions, for example, at Ifixit.com.
Warning: Lithium-ion batteries are very sensitive and can catch fire or even explode if mishandled. Be extremely careful with the swollen device and only attempt to remove the battery if you are sure you can do so safely.
How can you dispose of the battery? Lithium-ion batteries – swollen or not – should never end up in household waste. You can dispose of them in dedicated collection boxes or at the municipal recycling yard. Repair shops offer the disposal of the old one when installing a new battery in some cases.
Important: Do not ship a device with a swollen battery or send the battery alone via mail.
Preventing swelling – Is that even possible?
Can the problem be prevented? If you want to prevent the premature demise of your device or battery, you should definitely pay attention to how you charge the device. This means that you should not overcharge your Steam Deck, phone, Nintendo Switch, etc., and unplug them as soon as they reach full charge (via evlithium).
The Federal Environment Agency also advises to charge electronics with such a battery exclusively with the intended charging cable or device. Furthermore, it should be noted to conduct the charging process in a room with smoke detectors. The agency also recommends being present during the charging process, not conducting it while sleeping, and using a fireproof surface underneath the devices.
More tips for a long-lasting battery:
- The battery should not be exposed to extreme temperatures. Temperatures between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius are ideal.
- The battery should never be completely discharged or fully charged.
- The continuous operation of the device with an internal battery should be avoided.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely prevent the swelling of a lithium-ion battery. However, the aforementioned tips for a longer-lasting battery should help delay swelling for as long as possible.
Specifically regarding the exploded Steam Deck of the Reddit user, we requested a statement from Valve together with the colleagues from GameStar Tech. As soon as we receive a response, we will update this news accordingly.
A device that can also be affected by swelling batteries is the Nintendo Switch. Its successor is currently in development, and there are fresh leaks now and then. Recently, rumors about the first launch games emerged: Nintendo Switch 2: New leak gives clear hint about which game the console could launch with
