iPhone 5 screen bulge

Im an iPhone 5 user as well, being using it since it bought on Dec 2012.

and yesterday i notice something abnormal on my phone where i saw the screen is bulging, i'v tried to push it in, but its not going in,

I Google-ed it up and found this thread, so i had decided to make a call ( as for my case, since i bought the phone from the service provider ) to the service provider, and they asked to bring it to their service center,

Back in the service center i showed my phone and told them my problem, but unfortunately, the came back to me and said, " Sir, i had checked your IMEI number and found that your device is out of warranty almost a year ago, if you want to replace the battery it would cost about 950 MYR ( about 300 USD )".

Now i don't know how i want to go with it, a simple check on the https://www.apple.com/my/support/iphone5-battery/ ( iPhone 5 Battery replacement program ) with my serial number shows this:

The serial number you entered is not eligible under this program because either:

- It's not one of the serial numbers in the affected range

- Our records show that your battery has already been replaced. If you paid for a battery replacement service, check with Apple to see if you are eligible for a refund.

Its making me going crazy now.

Anyone has this experience, perhaps on how to go about this ?

I can confirm that Apple is still swapping iPhone 5 with this issue for a "new" iphone. Just left the Apple store in Leeds with a replacement iPhone 5. The phone is a re-manufactured one. The Genius didn't even bat an eyelid, he checked the phone to confirm the fault, told me the score then went to get my replacement. A lot of companies could learn from Apple's customer servic.

I have a question... As I bought my iPhone 5 in England two years ago, do you think it would be a problem to try to get a replacement at an american apple store? My phone has this screen bulge problem as well, I'm glad I found this topic about this issue. Thanks!

I too had the same issue with my Iphone 5 purchased sim free in the UK directly from the Apple Store in London in late 2012; walked into an Apple Store in Hong Kong in April 2015, and immediately had it replaced for free with a new reconditioned identical capacity / colour iphone 5 on the spot at no cost. I had some original "back and forth" issues with the Genius team in the Hong Kong store about how it was a UK handset that they could not cover, but after calling Apple UK, this was all straightened out, and I was in / out in about an hour.

It was well outside of the 12 month warranty, but under 3 years since purchase. I have no Apple Care or additional coverage. Replacement was at no cost to me, other than time / effort of getting to the store.

My original Iphone 5 serial number did not count in the Iphone 5 Battery Replacement program, but did count in the Sleep/Wake button replacement program. The only issues it developed after 2.5 years of use were: (1) A growing bulge on the left hand side which was displacing the screen outwards (presumably due to battery expansion); causing a visible gap and the backlight to shine through the "crack" (albeit with no actual display / touch problems - although some purple streaking when applying pressure on the screen) and (2) A down volume button that stopped working almost immediately after I purchased it.

Otherwise, no physical damage / drops / cracks / other issues with the phone.

Hello Dossier, I'm facing the same issue exactly like yours.

Recently my iphone5 developed a bulge of the screen, near to the volume button. It can see a gap between the screen and iphone's body, and the lscreen light able to 'shine' out from the gap =,=

I'd checked for the replacement program under Apple, my iphone5 is not cover under the battery replacement program even i bought it in January 2013. But it was covered under the power button replacement program! I'm glad that have the chance to replace this power button as it was broken after 3 months of purchased.

Now i'm not sue what to do with this screen bulge issue(probably due to battery expansion as refer to other's comment). Later i will visit to Apple's service store to look for solution. The service store name as SWITCH in Malaysia, and that's the only Apple support store here. Praying hard they will help to save my phone before the battery explode(sound scary!)

I had the same problem but assumed I was stuck with it since my iPhone 5 was over 2 1/2 years old and way out of warranty.

But I took it to an Apple Store and they gave me a new iPhone anyway!! The battery had started to bulge and was pushing out the screen. Incredible service. They have certainly earned my loyalty.

i have same problem too, have iphone5 in Indonesia (2.5y) my IMEI is accept in program replacement power button but not eligible in replacement battery, just drove about 60miles from my home to service authorized apple in Yogyakarta (EStore) but after arrived there, apple customer service wont accept my phone and they said "we dont take service for apple, we just sell product apple"

just don't understand about EStore in Yogyakarta they have big commercial store APPLE SERVICE AUTHORIZED on front but the employ just want take my money to buy the new one, they dont accept all service in product and won't take support for apple program.

anyone can help me?

I just took my phone in for this symptom today. They told me they wanted $80 to cover the cost of a new battery, but would give me a refurb'd phone.

Since I can order an iphone 6 and keep the same monthly bill (Verizon $25/mo credit and $27/mo cost of the phone).. I'm just doing that instead, but figured I'd at least put my 2 cents in on my experience.

My battery started bulging right when my external battery case (by Unu) failed, so it seems logical that the bulge of the iphone battery was caused by a charging issue when that device failed. That said, I don't know exactly what went wrong in the Unu device and I'm not an electronic engineer or battery expert.

Just to be clear, the battery replacement program is for a different issue, not the bulging battery. Also, if the report I read is correct, that replacement program closed in April 2015. That may or may not be enforced (or even true.. you know what they say about reading things on the internet).

The program seems to be alive. I noticed the bulging battery issue today and took my iPhone 5 that I've had since launch into the Apple Store. They took one look and gave me a refurbished phone (new case and battery; it looks like new) with a 90 day warranty. My original warranty is long ago expired and I didn't have AppleCare. There was no hesitation on their part at all. I think they want to get these bulging phones off the market before there are larger problems like fire, etc.

FYI, I had this issue, and had my phone replaced with a new/refurbed (didn't ask) iphone 5 at the local Apple store for no charge. No hassle, no push back. Phone was at least a year out of Applecare warranty.

I noticed on Friday that my iPhone 5's screen was starting to produce a rainbow ripple when I lightly pressed on the left hand side and after checking online noticed a bulge where the screen was separating from the case near the power button. It was getting noticeably hot when I watched video or played video intensive games. I've had it since Dec 2013 so well past the warranty but after visiting my service provider to ask about a battery change, they told me to go to the Apple store. Apple store took one look and replaced it with a brand new iPhone 5 on the spot. Said some early iPhone 5 had battery issues and that it it was a fire hazard.

Excellent customer service Apple (Apple Store Osaka, Japan) 🙂

I've gotten much less satisfaction from Apple in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. I have an early iphone 5 and encountered the swelling battery issue about a week ago. My phone was not eligible for the free replacement which surprised me given when it was manufactured. So a new battery cost me $85.

No longer a satisfied Apple customer

Had the same Issue. Took it to my local Apple store, and i don't think i could of spent any less time in there! Told what the problem was, she told me it couldn't safely be repaired and just gave me a brand new 5c with no charge (usually it would have been £160+).

So yeah, GO TO THE APPLE STORE.

Update on this issue:

I found this post as well as another talking about the battery swelling when I started researching Iphone 5 screen bulge, so I decided it was worth a trip to the Apple Store to see what they would say. I explained the battery swelling /screen bulge issue and the worker seemed very familiar with it. They ran diagnostics on the phone and then opened it up to reveal the swollen battery. With that, I was given a brand new Iphone 5 without any hesitation.