With the continuous expansion of application scenarios, lithium-ion batteries are developing with the tendency of pursuing cells with super high capacity. Thus, much more efficient prevention and warning technologies for thermal runaway are highly desired. In order to enrich warning signals for thermal runaway, real-time collection of internal stress signal is introduced into thermal runaway experiments triggered by heating and overcharging. After analyzing the internal stress signals, concept of relative change rate of stress (Srcr) is defined to warn of the occurrence of thermal runaway. For batteries employing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NCM) as the cathode, minutes-scale early warning of thermal runaway can both be achieved with Srcr signals. The early warning technology of thermal runaway based on Srcr signals turns to possess wide applicability, high practicality and flexible adjustability.