Dendrite growth spurred by increasingly high current densities: once the load was re-applied, dendrites grew towards loading direction, even at increasing current-densities as seen in g -i up to 5.6 mA/cm 2 . After the load was removed, metallic dendrites grew towards the stripping electrode and subsequently electrically shorted the cell (seen in j). Metal dendrites initiated at 1.7 mA/cm 2 galvanostatic current density using the cell geometry shown in Fig. . Fig. ) demonstrate the progressive growth, deflection, and arrest of dendrites as the load and current density across the cell are varied. Growth-segments from each subfigure are highlighted in a separate color. All images for a -e were recorded using strong backlighting (i.e., light positioned below the transparent cantilever). f displays a micrograph recorded after the end of the test, recorded while the illuminating light source was positioned above the cantilever. The dotted line outlines metal growth plated without applied compression. After the load was applied, the crack-plane rotated into alignment with the out-of-the-page direction, producing the metal enclosed by the dashed line in f. All plating occurred at voltages within the LLZTO electrolyte stability window (voltage and current data available in the Supplementary Information). Schematic of loading conditions used in modeling kinked propagation of metal dendrites. The most energetically favorable propagation angle 𝜃𝜃 as a function of the flaw inclination 𝛽𝛽 is obtained. Both angles are measured counter-clockwise from the horizontal. Two loads are present for this flaw: a plating-induced stress P acting normal to the flaw surface, with an additional load (𝜎𝜎 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 and / or 𝜎𝜎 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 ) due to external forces or from residual stresses present in the solid electrolyte. This model applies to two (equivalent) loading scenarios: 1) The kinking of propagating metal dendrites upon the application of applied load, shown for a plan-view cell on the left side of the subfigure, and 2) the kinking of a metal-filled flaw at the anode / electrolyte interface at the instant propagation begins (seen in the right side of the subfigure).