Microsoft Finally Issues Surface Pro 3 Battery Fix

Microsoft Finally Issues Surface Pro 3 Battery Fix

Good news, Surface Pro 3 users: A new firmware update for your tablet promises to fix the battery issues many have been experiencing since the summer.

For background, these issues first, ahem, surfaced in July. Later that month, Microsoft said that a software fix would cure the problems. And then the firm promised to fix this issue in mid-August. But that fix actually caused a worse battery problem. Which Microsoft is now finally fixing.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Yes, this is what it can be like to own a Surface device.

Anyway, a number of folks on Twitter alerted me to this new firmware update a few days back. But—as has been the case recently—Microsoft neglected to document it on its Surface Pro 3 Update History web site. Three days after it was issued, however, Microsoft has finally come clean.

According to the site, an update for the Surface Pro Embedded Controller Firmware issued on November 7, 2015 “corrects an error that may occur on a limited number of Surface Pro 3 devices where the full charge capacity of the battery is misreported to the operating system and device firmware. This update corrects the firmware component that functions as a ‘fuel gauge’ so that the battery capacity is accurately reported.”

An associated FAQ provides a bit more detail. According to Microsoft, impacted Surface Pro 3 devices will only work properly when plugged in to power. When on battery, it looks like the battery capacity has diminished, and the device will no longer hold a battery charge.

Microsoft attributes the flaw to “an error condition” that causes the correct charge capacity of the battery to be misreported to both Windows and the device firmware. As a result, the battery will no longer charge to full capacity and Surface Pro 3 no longer works on battery power.

Obviously, this fix is good news. But if you were impacted by this problem, you’re not done yet: Microsoft says that it will take “several charge and discharge cycles” before the battery reports the correct battery charge to Windows and the firmware. Meaning, you’ll need to power it all the way up, use it on battery until the battery dies, recharge it, and then repeat that process at least two or three times.

And if you didn’t experience this problem, you’re good: Microsoft says that the issue won’t occur on those devices.

You can get “System Firmware Update – 11/7/2016,” as it’s called, from Windows Update as always. Cross your fingers.

 

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 9 comments

  • 2362

    10 November, 2016 - 8:26 am

    <p>Well it’s better than having it blow up</p>

  • 442

    10 November, 2016 - 10:35 am

    <p>Yes, this is what it can be like to own a ?Surface? device.&nbsp; Any device…</p>

  • 5187

    Premium Member
    10 November, 2016 - 1:49 pm

    <p>Still not available as a separate download for us poor SCCM folks.&nbsp; Always playing second fiddle to consumers…:-(</p>

  • 971

    Premium Member
    10 November, 2016 - 3:43 pm

    <p>The firmware update was issued November 7, 2016, not 2015 (5th paragraph).</p>

    • 1753

      Premium Member
      11 November, 2016 - 6:05 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#25450">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/ricka">ricka</a><a href="#25450">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I was about to say, if they released it last year, why is it only now appearing for download? ;-)</p>

  • 8376

    10 November, 2016 - 6:20 pm

    <blockquote><em><a href="#25361">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/FullyLoaded">FullyLoaded</a><a href="#25361">:</a></em></blockquote>
    <p>As an affected Surface Pro 3 user I can 100% confirm that this article <em>IS NOT ACCURATE </em>and as of 11/9/2016 the issue is still current<em>.&nbsp;</em> Microsoft is NOT DONE FIXING THE ISSUE. &nbsp;Microsoft, which is my bread &amp; butter livelyhood is NOT PAYING ATTENTION. &nbsp;How can they issue a firmware that fixes a battery that won’t charge when the firmware requires a 40% charge to install.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>This is a B/S, non-fix by Microsoft. &nbsp;Love the attention to the issue, but perhaps I could direct you all the Microsoft "answers" forums where everyone with the LGC-LGC battery issue is still moaning without relief.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Just my angry $.02.</p>

  • 1257

    Premium Member
    11 November, 2016 - 1:31 am

    <p>I have never had these issues with my Surface Pro 3 (LGC) – that is, until installing this firmware update. Now the Surface won’t boot when not plugged in (and when plugged in, it only boots sometimes). There is something seriously wrong with this update!</p>

  • 3216

    15 November, 2016 - 10:34 am

    <p>Isn’t this the 3rd time they guaranteed they fixed this?</p>
    <p>If this is, in fact, a real true fix then good – I had a problem back in Jul 2015 which a firmware update fixed, but battery life was never what it should be and I’ve settled for throttling things down a lot when running on battery.&nbsp; Perhaps now I’ll loosen it up a bit and see what happens.</p>
    <p>BTW, anyone know where in settings (other than update history or at a cmd prompt) the Firmware version is displayed?</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC