Surface Pro Shuts Off Even When Charged: What to Do

The Microsoft Surface Pro offers unmatched convenience and versatility by seamlessly blending laptop and tablet features. With its powerful quad-core performance, comfortable keyboard, extended battery life, and exceptional pen input, it stands as a top choice among tablet computers in the market.

But what if its battery life is having trouble, and Surface Pro actually turns off even when charged?

Previously, we tackled how to fix the problem of Surface Pro battery draining in sleep mode. Now let’s learn what to do when Surface turns off when there’s still battery left.

The Problem: Surface Pro Is Charged But Shuts Off

Some users of Surface Pro 3 and other models lately find that their device turns off automatically even while the battery still has charge, such as 20 percent left. Other models seem to turn off randomly even without overheating, having incorrect shutdown, or going into sleep mode.

This is not the first time that this problem is being reported.

Back in 2017, a number of IT forums and news sites revealed that the then-new Surface Pro 2017 was dying unexpectedly. The Surface computer would shut off randomly, or at unpredictable intervals the screen would go black. It also appeared to power off while being in active use, such as when the user was typing.

Some experts and insiders even called for a full refund and repurchasing. This was mainly due to Microsoft’s track record of taking months to recognize issues and come out with a working fix. The Surface devices in question, after all, were still mostly eligible for return for a full refund.

The Solution: How to Deal With a Charged Surface Device That Dies On You

It’s never fun to contend with this type of problem when your device should be working fine right out of the box. After all, it can take quite a while for Microsoft to release an official fix. In the meantime, a malfunctioning Surface device can make you lose important school work or professional files.

Before troubleshooting the issue, make sure you’ve got the basics covered. For instance, make sure to use your antivirus program regularly to deter viruses and other threats. This can work in combination with a PC cleaning tool that can clean out junk files eating up space and hindering smooth computer operations.

Now, let’s get to a number of quick fixes you can try when your Surface computer shuts off even when charged.

Look at Your Battery Report

Did you know that you can also produce a battery report? It will help you better diagnose the issue if your Surface turns off automatically while at a certain battery level, say, 20 percent. Take a look at your battery report if this happens rather consistently. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Next, choose Windows Powershell (Admin). Hit Yes.
3. Type in powercfg /battery report. Press Enter.
4. Your computer will list the path to the location of the battery report. Copy this path.
5. Open your browser and paste the path to the report in the address bar. The report should now appear on the screen.

It is possible for the battery to have weakened, in which case you can go to a Microsoft Store or reach out to Microsoft Support for further diagnostics.

Remove and Reinstall the Battery Driver

Follow these instructions:

Plug in your Surface device.

1. In the taskbar, choose the search box in the taskbar. Input device manager and choose Device Manager from the search results.
2. Select the arrow located next to the Batteries category.
3. Double-click or double-tap Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery. Next, choose the Driver tab and select Uninstall > OK. Alternatively, right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery and choose Uninstall.
4. Remember to leave your Surface plugged in.
5. Once you remove the battery driver, install Surface and Windows updates. Proceed to Settings > Updates > check for updates manually and install any updates that are available.
6. Restart your device.

Reset from Within Windows

When we say “reset,” it means reinstalling Windows and apps that came installed on your Surface device. In this case, all your personal files will be deleted. Your settings will undergo a refresh, too. All apps you have installed will be removed. This is why you should prepare a full backup of your files before proceeding with this action.

Here are the steps to follow in order to set up your Surface in a way that it’s brand-new again:

1. Swipe in coming from the right edge of the screen. Then tap Settings. If you’re using your mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen. From here, move the mouse pointer down and then click Settings.
2. Click or tap Change PC settings.
3. Afterwards, click or tap Update and recovery. Next, click or tap Recovery.
4. Under the Remove everything and reinstall Windows option, click or tap Get started.
5. Click or tap Next.
6. Select either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive. The latter is more secure but can take a longer time to finish. If you are recycling your Surface, then it’s better to choose to clean the drive. On the other hand, if you are keeping your Surface, simply remove your files.
7. Click or tap Reset. From here, Surface restarts and its logo displays. The reset process takes place for a few minutes.

Get Official Help from Microsoft

Go to the experts and seek help from Microsoft Surface. You can also directly bring your device to a Microsoft Store for a more thorough check.

Final Notes

While it is a generally sound, powerful tablet computer, the Microsoft Surface Pro isn’t immune to problems. This is far more annoying when it is still within warranty or fresh out of the box. A number of users have reported that Surface shuts off even when charged, or turns off randomly and unexpectedly. This has caused some people to lose precious work on their device.

Try the solutions we outlined above to address the problem. We hope things work out for you and your Surface device!