Surface Laptop 3 Faint Buzzing Sound

Anonymous
2019-10-23T21:50:20+00:00

Hello,

I’ve got the i5 8GB Surface Laptop 3 (13.5-inch), and today, while browsing the internet, I noticed a fairly faint  buzzing sound coming from under the keyboard. It was faint enough you couldn’t hear it from a couple metres away, and sometimes buzzed continuously, other times buzzed in short repetitive bursts.

It didn’t sound like the fan to me, so I opened up the task manager to see if browsing was straining the computer in some way.

I have updated the computer completely, but the buzzing persisted.

Is this a normal electronics problem? Is it actually just the fan? Or is it possibly a defective unit?

Edit/Update:

I took the device into the MS Store today to see if there was something wrong. The staff took it into the back and tested it. They found increasing the computer's workload caused the sound to increase and described it as a popping static-y sound. They replaced the device and I have a new one now. Unfortunately, I've found through usage that this one is also making the sound. I am waiting to see if a firmware update reduces the noise since it seems pervasive across the devices.

Surface | Surface Laptop | Install and update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

375 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-03T09:30:40+00:00

    I have bought NEW surface laptop 3 from Microsoft (USA) and get that anoying buzz sound...

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2021-01-14T03:57:26+00:00

    I too have the exact same problem. Buzzing sound coming from under F121/Power button. It is absolutely driving me crazy at night in a quiet room.

    I've had constant issues with this laptop from the day I purchased it. Google chrome doesn't work (freezes constantly), Night Lite mode wont turn off even when toggled off in the settings, my cursor jumps around (luckily this was fixed by resetting my laptop to factory defaults), and finally this buzzing annoyance.

    It is absolutely unacceptable that over 250 of us have posted about this very problem and over 1000 people have up voted the original poster's question and we have been completely ghosted by Microsoft.

    This is clearly a manufacturer's defect. We would at the very least appreciate acknowledgment from the company that sold us $2000 laptops with mickey mouse engineering. We did not get what we paid for and you know it.

    I switched from Apple for this laptop... I am questioning that choice.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-13T01:31:01+00:00

    send it back.  The irritating buzz gets worse.  In fact, my buzz is very loud.  I cannot even Zoom because the sound drowns out the microphone.

    Microsoft has been absolutely irresponsible about this problem.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-11-11T10:16:29+00:00

    Ok guys hear me out: I bought an SL3 in November 2019, excactly one year ago. It buzzed then, it buzzes now and it will be buzzing tomorrow. I have been getting the responses from this thread for the same time.

    I think it becomes clear now that the buzzing is an intrinsic problem on the SL3 hardware and MS will not, I repeat WILL NOT, acknowledge the problem because that would mean substantial financial losses for their SL3 branch. They would have to grant the right for repair or swap to every SL3 owner and obviously they are not willing to do this. 

    I don´t see any hope for us consumers in this, because MS just has the higher ground. Sorry guys, let´s enjoy the buzz!

    All the best

    lionlund

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2020-01-30T00:32:04+00:00

    I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE HERE!

    *** READ BELOW FOR SOME IMPORTANT INFO IF YOU DEBATED ON RETURNING IT FOR A DIFFERENT SURFACE 3****

    I took it to my local Microsoft store and spend an hour and a half with a tech doing all the software updates, playing with the audio settings, etc and they had NO IDEA what was wrong with it and had no notes in their system about an issue with this computer doing this. They offered to replace my laptop even though I purchased it at Bestbuy, but I figured I'd check with the Geeksquad before replacing it through Microsoft or through Bestbuy.

    I arrive at Bestbuy and the geeksquad gets to work with my computer, blowing high powered air in the speakers, checking the setitngs and updates once again, etc.  They can't figure out what is wrong with it, but since I was under warranty they offered to replace it right then with the same exact laptop, which I decide to do.

    ***BUT HERE'S THE KICKER- as soon as I powered on the brand new replacement laptop (STRAIGHT OUT OF THE SEALED BOX), I figured I might as well confirm that this laptop doesnt have the same issue but IT IS MAKING THE EXACT SAME SOUND- WHILE ON THE VERY FIRST START UP WINDOW ASKING ME TO CHOOSE A LANGUAGE FOR MY NEW DEVICE. Clearly this is not an audio issue or a computing power issue at all, but some inherent software or hardware defect. 

    I'd really appreciate it if Microsoft could get on this seeing that so many of us are experiencing this issue with our brand new laptops. I am worried that if nothing is mentioned for the next year or so, but then a recall is made, Microsoft will pull a houdini on everyone and only recall and issue new devices for those still under warranty. Is this something we should be worried about, or will Microsoft honor recalls for all affected devices regardless of Microsoft warranty status?

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments