Surface 3 charging issues

Anonymous

I'm sure the Surface 2 and other models suffered from this problem...

After getting my Surface 3 yesterday, I plugged it in as it was delivered with about 24% batter life. The little white light on the micro-USB charger than comes with the Surface lit up. I assumed all was well, and started the Windows Updates. It was taking a while so I left it and went to bed.

The next morning the Surface was off, and when I tried to switch it on the battery symbol appeared that indicates it had no juice. It was still plugged in to the charger and the plug was still lit.

I removed it a couple of times and eventually it must have started to charge as it allowed me to boot, and I could see it was charging.

However, whenever I plug it into any other USB port to charge it (such as on my PC), I get the "Plugged in, not charging" message).

I suspect a faulty micro-USB connector (a poor replacement for the old magnetic ones), but wanted to see if anyone elese was having trouble with either the supplied charger or charging from other USB ports.

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.

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Anonymous

MA_905,

Thanks for the update and sorry for the delay in following up.

I am reaching out to find out if your issue is now resolved and if not, I would like for you to please give the two button shutdown a try.

Here’s how:

Step 1:	Press and hold the power button on your Surface for 30 seconds and then release it.
Step 2:	Press and hold the volume-up button and the power button at the same time for at least 15 seconds and then release both. <br> <br><br>The screen may flash the Surface logo, but continue holding the buttons down for at least 15 seconds.
Step 3:	After you release the buttons, wait 10 seconds.
Step 4:	Press and release the power button to turn your Surface back on.

Once done, please proceed to fully charge the device and let us know your outcome.

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Anonymous

what's more likely is that the USB ports that you've used can't provide enough power to charge the device.

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Barb Bowman 80,805 MVP Volunteer Moderator

On Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:31:18 +0000, quadtek wrote:

>> This is a surface 3, not a pro3

take a look at

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/surface-wont-turn-on#shutdown

this applies to your Surface 3

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Barb

Windows Experience MVP

My Blog - http://digitalmediaphile.com/

Please mark as answered if this answers your question

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Barb Bowman 80,805 MVP Volunteer Moderator

did you try the solutions at https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/surface-wont-turn-on-battery-wont-charge?os=windows-10 ?

If yes, your best option is to go to a physical retail Microsoft Store if you are near one in the US, and if not near a store https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/contact-us

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Anonymous

I contacted MS and they helped me in this one. I had to do a current update. when this did not fix it I had to a a factory reset. then do the update battery life is now as expected.

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337 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-11-04T03:08:29+00:00

I am totally with you, Smeggs. The Surface 3 is the worst PC I have ever owned. I frequently get what I call the "blue screen of death" because the device has encountered some problem and shuts down. I came to this thread because of my charging issues, and I am not surprised to see that I am far from alone. I was so aggravated with this crappy device that I went into the nearest Microsoft store to complain, and a salesman almost immediately told me to bring mine in the next day and he'd trade it for a new one. He certainly seemed to suggest that the charging problem was a common one. I don't want a new Surface 3, because I expect I'll encounter the same problems, plus I'll have to spend some time breaking it in (i.e. entering passwords, hooking it up with my wi-fi printer, etc.). I'd like to try a new charging cord, at least, but whenever I call MS tech support, and I use that term loosely, I'm told I have to send them my cord before they'll send me a new one. Great. So then I definitely would be unable to use the Surface for a couple of days while awaiting a cord. Yeah, makes perfect sense. I am just so sick of discovering that my Surface, which is almost always plugged in, is dead and having to wait at least 20 minutes for it to revive, all the while not knowing whether it's actually charging or not. It's ridiculous to click on the battery icon and see "plugged in but not charging," even though the charging cord light is on. Huh? I still can't figure out how to get it to resume charging. Major flaw in a device that has so many flaws. I was blinded by the convenient size, which is the main reason I bought it. But it's certainly not worth the aggravation.
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