Surface Pro 4 battery drain while OFF

Anonymous

I have a HUGE battery drain while power off (not hibernating) at least 5-10 percent per day. I windows updates done. I used to think it was because of the keyboard being attached. but I have switched to a Brydge Keyboard. Does anyone else have this issue or know how to fix?

Thanks!

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Anonymous

Thanks Victor_S

Another solution I've found is to shut down the computer the old way - regular shutdown instead of hybrid shutdown.

You can use this shortcut:

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 3 /c "Full Shutdown"

shutdown.exe can execute the various sleed/hibernate commands, including the regular shutdown.
/s means "shutdown". If we shutdown the normal way, it is a hybrid shutdown (/hybrid)
/t 3 means after 3 seconds. If you skip this it's 30 seconds by default.
/c "Full shutdown" is a simple comment that will appear in various places as the reason for your shutdown.

Keep in mind it takes a little longer to shutdown this way, and it takes a little longer to start afterwards, but I think the computer doesn't keep some systems active, thus you should see almost no battery drain, even for prolonged times.

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Anonymous

That is a good question because the screen will be off. Before shutting down and all programs are closed, you can do a CTRL+ALT+DEL and select the task manager and look at the processes that are still running at that moment and you may find 'something' but doubtful.

The power sub-system could also have a defect causing that as well and not actually shutting off the machine when it is supposed to be off.

The task manager may give you a clue when all programs are shut down. If you can't find anything listed, it is possible you may need to contact customer support to get the machine swapped out.

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300 additional answers

Anonymous

2018-01-09T15:34:58+00:00

I'm wondering if perhaps there might be a component or components still being sent power on the SP4 (even though the unit is powered off and thus the operating system isn't active). While the SP4 is off, if you bring up the "Surface UEFI" setup by holding down the volume up button, then pressing the power button, and then releasing the volume up button when the Surface logo appears, within the "Devices" section is a list of devices that can be either enabled or disabled. This list includes the docking USB port, front camera, rear camera, IR camera, on-board audio, SDcard, "Wi-fi & bluebooth," bluetooth and type cover port. I can try experimenting with disabling these various devices to see if they have an effect relating to the battery drainage issue.

I tried this with my SP4, but didn't change anything. Btw. mine drains 3.5% per hours (battery seens ok showing normal battery life while ON). I think I give up waiting for a fix now.

I'm moving to to the US soon and wonder whether I can do the out-of-warrenty replacement there? Or do I have to do that in the country where I bought it?

Yep I saw the same thing. After having disabled all listed devices in the Surface UEFI setup and then starting up Windows, I then did a full shutdown of my SP4 yesterday afternoon with the charge at 94% at that time. Just over 14 hours later, when I powered on the unit, the charge was at 88%. So a 6% discharge of a non-active SP4 in just over 14 hours.

Considering how widespread this battery drainage issue is with the SP4s, and considering Microsoft's lackluster support of this specific issue, they have lost my business for any future Surface Pro device. Very disappointed and unhappy with them.
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Anonymous

2018-01-09T00:48:50+00:00

I'm wondering if perhaps there might be a component or components still being sent power on the SP4 (even though the unit is powered off and thus the operating system isn't active). While the SP4 is off, if you bring up the "Surface UEFI" setup by holding down the volume up button, then pressing the power button, and then releasing the volume up button when the Surface logo appears, within the "Devices" section is a list of devices that can be either enabled or disabled. This list includes the docking USB port, front camera, rear camera, IR camera, on-board audio, SDcard, "Wi-fi & bluebooth," bluetooth and type cover port. I can try experimenting with disabling these various devices to see if they have an effect relating to the battery drainage issue.

I tried this with my SP4, but didn't change anything. Btw. mine drains 3.5% per hours (battery seens ok showing normal battery life while ON). I think I give up waiting for a fix now.

I'm moving to to the US soon and wonder whether I can do the out-of-warrenty replacement there? Or do I have to do that in the country where I bought it?
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Anonymous

2018-01-08T21:27:05+00:00

I'm wondering if perhaps there might be a component or components still being sent power on the SP4 (even though the unit is powered off and thus the operating system isn't active). While the SP4 is off, if you bring up the "Surface UEFI" setup by holding down the volume up button, then pressing the power button, and then releasing the volume up button when the Surface logo appears, within the "Devices" section is a list of devices that can be either enabled or disabled. This list includes the docking USB port, front camera, rear camera, IR camera, on-board audio, SDcard, "Wi-fi & bluebooth," bluetooth and type cover port. I can try experimenting with disabling these various devices to see if they have an effect relating to the battery drainage issue.

Interesting but this is a lot of technical testing work trying to make it work for an expensive professional product .

Furthermore whatever the origin of this drain when your computer is OFF (i.e. really off like with a shutdown /s) there is no acceptable reason for this drain.

I test different computer and hybrid, cheaper and same price range and this Surface is the only one with this issue.

I also tried different type cover, including two from SP3 same issue (so it does without type cover).

Two participants posted that finally a replacement has solved (definitely ?) the drain issue. with implies that this his an hardware issue with one or more defective component. Problem which seems widely affect a large number of surface.

One of my colleague, basic user, did not notice that his surface was affected until I ask him to do some test.
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