Surface Pro 4, Screen Flickering, Shaking

Anonymous
2017-01-19T07:47:47+00:00

Hi All,

Update: Flickergate is now having a forum to bring all affected users at a single platform to plan for resolvement of issue. Please join at

 https://forum.flickergate.com

UPDATE: Check FlickerGate.com for videos of the problem and to submit your own. 

I purchased SP4 device a few months ago and it was working fine for a month. Then I noticed that when the CPU is at its max, the screen flickers a bit. Investigating further revealed that it flickers even if it is setting idle. It does not flicker if at least one of the following thing is done:

  1. A video being played in browser 
  2. If I keep the touch screen busy by either taping it or keeping a finger on it
  3. If I use the touchpad
  4. If keyboard is used for typing

This resulted in making the device completely unusable while reading articles or ebooks. I am a developer, most of the time I have to read the code and to do that, I have to constantly keep a finger on the touch pad or the screen. I contacted surface support in October and November and was told that the developers are working on the patch. Looking at the updates the developers are pushing since then, I don't think anyone is even aware of the problem there. 

My previous support ticket numbers are:

 ***deleted personally identifiable information***

***deleted personally identifiable information***

Just wondering if anyone else had the same problem (and the fix) and if not, what's the procedure for the refund? I will rather go for a mac then sacrificing $2000+ for a dancing screen.  

Kind Regards,

Abbas

***Personal information deleted by the moderator. Please see the Microsoft Community Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how you can protect your privacy.***

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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
2018-05-11T17:59:00+00:00

Hey Everyone,

Creating the best products and experiences for our customers is our top priority.

We have heard your feedback and after careful examination, have determined that a small percentage of Surface Pro 4 devices are exhibiting a screen flicker that cannot be addressed with a firmware or driver update.

To support customers affected by this issue, we will replace eligible Surface Pro 4 devices for up to three years from the date of purchase, free of charge. If you believe your device is experiencing this issue, please visit our Surface Pro 4 screen flicker article for more details.

Bryan [MSFT]

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-05T02:39:57+00:00

    Hey,

    I have not. After reaching out multiple times on twitter they just tell me to contact Global Support.

    I have not done so as yet but I don't see it as being of much use at this point.

    Microsoft seems to be treating the shaking as isolated incidents when obviously there's a much bigger overlying issue. I strongly suspect this is a general defect across SP4 devices.

    Until Microsoft acknowledges it as such and finds a solution the only option is to bear with it or try your luck with a replacement.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-05-05T01:17:57+00:00

    My fan works perfectly fine - doesn't sound strange or anything - temperatures are fine (usually get the flickering from 55 centigrade and above) But for the sake of the argument let's assume the fan wouldn't work properly, then the device would overheat and probably shut down eventually. I don't see how this could provoke such a shaking/flickering.

    The problem also doesn't disappear right after a re-start, I usually would have to wait for 30 minutes or so.

    I guess if the fan could somehow keep the temperatures below 50 centigrade (CPU package), then the flickering wouldn't occur - but well...essentially this would mean no demanding tasks whatsoever.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-05-04T19:41:06+00:00

    Has anyone with this issue tried spraying compressed air thru the sp4 vents to blast out accumulated dust?  The i5 & i7 models have fans and would be particularly vulnerable to pulling in dust.

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