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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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]

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

2,779 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-04T08:08:24+00:00

    I wish I found this thread before I bought it in Mar-2017 also :(

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-04T12:47:40+00:00

    I am also facing the same issue with my SP4 i7 8GB RAM.

    When a machine is a bit warm, the screen becomes flicker / vibrating.

    I try to restart, it doesn't help. On startup screen, which is before windows start, it also gets flicker / vibrating.

    So, seems that the issue is either the hardware or firmware. It is totally not because of windows configuration.

    I then have to turn it off, waiting for about 1 or 2 hours for "a rest", then I can use it again.

    Contacted Surface Support via twitter, they threw me away by asking me to contact Global Support.

    $2,000+ and I only got this garbage!!! What a useless!!!

    To anyone, never think to buy this device!!!

    There are a lot of devices that much much much much much better than Surface Pro!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-05-04T18:54:06+00:00

    Hi WHSim,

    I had the same issue today for the first time and since then it has been happening several times. I bought a Suface Pro 4 in the end of 2015 and I didn't have such problem so far.

    Did you find a better answer from Microsoft?

    Regards,

    COWagner

    C

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments