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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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]

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-10-16T02:14:59+00:00

    My screen has an area of flickering from several weeks after purchase (Mar-2017), after that i had to add the second in the clock in bottom right, it allowed me to at least use the device for a while. From around 1 month ago, the screen get this every time it start and I have to wait for at least 15 mins before it gets back to normal. Again, I still have warranty until Mar-2018 but sending it back to US is a big trouble for me. Very sad, but this will the the last time I buy any hardware from Microsoft. I will find a way to send this back to US for replacement, but this is just another gamble as many people here receive another defect devices. Very disappointed!

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-10-15T21:10:47+00:00

    PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORMAT TO CLAI  MICROSOFT THE MAGNITUD OF THE PROBLEM.

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iJwnv5X5nEAQb27wo6B9bRdb61wRMb8WBFgaxLXyimw/viewform?edit_requested=true

    THEY SELL US  A PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT WORK, TOTALLY UNUSEFUL, ANYTHING COMPARE TO WHAT PUBLICITY SHOWS.I  THINK THAT MAKES THEM THIEVES.

    I've responded to the form and am also posting it on Tablet PC Review.

    I think you should consider adding a question to the form or modifying a question. But not sure how you'd get people who previously responded to update their answers.

    The question shouldn't be what month the problem appeared or not just that, but the age of the device, when the problem started to occur is also important to know.

    Thank you for trying to get some real figures on this problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-10-15T14:09:58+00:00

    Lucky who has opportunity to use warranty. Mine is 1.3 years old... that's far not enough for an expencive device to be thrown away.. tomorrow I go to service, look what they say..

    Anyway gonna buy Lenovo yoga 720 i7 now. Never a Microsoft product again. Many many horrible issues with it. I'm even  happy to buy a new computer so incofrtable it was with pen lags and other...😣😣😣bad experience

    Same here.

    1,0  years old... SF4 i7.

    Lenova yoga seems to BE the option....

    Anyone to buy my docking station??

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-10-15T09:59:10+00:00

    Lucky who has opportunity to use warranty. Mine is 1.3 years old... that's far not enough for an expencive device to be thrown away.. tomorrow I go to service, look what they say..

    Anyway gonna buy Lenovo yoga 720 i7 now. Never a Microsoft product again. Many many horrible issues with it. I'm even  happy to buy a new computer so incofrtable it was with pen lags and other...😣😣😣bad experience

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