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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  1. Anonymous
    2017-11-21T23:26:44+00:00

    I've got a blog on my own (Hungarian) language with a few hundred readers online...

    I really start to think this problem is worth a post to avoid my trusted readers from this device.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-21T23:24:13+00:00

    I really thinking to throw this junk away, and buy a proper computer brand stuff, like Lenovo, dell or hp... This Microsoft harder sucks... Love the concept, but hate the hustle, comes with this problem. Especially if it appears on the newer model as well.

    Is it worth to sell it like this? Or just throw it in the been?

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-21T21:31:02+00:00

    I posted something a couple weeks ago on facebook.com/consumerreports.  No reply yet.

    Just to remind everybody here, as the thread length keeps growing and more and more keeping adding to it, please checkout out

    facebook.com/surfacescreenshaking

    and 

    flickergate.com

    Add your voice in a concerted way and we stand a chance to be heard.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-21T19:14:23+00:00

    Can't you just schedule a repair? I would assume this is the way to go and during this process exchange it for a possibly refurbished unit.

    Yes, that is finally what I did. Did not want to end up with a refurbished unit and see the very disturbing pattern on this thread come true for me, so I have tried all other options (waiting for latest updates, having regional Microsoft store rep check it out and clear/clean system, following all recommendations that I could find online, etc., etc.

    After all these steps, I did decide my only remaining choice is to swap out the unit using my Best Buy extended warranty that covers the 2nd year and runs out in December. Of course, this means I have to hope that all files have been backed up completely and that they restore, then reinstall and license all of apps, and, then hope that a refurbished unit will work any better. Expect the unit today. Will let people on this thread know what happens.

    The underlying concern from everybody is that with so many people on this thread, someone should have personally found a solution, or been told what the source of the problem is so that we can all expedite a fix. So far that is not the case, so everyone seems (appropriately) concerned that there is no fix and that there is some underlying design flaw. I guess we shall see what happens.

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