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
    2017-11-25T07:15:51+00:00

    I can’t get a replacement, Im in north Africa...

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-25T05:10:47+00:00

    **** I ONLY BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE THERE IS NO TOUCH SCREEN COMPUTER MADE BY APPLE ****

    and yet, Microsoft proves - with the only chance I gave them since forever - that they are sh**

    this is clearly a firmware thing, because this happened just after updating, reverting windows version or driver version doesn't fix it, so please Microsoft, let us revert FIRMWARE, because I can't afford to throw a 1000$ computer (that I thought will be my companion for a long time) just like that, way too poor to be able to do that!

    I live in Africa, so absolutely zero chances to reach your stores. 

    PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE WORKING ON A FIX! I see you haven't updated your firmware versions in a long time, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, I don't know if you just abandoned your product and gave up or you're working on a surprise update that will fix our devices. either way, just tell us something!

    If you're still under warranty, please troubleshoot and get a replacement. This has been ongoing for two years now (earliest reported cases) with no end in sight.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-24T20:11:38+00:00

    **** I ONLY BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE THERE IS NO TOUCH SCREEN COMPUTER MADE BY APPLE ****

    and yet, Microsoft proves - with the only chance I gave them since forever - that they are sh**

    this is clearly a firmware thing, because this happened just after updating, reverting windows version or driver version doesn't fix it, so please Microsoft, let us revert FIRMWARE, because I can't afford to throw a 1000$ computer (that I thought will be my companion for a long time) just like that, way too poor to be able to do that!

    I live in Africa, so absolutely zero chances to reach your stores. 

    PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE WORKING ON A FIX! I see you haven't updated your firmware versions in a long time, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, I don't know if you just abandoned your product and gave up or you're working on a surprise update that will fix our devices. either way, just tell us something!

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-24T14:35:39+00:00

    I am one, among many others also, who is affected by these Surface Pro 4 screen flickering/shaking defects. It is so outrageous that after 4 months of use these defects come out and make this expensive device useless. I have read about unattended and unsolved complaints. I really could not voice out how disappointed I am and don't know what to do with this Surface Pro 4 based upon what I have read in this forum. It seems there is no other alternative but to junk this Microsoft SURFACE PRO 4!

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