Surface Pro 3 battery degradation

Anonymous
2016-05-11T07:37:37+00:00

I've been using Microsoft Surface Pro 3 for a year, and shortly after the warranty expired I noticed my Surface Pro 3 can only last about 1-2 hours after a full charge. At first I thought this was a problem with background process draining the battery so I disabled everything running in the background. It didn't helped. Then I found out about the powercfg utility and run powercfg /batteryreport on it, and this was the result:

A full charge capacity has degraded by over 80% in just few weeks and continue degrading. I tried to "recalibrate" the battery by doing full charge then full drain multiple times, and it didn't helped. Talk with Microsoft via chat support and they insist this was a software problem and reinstalled the driver and asked me to wait few days to see if things improve. Not only it didn't improved, but now my Surface can only last 30 minutes.

Few days after chat (today), I called Microsoft support and they were being extremely unhelpful. Insist that this was a software problem (which the chat support person already did) and it's "perfectly normal" for battery capacity to degrade. I insist that I've already done the software "fixes" and it didn't work and tell them this is definitely hardware problem, but the person on the phone tell me there's nothing I could do except to order the out of warranty exchange (which cost about $560 in my local currency). 

Is there anything else I should do? My country has no Microsoft Store which I could take the machine for them to take a look. Phone/online support were the only option, and none of them could understand the issue.

Surface | Surface Pro | Power and battery

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Anonymous
2016-07-26T21:31:16+00:00

Hello everyone,

Thanks for your continued patience here. We have now completed our testing of the update and it has passed our quality assurance process.

The update, “System Firmware Update - 8/29/2016”, is now available to install from Windows Update.

Before installing this update, ensure that your Surface Pro 3 is plugged directly in to AC power using the standard AC power adapter (do not use the Surface Docking Station), disconnect any USB devices or external monitors, and check that Windows shows a 40% charge or greater when you hover over the icon in the taskbar before you begin.

Once you install the update, please select Restart now (do not shutdown). After your Surface restarts, please manually restart it a second time to complete the process. For more information, please see our Surface Pro 3 Battery FAQ article.

If you’re having trouble charging your Surface, you get a low-battery error, or your Surface turns off when you unplug it, the steps in our Surface battery won’t charge article can help you pinpoint the problem. Should you need any further assistance, please contact us. 

Thanks again.

Greg

Updated 8/29/16.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-28T03:06:08+00:00

    I also have this problem.  Surface Pro 3 purchased in March 2015, originally Windows 8 and upgraded to Windows 10 about 6 months ago.  Last 2 months the battery capacity has nosedived.

    What seems different in my situation is I always have the machine docked and the dock plugged into AC power (I use it as a desktop replacement - rarely use it on battery power) - and it will turn off after 4 hours now when docked as the battery is exhausted.  It only started doing this yesterday.  I have to then wait 20 minutes before I can turn it back on and get another few hours out of it, and repeat.

    The unit simply turning off when docked and plugged into AC power is annoying - I would have thought when docked it would not require the battery to have any charge.  I don't get any warnings about low power or anything - working away one second, the next blackness.

    Battery report

    COMPUTER NAME *******
    SYSTEM PRODUCT NAME Microsoft Corporation Surface Pro 3
    BIOS 3.11.1450 05/27/2016
    OS BUILD 10586.494.amd64fre.th2_release_sec.160630-1736
    PLATFORM ROLE Slate
    CONNECTED STANDBY Supported
    REPORT TIME 2016-07-2812:52:11

    Installed batteries

    Information about each currently installed battery

    NAME X898289
    MANUFACTURER SIMPLO
    SERIAL NUMBER 1178279428
    CHEMISTRY LION
    DESIGN CAPACITY 42,157 mWh
    FULL CHARGE CAPACITY 5,138 mWh
    CYCLE COUNT 198

    Battery capacity history

    Charge capacity history of the system's batteries

    2015-03-16 - 2015-03-23 42,241 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-23 - 2015-03-30 42,558 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-30 - 2015-04-06 42,454 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-06 - 2015-04-13 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-13 - 2015-04-20 42,478 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-20 - 2015-04-27 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-27 - 2015-05-04 42,582 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-04 - 2015-05-11 42,565 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-11 - 2015-05-18 42,472 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-18 - 2015-05-25 42,435 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-25 - 2015-06-01 42,400 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-01 - 2015-06-08 42,532 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-08 - 2015-06-15 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-15 - 2015-06-22 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-22 - 2015-06-29 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-29 - 2015-07-06 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-06 - 2015-07-13 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-13 - 2015-07-20 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-20 - 2015-07-27 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-27 - 2015-08-03 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-03 - 2015-08-10 42,565 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-10 - 2015-08-17 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-17 - 2015-08-24 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-24 - 2015-08-31 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-31 - 2015-09-07 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-07 - 2015-09-14 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-14 - 2015-09-21 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-21 - 2015-09-28 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-28 - 2015-10-05 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-05 - 2015-10-12 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-12 - 2015-10-19 42,522 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-19 - 2015-10-26 42,570 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-26 - 2015-11-02 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-02 - 2015-11-09 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-09 - 2015-11-16 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-16 - 2015-11-23 42,579 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-23 - 2015-11-30 42,203 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-30 - 2015-12-07 42,203 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-07 - 2015-12-14 42,163 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-14 - 2015-12-21 41,945 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-21 - 2015-12-28 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-28 - 2016-01-04 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-04 - 2016-01-11 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-11 - 2016-01-18 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-18 - 2016-01-25 42,497 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-25 - 2016-02-01 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-01 - 2016-02-08 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-08 - 2016-02-15 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-15 - 2016-02-22 42,265 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-22 - 2016-02-29 42,339 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-29 - 2016-03-07 42,421 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-07 - 2016-03-14 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-14 - 2016-03-21 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-21 - 2016-03-28 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-28 - 2016-04-04 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-04 - 2016-04-11 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-11 - 2016-04-18 42,460 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-18 - 2016-04-26 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-26 - 2016-05-02 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-02 - 2016-05-09 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-09 - 2016-05-16 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-16 - 2016-05-23 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-23 - 2016-05-30 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-30 - 2016-06-06 39,011 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-06 - 2016-06-13 34,888 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-13 - 2016-06-20 32,475 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-20 - 2016-06-27 27,728 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-27 - 2016-07-04 22,078 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-04 - 2016-07-11 17,549 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-11 - 2016-07-18 14,901 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-19 10,724 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-20 9,038 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-21 8,223 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-22 8,223 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-23 8,223 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-24 8,007 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-25 6,684 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-26 6,498 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-27 7,721 mWh 41,981 mWh

    Current estimate of battery life based on all observed drains since OS install

    Since OS install 0:24:39 1:47:53<br><br>890 % / 16 h 3:22:17 14:45:15<br><br>108 % / 16 h

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-28T01:00:40+00:00

    I am also having this problem.  I remember when I got this Surface Pro 3 a little over a year ago and it was running Windows 8.  I can't remember if it was after an update or after I upgraded it to Windows 10 that the battery went form about 6 hours of run time to about 1.5-2 hours.  I would love to see a fix come out for this problem!  

    In the info below you can see how my battery at full charge is less than half of what it was designed to be.

    Battery report

    COMPUTER NAME SS30
    SYSTEM PRODUCT NAME Microsoft Corporation Surface Pro 3
    BIOS 3.11.1150 12/09/2015
    OS BUILD 10586.494.amd64fre.th2_release_sec.160630-1736
    PLATFORM ROLE Slate
    CONNECTED STANDBY Supported
    REPORT TIME 2016-07-2007:24:11

    Installed batteries

    Information about each currently installed battery

    NAME X898289
    MANUFACTURER SIMPLO
    SERIAL NUMBER 1167202820
    CHEMISTRY LION
    DESIGN CAPACITY 42,157 mWh
    FULL CHARGE CAPACITY 15,132 mWh
    CYCLE COUNT 270

    Recent usage

    Power states over the last 3 days

    2016-07-1812:52:02 Active Battery 40 % 6,392 mWh
    12:52:02 Connected standby Battery 40 % 6,392 mWh
    12:52:02 Active Battery 40 % 6,392 mWh
    12:58:23 Connected standby Battery 30 % 4,720 mWh
    13:58:23 Suspended 28 % 4,454 mWh
    19:57:41 Connected standby Battery 25 % 4,028 mWh
    19:57:41 Active Battery 25 % 4,028 mWh
    20:05:53 Connected standby Battery 9 % 1,398 mWh
    20:05:53 Suspended 9 % 1,398 mWh
    20:07:08 Connected standby Battery 6 % 980 mWh
    20:07:08 Active Battery 6 % 980 mWh
    20:07:08 Active AC 6 % 980 mWh
    20:19:53 Connected standby AC 29 % 4,651 mWh
    20:19:54 Active AC 29 % 4,651 mWh
    20:19:55 Connected standby AC 29 % 4,659 mWh
    20:58:30 Active AC 74 % 11,704 mWh
    21:03:25 Active Battery 76 % 12,061 mWh
    21:03:42 Active AC 76 % 12,046 mWh
    21:08:47 Active Battery 78 % 12,396 mWh
    21:35:02 Connected standby Battery 56 % 8,968 mWh
    21:35:02 Active Battery 56 % 8,960 mWh
    21:35:36 Connected standby Battery 56 % 8,884 mWh
    23:20:29 Suspended 42 % 6,658 mWh
    2016-07-1908:00:42 Active AC 42 % 6,635 mWh
    08:00:42 Connected standby AC 42 % 6,635 mWh
    08:58:27 Active AC 95 % 15,132 mWh
    08:59:21 Connected standby AC 95 % 15,132 mWh
    08:59:22 Suspended 95 % 15,132 mWh
    09:00:02 Active Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    09:00:02 Active AC 100 % 15,132 mWh
    10:13:40 Active Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    10:13:46 Connected standby Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    10:13:49 Active Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    10:13:50 Connected standby Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    10:13:51 Active Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    10:13:52 Connected standby Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    11:13:52 Suspended 100 % 15,132 mWh
    12:40:04 Connected standby Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    12:40:04 Active Battery 100 % 15,132 mWh
    14:07:01 Connected standby Battery 27 % 4,058 mWh
    14:08:20 Active Battery 26 % 3,967 mWh
    14:21:31 Connected standby Battery 12 % 1,847 mWh
    14:21:33 Active Battery 12 % 1,847 mWh
    14:21:34 Connected standby Battery 12 % 1,839 mWh
    14:26:57 Active Battery 12 % 1,809 mWh
    14:28:15 Connected standby Battery 10 % 1,566 mWh
    15:28:15 Suspended 10 % 1,459 mWh
    2016-07-2007:23:54 Active Battery 8 % 1,246 mWh
    07:23:54 Active AC 8 % 1,246 mWh
    07:23:54 Report generated AC 8 % 1,246 mWh

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-27T23:26:56+00:00

    Hi Greg,

    My Surface Pro 3 won't run even a single second if not plugged in. If I remove the power cord from the Surface pro 3, it will simply lose power.

    I can't power it on without AC power.

    Battery status shows 

    Plugged in not charging (85%)

    After going through all the methods suggested by Microsoft it still didn't resolve the issue.

    I did a reset of the slate as a last ditch effort which reloaded 8.1, but the problem stayed with the same battery status shown earlier. Then I upgraded it to Windows 10, but the battery status didn't change.

    I obviously have lost any past battery usage report  due to reset, but the current status remains the same as before.

    Do you think it's a software issue only? 

    The machine has crossed warranty period.

    So I m at your mercy.

    But this is unacceptable.

    Regards

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-27T23:12:12+00:00

    Adding my name to the ever-growing list of people having the same issue.

    Here's my particular favorite from the battery report:

    2016-07-2716:50:43 Connected standby Battery 100 % 3,656 mWh
    16:50:43 Suspended 100 % 3,656 mWh
    16:59:38 Active AC 2 % 46 mWh

    100% to 2% in just under 9 minutes.

    I don't know how this is at all acceptable. I usually expect much better from Microsoft products. This should really be considered a top priority issue due to the number of people experiencing it and the impact (basically makes the device unusable).

    2016-02-01 - 2016-02-12 40,806 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-12 - 2016-02-14 40,880 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-14 - 2016-02-21 40,880 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-21 - 2016-02-28 40,880 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-28 - 2016-03-07 40,871 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-07 - 2016-03-13 40,857 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-13 - 2016-04-10 40,822 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-10 - 2016-04-17 42,235 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-17 - 2016-04-24 40,896 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-24 - 2016-05-01 40,896 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-01 - 2016-05-08 40,472 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-08 - 2016-05-15 34,526 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-15 - 2016-05-22 30,370 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-22 - 2016-05-29 28,568 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-29 - 2016-06-05 24,444 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-05 - 2016-06-12 23,868 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-12 - 2016-06-19 22,534 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-19 - 2016-06-26 18,674 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-26 - 2016-07-03 16,251 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-03 - 2016-07-10 11,709 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-10 - 2016-07-17 8,456 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-18 6,110 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-19 6,110 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-20 6,110 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-21 6,110 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-22 6,110 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-23 4,746 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-24 3,656 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-25 3,656 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-07-26 3,656 mWh 42,157 mWh
    NAME X898289
    MANUFACTURER SIMPLO
    SERIAL NUMBER 1162156548
    CHEMISTRY LION
    DESIGN CAPACITY 42,157 mWh
    FULL CHARGE CAPACITY 1,968 mWh
    CYCLE COUNT 136

    Here's a helpful graph for anyone who thinks this is "normal lithium ion degradation" 

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