“Affected customers are requested to join us at https://forum.flickergate.com“
We are customers of Microsoft who have invested $1500+ on new Surface Pro devices which have developed screen flickering, rendering the devices unusable. The flickering normally occurs 1 year after purchase when the warranty is already expired. This means that owners are forced to pay $450+ for an out-of-warranty replacement (refurbished) device from Microsoft.
However, many users have had the flickering recur on their refurbished Surface Pro replacements. 2000+ customers have complained on the official Microsoft support forums and this number is growing by the day. To date, Microsoft has not acknowledged the issue. We recommend potential buyers AVOID Surface Pro devices, and point to Consumer Reports removing their buy recommendation for Surface devices until Microsoft has fixed this problem because there is a high chance that your device will become unusable within a year.
Unfortunately, no software fix is available for this problem. Some users have been offered replacement devices as a fix by Microsoft but the problem often recurs in these devices. There are users who have reported on the official Microsoft support forum that they had the problem recur with 3 or 4 consecutive replacements.
Surface Pro’s are marketed and priced as premium devices. Microsoft should, therefore, respond accordingly by acknowledging the issue and offering a solution. If the issue is a hardware fault, then Microsoft should recall affected devices.
Update: Microsoft released a short statement after the widespread media coverage of the issue, stating that they are aware of the issue and that customers with defective Surface Pros should contact MS Support. To date Microsoft is still charging $450+ (depending on location) for out of warranty replacement (refurbished) devices.
Update (23/3/2018)
Due to sheer number of issues being submitted, its almost impossible to manage and post them online here. So we have added a forum for FlickerGate with dedicated section for Issues Posting. Kindly follow the following link to FlickerGate Forum to share your story.
Furthermore, almost all of us are posting on random forums for help and possible solutions. With our own forum, we will be able to plan systematically for this issue at a single point of discussion.
Also consider becoming a part of the class action lawsuit investigation against Microsoft, share your details with Migliaccio & Rathod LLP
Update (11/5/2018)
Microsoft released a statement today, admitting being able to solve the problem via software or firmware fixes and has created a replacement program for affected users and refunds for users who have had to pay for out of warranty replacements. See details here.
I guess I’m lucky that the flickering is limited to the bottom of the screen? I cannot imagine the frustration of those whose entire screen flickers. Update: Today, the entire screen flickers. Urgh. Now I Read more…
Hi there, I am also one of the unlucky ones, my Surface Pro 4 also has some screen issues, including flickering, shaking of the screen, and the stripes at the bottom of the screen, Read more…
As title, I have tried many online solutions but unsuccessful. The one which is on TheVerge today (2 Feb 2018) as to put it in freezer just could help me extend another few minutes of Read more…
Thanks for setting up this site and keeping up the pressure on Microsoft. My Surface Pro 4 has also been suffering from display issues (flickering and ghosting) since a few months ago.
First of all thank you for raising this issue. My hope is that Microsoft fixes this problem. My experience: This has been going on intermittently for about a year. The bottom strip of screen Read more…
My Surface pro 4 bought on september 2016 just started flickering yesterday.
After about 3-4hours of this kind of use, it starts to become a bit hot on the back and later the flickering starts. I tried to just let the surface stand for awhile and it Read more…
Hello, i’ve recently come across this website and I thought I was the only one. I am absolutely devestated and disappointed to Microsoft. I am a student. I need a screen that’s good enough to Read more…
After 1,5 Years Flickering started and Ghost Sites appear when Device is under used 1-2h. Microsoft refused to give me a new Device because of small scratches on the outside of my Surface. Its a Read more…
At about 18 months my SurfacePro4 began flickering as described by so many other owners. See attached video. I have not been able to get connection with Microsoft on this issue. Once the flickering begins Read more…
My name is Nacef Guess, and this is my story. I bought my Surface Pro 4 (i5, 4GB Ram, 128 GB) on Black Friday of 2015. I loved it! It really is a great device. Initially, I Read more…
If an issue ge’s me to write about it online it means it went too far! Besides the flickering which is getting heavier and heavier, now also when actually active on the SP4, my Read more…
Here my story, I purchased a SP4 Core M3 last year February at Malaysia electric shop, and having screen shaking/jumping issue since July 2017, I have tried several methods for example reset/restore/clean install OS, but Read more…
My surface pro4 has issue with flickering and it started yesterday, and during finding solution for it, I found your homepage. It makes me crazy and I cannot do any work with surface. Everything Read more…
