Surface Pro Not Charging? 10 Proven Fixes

Quick Fix

Surface Pro not charging? Check the LED on the charger – it should be solid white when connected. If no light, try a different outlet. Clean the charging port and connector with a dry cloth. Force restart: hold Power button for 30 seconds, release, wait 10 seconds, press Power to turn on.

Why Won’t Surface Pro Charge?

Surface Pro charging issues come from faulty chargers, dirty connectors, driver problems, battery issues, or power settings. The Surface Connect port is magnetic and easily affected by debris or poor alignment.

Method 1: Check Charger LED

LED indicates charger status.

• Solid white: Charging normally
• Blinking white: Problem detected
• No light: No power from outlet or faulty charger
• Try different outlet if no light

Method 2: Clean Charging Connector

Debris blocks connection.

1. Disconnect charger from Surface
2. Clean both connectors with dry cloth
3. Check for debris in Surface port
4. Use compressed air gently
5. Reconnect firmly – should click magnetically

Method 3: Try Different Outlet

Outlet may not work.

1. Unplug charger from current outlet
2. Try different wall outlet
3. Plug directly into wall (not power strip)
4. Test outlet with another device

Method 4: Force Restart Surface

Clear power system glitch.

1. Hold Power button for 30 seconds
2. Release button
3. Wait 10 seconds
4. Press Power button to turn on
5. Connect charger after boot

Method 5: Two-Button Shutdown

Forces complete power off.

1. Hold Power + Volume Up together
2. Hold for 15 seconds
3. Release both buttons
4. Wait 10 seconds
5. Press Power to turn on

Method 6: Update Surface Drivers

Driver issues affect charging.

1. Settings > Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. Install all available updates
4. Or download from Microsoft Surface support
5. Restart after updating

Method 7: Reinstall Battery Driver

Reset battery detection.

1. Right-click Start > Device Manager
2. Expand Batteries
3. Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
4. Select Uninstall device
5. Restart Surface – driver reinstalls automatically

Method 8: Check Power Settings

Settings may limit charging.

1. Settings > System > Power & battery
2. Check Battery limit isn’t enabled
3. Battery limit stops charging at 50%
4. Disable if enabled

Method 9: Try Different Charger

Charger may be faulty.

1. Borrow another Surface charger
2. Or try USB-C charging (if supported)
3. Surface Pro 5+ supports USB-C PD charging
4. Use 60W+ USB-C PD charger
5. If different charger works, original is faulty

Method 10: Contact Microsoft Support

Hardware issues need service.

• Check warranty at account.microsoft.com/devices
• Surface has 1-year limited warranty
• Microsoft Complete extends coverage
• Battery issues may require device replacement
• Replacement chargers available from Microsoft

FAQ

Why does Surface say “plugged in, not charging”?

This usually means the charger provides less power than needed, or battery driver has issues. Try the original Surface charger, not USB-C. Reinstall the battery driver through Device Manager.

Can I charge Surface Pro with USB-C?

Surface Pro 5 and newer support USB-C charging with a 60W+ USB-C PD charger. Older models require the Surface Connect charger. USB-C charges slower than the original charger.

Why does Surface charger get hot?

Some warmth is normal during charging. However, if charger is very hot, stop using it – this indicates a fault. Replace the charger to avoid damage or safety issues.