Why does my Surface Pro 8 get so hot when plugged in?

Question

Why does my Surface Pro 8 get so hot when plugged in?

Answer 1

Commenting on your list of items:

Item 1: No, nothing that is resource intensive is running. It merely is plugged in and gets hot.

Item 2: The battery is indeed charging when plugged in however, none of my other 3 MS Surfaces gets this hot when plugged in and charging.

Item 3: There are not any background processes happening when the Surface gets hot! It simply gets hot when plugged in as stated.

Item 4: It is not set for High Performance. It is set for Balanced Performance.

Item 5: I am not using the Surface on a restricted surface. As stated the device gets hot simply being plugged in.

I will run the Surface Diagnostics however, I've done that before...

After running Surface Diagnostics, it showed NO issues.

The issue as stated is the Surface Pro 8 gets extremely hot when plugged in. What's the solution???

Answer 2

Hi tdehan,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I'm Hahn and I'm here to help you with your concern.

If your Surface Pro 8 gets unusually hot when plugged in, it could be due to several factors:

1. High CPU/GPU Usage: When the Surface Pro 8 is plugged in, it might be running resource-intensive tasks, such as software updates, background apps, or high-performance tasks like gaming or video editing. These can cause the device to heat up, especially if the CPU and GPU are under heavy load.
2. Battery Charging: Charging the battery generates heat, particularly if the battery is charging rapidly or is near full capacity. The charging process itself can increase the device's temperature, especially when combined with other factors like high usage.
3. Background Processes: There may be background processes running, such as Windows Update, antivirus scans, or other system maintenance tasks that are more active when the device is plugged in, leading to increased heat generation.
4. Power Settings: When plugged in, your Surface Pro 8 might be set to a "High Performance" power plan, which can cause the CPU to run at higher speeds and generate more heat.
5. Environmental Factors: If you're using the device in a warm environment or on a surface that restricts airflow (like a bed or couch), this can exacerbate heating issues.

• Force a shutdown and restart your Surface: Force a shutdown and restart your Surface - Microsoft Support
• A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program. How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support
• Run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit: Fix common Surface problems using the Surface app and Surface Diagnostic Toolkit - Microsoft Support

Have you noticed any specific patterns or activities that seem to trigger the overheating?

I hope this helps. If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Your Sincerely

Hahn. W - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist