Surface pro 8 keeps hard crashing, heats up terribly

Question

My surface pro seems to overheat really fast for no reason and hard crash on some apps. I have barely used this thing, I'm thinking maybe the fans don't work.

Answer 1

Hi Old ManRaven,

Thank you for reaching Microsoft Community. We're sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. Allow me to ask few questions to help me further isolate the issue.

• May I know what build version of Windows are you on?
• When did this issue start occurring?
• Does the issue go away if you reboot?
• Does this issue occur randomly or after you do something specific?
• Are there any changes made prior to this happen?
• Does the issue change if device is in different location. For example, outdoors vs indoors?

If a Windows application or service uses lots of CPU resources for an extended period, the processor will get warm. That is expected and normal, regardless of what brand of computer you're using.

Or can be the CPU is throttling- Check if the device CPU is throttling by opening task manager, performance tab and looking at CPU speed. It will show low clock speed such as .4, .8, etc.

For the meantime, kindly try the following steps below to troubleshoot your device.

Force the device to shut down and restart.

Press and hold down the power button until your Surface shuts down and restarts and you see the Windows logo screen (about 20 seconds), then release the power button.

Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkitand check Windows updates including optional updates if available.

See: Fix common Surface problems using the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit (microsoft.com)

To check for updates: Go to Settings>> Windows updates >> Check for updates.

Surface devices have an adjustable power mode to allow you to balance your preference between best battery life and best performance. To view this setting, select the Start button, then type settings. Select Settings> System > Power & battery. For Power mode, select Better performanceorBest performance.

If you are running a memory-intensive app, such as streaming video or playing a game, try closing it for a few minutes. That may cool your Surface down.

Manually update drivers and firmware

Check what is the current OS Build of your Windows version. On the search box type Winver and hit the enter key.

Go to Download driver and firmware for Surface, choose **Surface Pro.**Then click the link next to Surface Pro 8 then click Download on the next page. Choose the .msi file that matches your current OS Build and click Next. After downloading, run and install the .msi then Restart. 

• Set up your device on a stable work surface that allows for adequate air circulation under and around it.
• Use caution when operating your device on a pillow, blanket, or other soft material, because the material can block the airflow, and this may cause device overheating.
• If the device is being used in a warm environment or in the sun, move device to cooler environment.

Surface devices adhere to all laws and guidelines related to temperature and thermal. It complies with the user-accessible surface temperature limits defined by the International Standards for Safety (IEC 60950-1 and IEC 62368). See Product safety warnings and instructions - Microsoft Support refer to sections called “Heat related concerns” and “Heat related concerns for wearable devices”.

Kind regards,

Lavenia

Answer 2

Hi Old ManRaven,

We haven't heard from you in 72 hours, so we assume that your issue has already been resolved. We will not be monitoring this thread going forward so, if you need further assistance, please create a new thread to discuss these concerns by clicking this link: Create a new question or start a discussion (microsoft.com)

Thank you for your understanding. 

Respectfully,

Lavenia