Surface gets frequently hot

Question

After recently buying the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, I have noticed that it can often get extremely hot (to the point when touching the bottom almost hurts), even when running basic apps such as Microsoft Edge with 2 tabs open, or File Explorer. My surface has an Intel i7 11th Gen Processor with integrated graphics, and I find confusing the fact that it gets hot even running Edge. I had an older (we're talking about around 4 years old) laptop with almost the same specs as my Microsoft Surface 4 and it still performs extremely better when running heavy apps such as Unity, and even Minecraft on max settings. Not to mention it could steadily play Fortnite on the lowest settings at 45FPS but without ever getting too hot. What I find weird is the fact that my Surface Laptop has never reached the point of emergency shutdown.

Does the Microsoft Surface 4 Laptop get hot by design or is getting this hot actually normal? Is there anything I can do to make it less hot? Should I probably contact Microsoft about this and/or get a new laptop? I would appreciate any help!

RECENT UPDATE: Recently I was playing Minecraft at the lowest settings on my Surface Laptop. The GPU and CPU usgae was steady at 96% and 30% average when suddently CPU usgae rised to 100% and GPU usage dropped to 20-10%. The laptop would run at 2FPS. I immediately performed an emergency shutdown. It cooled downed fast, and now it is working fine, though, I am still monitoring its performance. What I find wierd is that it did not shut down on its own or give me an overheating warning

This is a repost from another post that for some reason, I did not receive notifications for and resulted in it closing due to inactivity

Answer 1

Hi Georgios1999,

Thank you for reaching Microsoft Community. I understand your concern regarding the heat generated by your Surface Laptop 4.

Whenever your Surface Laptop 4 heats up, do you also experience a drop on its performance like lags or freezes?

Firstly, it is normal for the Surface to become warm when under normal use with several applications running for extended period but the device should still be running fine.  It complies with the user-accessible surface temperature limits defined by the International Standards for Safety (IEC 60950-1 and IEC 62368). If the temperature will reach above the standards, the Surface would automatically turn off also giving you a thermal sign warning. Here are some guidelines below also to reduce heat related concerns (see: Product safety warnings and instructions (microsoft.com)):

• Use CAUTION when operating your device with a pillow, blanket or other soft material in contact with your device, because the material can block the airflow which may result in the device overheating.
• If your device gets uncomfortably warm, remove it and take a break.
• If your device is used for long periods, its surface can become very warm. While the temperature may not feel hot to the touch, if you maintain physical contact with the device for a long time, your skin might suffer a low-heat injury.
• Never place the power supply unit (PSU) for your device on furniture or any other surface that might be marred by exposure to heat since the surface of the PSU may increase in temperature during normal use.

However, if the heat is excessive, it can cause discomfort and affect the performance of the device. The Surface Laptop 4 is designed to manage heat effectively, but there are some steps you can take to reduce the heat generated by the device.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the heat generated by your Surface Laptop 4:

1. Check for updates: Make sure that your device is up to date with the latest updates and firmware. This can help improve the performance of your device and reduce the heat generated. Make sure all updates are installed including Optional updates in Windows Settings > Windows Updates.
2. Close unnecessary apps: Running multiple apps at the same time can cause your device to generate more heat. Close any apps that you are not using to reduce the load on your device.
3. Adjust power settings: You can adjust the power settings on your device to reduce the heat generated. Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings. From here, you can select a power plan that suits your needs.
4. Use a cooling pad: Using a cooling pad can help reduce the heat generated by your device. A cooling pad is a device that sits underneath your laptop and helps to dissipate heat.
5. Clean the vents: Over time, dust and debris can accumulate in the vents of your device, which can cause it to generate more heat. Use a can of compressed air to clean the vents and improve airflow.

Additionally, try also to check for the Surface drivers' health through the Surface app and run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit on the device to run some system checks and repairs then see if the behavior improves. See this page for reference: Fix common Surface problems using the Surface app and Surface Diagnostic Toolkit - Microsoft Support

I hope this information helps you resolve the issue. Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Kind regards,
Marrion

Answer 2

Hi Georgios1999,

We haven't heard from you, so we assume that your issue has already been addressed. We will not be monitoring this thread moving 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 understanding. 

Kind regards,
Marrion