battery icon in lower right screen tray says "weak charging state, check power charger"

Question

power charger works on alternate surface pro and vice versa

Answer 1

Hi Roddy Sloss,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I understand that you’re having trouble with your Surface Pro's battery. If the battery icon on your Surface Pro 8 is showing a "weak charging state" message, it could indicate that your laptop is not receiving sufficient power from the charger. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Use the Original Charger: Ensure that you’re using the charger that came with your laptop. Sometimes using a different charger can lead to slower charging or other issues.
2. Make sure that the charging cable is securely connected to both the Surface Pro 8 and the power outlet.
3. Try using a different power outlet to see if the issue persists.
4. If possible, try using a different charging cable to see if the issue is with the cable.
5. If the issue persists, try restart your Surface by following these steps:
   1. Shut down your Surface Pro 8.
   2. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds.
   3. Release the power button and wait for a few seconds.
   4. Press the power button again to turn on your Surface Pro 8.
6. Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit and check any pending updates available. You may also check optional updates available. See: Fix common Surface problems using the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit (microsoft.com)
7. Remove and reinstall battery driver. From Device Manager, expand the Batteries category. Double-tap or double-click your battery driver (Surface battery), select the Driver tab, and select Uninstall > OK.  Then restart your device.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, kindly give answers to the following questions so we can further isolate your issue and formulate appropriate troubleshooting steps.

• May I know what build version of Windows you are currently running?
• Would you mind sharing a screenshot of the error?
• When did this issue started?
• Were there any changes made prior to this happen?

I hope the provided solution works for you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Lavenia

Answer 2

Hi Roddy Sloss,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I understand that you’re having trouble with your Surface Pro's battery. If the battery icon on your Surface Pro 8 is showing a "weak charging state" message, it could indicate that your laptop is not receiving sufficient power from the charger. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Use the Original Charger: Ensure that you’re using the charger that came with your laptop. Sometimes using a different charger can lead to slower charging or other issues.
2. Make sure that the charging cable is securely connected to both the Surface Pro 8 and the power outlet.
3. Try using a different power outlet to see if the issue persists.
4. If possible, try using a different charging cable to see if the issue is with the cable.
5. If the issue persists, try restart your Surface by following these steps:
   1. Shut down your Surface Pro 8.
   2. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds.
   3. Release the power button and wait for a few seconds.
   4. Press the power button again to turn on your Surface Pro 8.
6. Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit and check any pending updates available. You may also check optional updates available. See: Fix common Surface problems using the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit (microsoft.com)
7. Remove and reinstall battery driver. From Device Manager, expand the Batteries category. Double-tap or double-click your battery driver (Surface battery), select the Driver tab, and select Uninstall > OK.  Then restart your device.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, kindly give answers to the following questions so we can further isolate your issue and formulate appropriate troubleshooting steps.

• May I know what build version of Windows you are currently running?
• Would you mind sharing a screenshot of the error?
• When did this issue started?
• Were there any changes made prior to this happen?

I hope the provided solution works for you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Lavenia

 

Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5031455)

Nov 13, 2023

Hello Lavenia

Thank you for responding.  I tried each of the 7 steps you suggested without a resolution.  Other information requested is above.

Further, I have two Surface Pro laptops, an 8 and a 3.  Both have the same power charger.  The problem appears on both PCs if I use the Surface Pro 8 power charger and the problem does not appear if I sue the Surface Pro 3 power charger.  I reported the issue to Microsoft as I am under warranty and they are sending a new power charger that has not yet been received.

Roddy Sloss

Answer 3

Pls see response above

Answer 4

Hello Lavenia

This is 2nd attempt at a response. IN substance, it is the same as the first response that I attempted earlier today.

Information requested:

Message on lower right tray icon - battery with exclamation mark inside a triangle: "weak charging state, please check power charger"

Current version of Win 11: Home version 23H2

Other info: I have two power chargers that arrived with respective Surface Pro laptops; 1 is the Surface Pro 8 which is the one I am having trouble with; and the Second is a Surface Pro 3, that power charger works without exception on the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface Pro 8. the power charger that came with the Surface Pro 8 does not work with either PC and the error message is the same on both. I contacted Microsoft Support with this information and they are sending me (has not yet arrived) a new Surface Pro power charger as part of my warranty.

I reviewed you list of suggestions none of which changed the basic problem - error message with power charger tray icon.

I hope that information is helpful. Thank you. R Sloss

Answer 5

I appreciate you for responding back and providing answers to my questions.

Kindly check Device manager if the battery driver is showing any error code with a yellow exclamation icon?

Also try to Run the power troubleshooter.

Run the Power Troubleshooter:

1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I hotkeys.
2. Click on Troubleshoot under the System tab.
3. Choose Other troubleshooters.
4. Click on the Run button next to the Power option.
5. The troubleshooting window will pop up and try to detect the issue.

Manually update the drivers and firmware for your Surface.

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

If the issue persists, we might have to wait for the replacement charger to arrive getting to test it out. The power supply itself is then more likely to be the source of the issue.