Microsoft finally made replacement parts for Surface devices available in the US, Canada, and France. These components are intended for tech-savvy customers who want to repair their device after the warranty has expired.Find available parts in the Microsoft store.
Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro 9 (Intel and 5G SQ3 models), Surface Laptop 3, Surface Laptop 4, Surface Laptop 5, Surface Laptop Go 2, Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Studio 2 Plus desktops.
Some devices, such as the Surface Pro 9, have many replaceable parts, such as kickstands, displays, batteries, ports, back covers, speakers and network modules, and cameras. Some models, such as the Surface Pro 7, only have a repairable kickstand. While most Surface Laptops come with display, keyboard, SSD and rubber feet options, the Surface Laptop 5 also has new housing, ports, thermal modules and battery options. A full list can be found here: Microsoft blog post Announce news.
Parts aren’t cheap. Replacement battery for Surface Pro 9 $237.99 It’s $249.99 for the Intel model and $249.99 for the Arm version (which is weird because they look the same). New screen on Surface Pro 9 Up to $362.99. New keyboard for Surface Laptop 5 Starting at $87.99 For a 13.5-inch device with platinum-colored Alcantara fabric, other materials, colors and sizes jump to $137.99.
There are a few pieces to peruse, but not everything Microsoft has listed in the blog post is in the Microsoft Store yet. For example, the new feet for the Surface Studio 2 Plus are not yet listed for the Surface Laptop.
Microsoft does not sell its own repair tools. That’s why we partnered with iFixit.you can see the store here.Microsoft tooAs a dedicated self-healing page Includes links to repair guides, diagnostic toolkits, tools and parts.
And just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Microsoft’s Surface devices aren’t known for being easy to repair (especially the Surface Pro, which has an adhesive-mounted screen). “It’s important to follow the instructions in the applicable Microsoft service guide or article,” Tim McGuiggan, vice president of device, services and product engineering at Microsoft, said in a blog post.
It’s great that Microsoft makes their devices repairable by knowledgeable people, but it’s not entirely out of generosity. In October 2021, Microsoft bowed to pressure from shareholders and the environmental nonprofit As You Sow to consider doing its own repairs for its devices and agreed to increase access. In Spring 2022, we announced our findings highlighting the waste and greenhouse gas emissions of Microsoft’s existing repair processes.
Microsoft states that these replacement parts are for “out of warranty” repairs. Not sure if using it during the device’s warranty period will void the warranty. We have contacted Microsoft about this and will update you when we hear back.
Outside of the U.S., Canada, and France, “commercial resellers in all Surface markets will have access through existing channels,” McGuiggan wrote, with updates coming to other countries in the future.
In April 2022, Apple launched a self-service repair program in the United States, expanding to Europe later in the year. Some critics suggested that the repair program wasn’t good enough, as it required the device to be paired with the part using the serial number or IMEI. Apple’s setup allows customers to rent the toolkit for $49, which can include bulky tools.
Several other electronics retailers, such as Google and Samsung, have also partnered with iFixit to sell official replacement parts. That’s also where Valve looked at the Steam Deck component. Startup Framework has released its third generation of laptops designed to be self-healing from the ground up.
What this development means is that we hope that future Surface devices will be designed with self-healing in mind. But at least someone with the guts and the knowledge to open up a Surface has another avenue to repair the Surface besides sending it to Microsoft, especially if a local repair shop isn’t nearby.
