Your Surface Pro shutting down randomly during work, playing games, or browsing the internet can be a very annoying (and recurring) experience. There are many possible causes of these shutdowns from an overheating device, to the presence of malware on the computer.
Over my decade-plus using technology each and every day for work, I have had to deal with plenty of issues like devices shutting down, seemingly at random. However, there is always a reason and usually a solution that can fix the issue relatively quickly and easily.
With that in mind, this guide is going to go through a couple of reasons why your Surface Pro might be shutting down on its own.
Contents
1. Issue With the Battery or Power Supply
One of the most common causes of a Surface Pro shutting down repeatedly is a problem with the battery or power supply. When you plug in your Surface Pro charging cable, it connects to the power supply, which is responsible for keeping the device powered on.
If this internal power supply is damaged, faulty, or there is an issue with the connection, it can cause your computer to shut off without warning. Like the power supply, a faulty or damaged battery could be causing this issue of shutting down, as well.
If you think it is an issue with the battery or power supply, the solution is generally to replace them. This can be done on your own with a couple of tools and a video or guide, but it is often worthwhile to reach out to a professional if you’re not up for doing it yourself.
2. A Problem With the Drivers
The drivers in your Surface Pro essentially tell and provide instructions for how the computer should function, and all pieces of hardware found in your device will require drivers to operate. A problem within these drivers is a frequent cause of random shutdowns in a computer.
This could be an issue with the drivers themselves being faulty, or they could simply be out of date. To ensure you stay on top of things, consider automatically updating drivers.
If you find that this is your issue, the solution is often to simply make updates to the drivers, or to reset your computer (in some cases). You may also need to uninstall and reinstall your drivers in some scenarios, as well.
3. The Device is Overheating
A Surface Pro that is getting too hot will often shut down unexpectedly. This overheating can occur from the device being out in the sun too long, experiencing charger-related issues, or even when too many programs or apps are being run at the same time.
In some cases, even dust and other debris clogging up the fans and vents can lead to overheating in a device. You will generally know if your Surface Pro is overheating, because a thermometer icon will show up on the screen immediately before the device shuts down.
The way to fix this to simply help your device to cool off. Take it out of the sun for a while, or leave it in moderate temperatures for a period of time to give it a break.
Whether you have a Surface Pro 7, or any other model of the device, this is an issue that can continue to occur if you let your device heat up too much, so be careful when, where and how you use it.
4. You Could Have Malware
Another reason for your computer shutting down frequently and seemingly out of nowhere is the presence of malware on the device. Malware can do a variety of different negative things to your device, such as steal passwords, delete files, and yes, even shut down your computer.
This malware could have found its way onto your device from you visiting a fraudulent website, downloading something you shouldn’t have, or even opening a certain attachment. In many cases, you won’t even know you have malware or a virus before it is too late.
Normally, running a virus scan (or using another online tool) and getting rid of malware or viruses that way is an option, but if your computer shuts down immediately after being turned on, you won’t have the opportunity.
In that case, you will need to take your computer to a professional and have them clean it to rid it of the malware so it is safe to use once again.
5. Problems with the Sleep mode
When sleep mode works as intended, it is a great way to conserve your battery, while also making sure you can access the computer in seconds if need be. Unfortunately, it may not always work this way, and can actually contribute to these shutdowns.
In some cases, turning on sleep mode and using it will lead to a full shutdown instead of the brief hibernation that it should. If this is your issue, simply turn off and disable sleep mode. This is done by going to Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Never.
As for what causes sleep mode to accidentally cause shutdowns, it can often be due to corrupted system files somewhere within the device.
FAQs
Here are a few commonly asked questions about Surface Pros shutting down, along with their answers.
Why does my Surface Pro shut down as soon as it is unplugged?
If unplugging your Surface Pro from its charger is what causes a shutdown, there is a good chance your internal battery is faulty or dead. The device is relying on the outlet to power it, and once that power source is removed there is nothing to keep the Surface Pro on.
What should I do if none of these fixes work and I can’t identify the problem?
If none of these fixes work, or you are unsure why your Surface Pro is randomly turning off, reaching out to Microsoft tech support (or another professional) is a good idea. They can often walk you through the different possibilities and help you remedy the situation.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many reasons why your Surface Pro might be randomly shutting off during everyday usage. We hope that this guide has been able to help you not only identify the issue that was leading to your Surface Pro shutting down, but also a solution that works for you.
Is there anything else you feel that this guide should have mentioned? If so, let us know in a comment below!
