14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has finally managed to determine the cause of the Surface Pro 3 limited Wi-Fi connectivity bug, so today the company has rolled out a firmware update for the tablet, that’s being delivered to all devices via Windows Update.
The problem was first reported by Surface Pro 3 owners soon after the first units were shipped to customers in June this year, and although similar problems were also found on previous tablet models, Microsoft needed to wait several months before rolling out a fix.
In most cases, users complained that the Surface Pro 3 lost Wi-Fi connectivity all of a sudden, making it impossible to browse the web without a reboot of the device.
Sometimes, customers said that it all happened when waking the tablet from sleep, but most of the workarounds that reached online forums in the past few days made no difference.
New firmware update on Patch Tuesday
Microsoft is shipping the new firmware version via Windows Update, so the only thing you need to do is keep the tablet connected to the Internet until download and installation are completed.
Of course, this could be a really big challenge if the device loses Wi-Fi connectivity at random times, but once the new firmware is installed, everything should be back to normal.
Here are the changes that the new firmware version brings, according to the official release notes:
• Surface Pro UEFI update (v3.10.250.0) improves system experience and enhances overall system stability, including Wi-Fi. • Surface Pro Embedded Controller Firmware update (v38.6.50.0) enhanced support for system performance and user experience, including thermostat icon on boot. • Surface Pro System Aggregator Firmware update (v3.9.350.0) increases the overall system reliability and compatibility with a Surface cover. • Surface Integration driver update (v2.0.1102.0) enhances user experience, including Wi-Fi stability. • Surface Wi-Fi and Bluetooth driver update (v15.68.3055.107) improves Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth reliability and system stability, and significantly enhances the user experience.
Microsoft is now waiting for feedback from Surface buyers
While Microsoft says that the new firmware should address all Wi-Fi problems for Surface Pro 3 buyers, the company is also asking those who purchased a tablet and experienced these bugs to provide feedback after installing the September 2014 updates.
“We are looking for feedback from anyone still facing limited wifi when waking from sleep, following successful installation of the September 9th firmware update,” a company support engineer said in a short post on the Community forums.
At this point, it’s not yet clear whether these problems are indeed fixed by the new firmware, but we’re hearing from some users that the problem persists despite today’s updates.
More information on this will follow soon, as more Pro 3 buyers get the chance to try out the new release.