Microsoft testing fix for unintended 50% battery cap on ARM Surface devices via Windows Update

Microsoft is currently testing a software update to resolve a frustrating battery charging issue that has left numerous Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 users stuck with devices that won’t charge beyond 50% capacity. The problem emerged following an August 7 firmware update that inadvertently created a persistent charging limitation on ARM-based Surface devices.

The trouble began when Microsoft removed the “Battery Limit” setting from the Surface UEFI system as part of routine maintenance. However, for users who had previously enabled this feature, the 50% charging cap remained active even after the toggle disappeared. This created an impossible situation where affected devices would stop charging at half capacity with no visible way to disable the restriction.

Philippe, a Surface Pro 11 user who first reported the issue on Microsoft’s support forums, described the predicament succinctly: “The system still seems to be enforcing the 50% limit automatically based on firmware behavior, even without a visible toggle.” His post quickly attracted complaints from other ARM Surface users experiencing identical problems.

The Battery Limit feature was originally designed for specific commercial applications like point-of-sale systems, RFID setups, and kiosk deployments where extended battery longevity matters more than maximum charge capacity. When enabled, it intentionally stops charging at 50% to reduce battery wear over time. Most consumers never activate this setting, but those who did found themselves trapped when the August update removed their ability to turn it off.

Jeremy from Microsoft’s support team acknowledged the widespread nature of the problem in a forum response, explaining that the company is “testing a software update that will be released as soon as it passes our quality testing.” The fix will arrive through Windows Update, making it accessible to all affected users without requiring manual firmware downloads or complicated troubleshooting steps.

But this doesn’t take away from the fact that this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Carl Morecroft, another affected Surface Pro 11 owner, called it “a very serious problem that needs fixing ASAP” because it severely limits mobile productivity. Aaron, who tried multiple potential solutions, stated, “This is upsetting.”

While Microsoft hasn’t provided a specific timeline for the fix, we’ll likely see the update start rolling out sooner rather than later. For now, affected Surface users will need to work within the 50% battery limitation while waiting for Microsoft’s official resolution. The company has advised users to monitor their device’s update history for the incoming fix, which should restore normal charging behavior once installed.