Surface Laptop 3 owners with cracked screens get free repairs

Microsoft to fix Surface Laptop 3 cracking screen issue for free
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Microsoft is no longer charging Surface Laptop 3 owners to repair their cracked screens. As we previously reported, Microsoft was investigating complaints about the Surface Laptop 3's display spontaneously cracking for no reason. 

In the meantime, the PC maker was charging customers who were within warranty to fix these defective panels. As ZDNet reports, Microsoft addressed the now known issue on its Surface support page on Friday. 

"We have investigated claims of screen cracking on Surface Laptop 3 and have determined that, in a very small percentage of cases, a hard foreign particle may cause a hairline fracture in the glass that may seem to appear unexpectedly or without visible cause, " Microsoft wrote.

"If you believe your Surface Laptop 3 is experiencing this issue, you are encouraged to contact our Microsoft Support to initiate a repair free of charge during the warranty period of the device."

Microsoft's limited warranty does not cover damages from drops or mishandling. In the case of the cracked screens, it is considered a manufacturer defect so it falls under warranty coverage. 

Microsoft also encourages Surface Laptop 3 owners to contact their support team for reimbursement if they've already paid for the repair of their laptop. 

Although reports about the PC's cracked screen began appearing in February, Microsoft may have received complaints about the issue prior. There's a four-month gap between the Surface Laptop 3's October 2019 release and when the reports began making rounds in the wild. 

This news about Microsoft's warranty support for the Surface Laptop 3's cracked screen fiasco arrives amid Surface Laptop 4 rumors. Hopefully, Microsoft takes what it learned from its investigation to prevent the issue from resurfacing in its next-gen flagship PC. 

Hilda Scott

Hilda Scott uses her combined passion for gadgets from laptops to TVs and her bargain-shopping savvy to bring you the best prices on all things tech. She has a bachelor’s degree in film and media studies from Hunter College and over a decade of experience in tech journalism. Her work has been featured on Tom’s Guide, iTechPost, Examiner.com, Parlemag, Enstars, and Latin Times. When she's not scouting for the best deals, Hilda’s catching up on her favorite TV series and combat sports.