iFixit Pro independent repairers, Microsoft Authorized Service Providers, Microsoft Experience Centers, and Microsoft Commercial customers can now purchase Microsoft service tools for Surface devices directly from iFixit.com.
“Microsoft has taken a big step toward making repair accessible to their customers, and their timing is perfect as Right to Repair gains momentum across the US,” iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens said. “Having OEM tools available will give repair technicians the ability to help their customers keep their devices alive for longer.”
This program is launching with three tools, as well as weights and accessories, all designed by Microsoft and manufactured by iFixit. These tools enable precision debonding and rebonding of adhesive for select Microsoft Surface models and will undergo the same rigorous quality testing and attention to detail that we give to all of our products.
Successfully working with adhesive is one of the most challenging aspects of repairing the Surface line. Adhesive must be precisely loosened without damaging other components. During reassembly, achieving a strong bond requires precise application of force. While not necessary to complete a DIY repair, these new tools are designed to prevent damage and will help technicians performing a high volume of repairs, and assist in improving accuracy and matching factory-level adhesion.
The Surface Display Bonding Frame is used in conjunction with weights to press the screen assembly onto the device to ensure proper adhesion. The frame comes with a 12″ x 12″ piece of 3/8″ thick EVA foam to place under the device during repair. We offer the frame in two sizes:
- Surface Display Bonding Frame for Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ (2021)
- Surface Display Bonding Frame for Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and Pro X
The Surface Battery Cover is placed on top of the opened device to ensure that no accidental contact is made with the motherboard or other sensitive components. This part is compatible with:
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (13.5-inch, 15-inch), 4 (13.5-inch, 15-inch), Surface Laptop Go, Surface Laptop SE, and Surface Laptop Studio.
The Surface Display Debonding Tool is used to separate the screen assembly from the device. The tool ensures that the opening pick is inserted just deep enough into the device to separate the screen assembly without damaging other components. This tool is designed for servicing:
iFixit Pro is available to repair professionals who agree to the Repair Technician’s Creed. You can apply for iFixit Pro here. Microsoft does not certify members of the iFixit Pro network.
Microsoft’s decision to provide tools to independent technicians is a step in the right direction. Like many companies, they still have a long way to go on their repairability journey, and we’re excited to join them. This is a great first step, and a test of the market—we hope to offer these same tools to the rest of the repair community in the future, and Microsoft is committed to expanding access to repair tools for new products over the next year.
iFixit engineers and our online community are actively working on new repair manuals for these products.
We will continue to provide free DIY repair information and parts for Microsoft devices to consumers. iFixit will always be an independent voice, and our editorial team operates separately from our partnerships team. We will continue to tear down and review new Microsoft products objectively.
crwdns2944067:017crwdne2944067:0
I’d love to see someone try to actually use this for a real repair. Highly likely you’ll crack the glass and no chance this will work to remove cracked glass. Very disappointing
Matt - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I use ifixit tools daily on smartphones and tablets. Never cracked a screen and I find moving glass a non issue. Are you sure you’ve tried any of ifixit products?
Kyle Griffiths -
For some reason I can’t reply to Kyle Griffiths, but clearly he hasn’t worked on a Surface Pro before.
vantt1 -
Why would this not work for older Surface Pro devices?
Jason Reuschlein - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
The newer Surface Pro devices employ a foam adhesive that requires little to no heat to slice through.
Microsoft Surface Pro X Teardown
Older Surface Pro devices (3 to 7, basically) used an adhesive so strong that simply heating it up to stick a pry tool under the glass is enough to crack the glass when the adhesive begins to cool and contract.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Teardown
vantt1 -
I wish Microsoft would just start bonding their screens to a plastic midframe and mount it into the device using clips and/or screws, kinda like how Apple has done it on the iPhone since 2012. Newer iPhones that do have adhesive don’t completely rely on it to hold the screen in place; it is more for ingress protection. Funnily enough even Apple themselves don’t put the iPad together like that though.
Having a plastic frame between where the glass and metal enclosure meets has the added benefit of extra protection in the event of any dents or impact on the enclosure.
Edit: That display debonding tool looks chonky. Seems to serve a function very similar to that of an iMac Opening Wheel, but requiring much more material to manufacture.
vantt1 - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Microsoft could learn a thing or two from HP.
https://www.ifixit.com/News/30195/hp-mak...
vantt1 -
How about the Surface Book line??
sales - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
The Surface Book, as it stands, is still nearly impossible to repair. Unless it sees a design revision, I don’t expect there to be any repair fixtures made for it any time soon. And with the release of the Surface Laptop Studio, that could be never.
vantt1 -
Good day,
I believe in the right of the end consumer to repair. To repair their propriety themselves or by a third party. IFIXIT will only sell their Microsoft OEM tools to third party repair businesses. How is this a win for the end consumer? Isn’t IFIXIT just supporting another BIG business and not the actual end consumer?
Scott E. Duncan - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I stopped buying Microsoft products for my team because they are practically impossible to repair. I use Dell XPS for everything now. So much easier to repair or upgrade new.
Larry Bradley - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Only making these tools available to the “special” people you and Microsoft have deemed worthy, is anti-Right to Repair. Shame.
adam - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Hey @fladuncan and adam,
I wanted to jump in here and address your concerns. Our long term goal is, of course, to make repair accessible to everyone. To do this we have fought forward inch by inch–it’s an uphill battle. One way to ultimately encourage manufacturers to make the internal components of their devices more accessible to the end user is to get them to make their devices repairable at all (an improvement you can see in the Surface 7 vs Surface Pro X scoring 1/10 vs 6/10, respectively).
Kyle Wiens -
We hope that by partnering with Microsoft to develop repair tools, they (Microsoft’s designers) will be more cognizant of their device design. Our long term goal in this is to show them that folks can handle repairing responsibly, they’ll see the benefits of self-repair.
For now, any repair professional can sign up for access to iFixit Pro and buy these tools. Microsoft cannot veto any professional from joining this network. We are hoping to sell these to consumers once we ramp up manufacturing and do more field testing.
Kyle Wiens -
Now all Microsoft needs to do is make battery replacements easier. Observations from my workplace, where Surface Pros are standard issue mobile computers; the majority of staff who use such devices do not have cracked screens since they are pretty unusable in tablet form. The battery swelling is much more common: https://www.engineering.com/story/the-mi...
vantt1 - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
If Microsoft & the rest of them really wants to help they’d provide schematics for everything.
J Moore (mrwarcriminal) - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Good to know that you work with Microsoft. I would like to use your tools soon if ever I encounter something that needs repairing.
ETPOnline - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0