Surface Pro firmware update fixes Pen and touch performance issues

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
last updated

Microsoft has (finally) rolled out a fix for Surface Pen performance on the latest Surface Pro.

Microsoft this week shipped out a fresh firmware update (opens in new tab) for its latest Surface Pro that finally addresses a lingering and widespread issue related to Surface Pen performance. In a lengthy thread on its Answers forum (opens in new tab), a Microsoft representative confirmed that a fix for the issue, which caused the pen line to become offset if a users hand is resting on the screen while drawing, began rolling out on August 8 (via Reddit).

Alongside the pen fix, Microsoft also addressed system security and stability with the latest batch of firmware. Here's a look at all of what's new:

  • Marvell AVASTAR Bluetooth Radio Adapter – Bluetooth: 15.68.9125.57 improves system security.
  • Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller – Network adapters: 15.68.9125.57 improves system security.
  • Surface Integration Service Device – System devices: 4.18.136.0 improves system stability.
  • Surface Touch Servicing ML – System devices: 1.16.139.0 improves pen and touch performance.
  • Surface Touch – Firmware: 429.0.1.10 improves pen and touch performance.
  • Surface UEFI – Firmware: 234.2291.769.0 improves driver installation servicing.

So far, it looks like the update has succeeded in addressing the issue, with several users that had experienced jitter before reporting that it has been corrected post-update.

If you're using a Surface Pro, and particularly if you were hit with any pen issues, you can grab the latest batch of firmware updates via Windows Update now.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

7 Comments
  • It's the horrible touch performance that was annoying me. Most of the time I had to keep tapping before it would recognize my input. So far, it seems to have been fixed. It's responding on first tap.
  • The latest system and firmware updates have finally fixed the erratic pen tilt detection / parallax correction problem that plagued the otherwise high quality 2017 Pro and Pen since they were introduced last summer. I would go even further and say that with these updates installed, the 2017 Surface Pro is finally one of the best, if not the best, inking laptop or tablet on the planet. BUT why Microsoft never let us know they were working on this problem while it was being discussed on the aforementioned thread for over one year is a puzzle. What were the product managers or upper management thinking?
  • Agreed, Microsoft can be so flaky about problems like this. The old backlight bleed problem (clearly, clearly a manufacturing or design error despite the protests and mocking of a lot of tech journalists) was simply ignored. An that whole Surface Pro 4 screen fiasco - yikes. Anyway, I'm glad that tiny pen-jump issue has been resolved. I'm just a heavy note-taker, not an artist, but even I noticed. It was annoying! I want to dot my tiny i's with properly placed dots!
  • I sometimes have the problem of the keyboard disappearing while in Tablet mode. It just shows an outline and nothing else. Restarting has solved the problem for me, but I hope this is addressed with this update. In general, I have not been a big fan of the Tablet mode yet on my SP.
  • Hi, I have a Surface Book V1 and I am located in France.
    WIth my windows 10 pro, I have searched for new this firmware in Windows Update but I can't see anything for my Surface Pen, so I still have this issue.
    Do you know if Windows Updates package can be delayed depending of your based country? Thanks for your help
  • Surface Pro 2017 update only, so the SB 1 won't be covered by this.
  • I have the same pen issue with my SB1. For an identical issue, It is weird that fix has been provided for a device and not for another..