Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

38

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours            

Sections

6

  • SSD and SIM Card Door
  • 3 steps
  • SSD
  • 2 steps
  • Microsoft Surface Pro X Opening Procedure
  • 10 steps
  • Screen
  • 9 steps
  • Heat Sink
  • 9 steps
  • Right Speaker
  • 5 steps

Flags

0

  • BackMicrosoft Surface Pro X

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

Warning: Make sure to remove the SSD from the Surface before starting any repairs. This will disconnect the battery and prevent damage to the Surface.

For this repair, you’ll need to apply new thermal paste to the CPU during reassembly. Make sure you have new thermal paste and either high-concentration isopropyl alcohol or a specialized thermal paste cleaner.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your Surface. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

What you need

Step 1

              Open the kickstand               
  • Make sure your Surface Pro X is turned off, and laying screen-side down on a soft surface.
  • After turning off your device, make sure to remove the SSD from the Surface before starting any repairs. This will disconnect the battery and prevent damage to the device.
  • Lift the kickstand to at least a 90° angle, so that it is perpendicular to the Surface’s screen. The further you open the hinge, the easier it is to access the SSD and SIM card door.

Make sure your Surface Pro X is turned off, and laying screen-side down on a soft surface.

After turning off your device, make sure to remove the SSD from the Surface before starting any repairs. This will disconnect the battery and prevent damage to the device.

Lift the kickstand to at least a 90° angle, so that it is perpendicular to the Surface’s screen. The further you open the hinge, the easier it is to access the SSD and SIM card door.

1024

Step 2

              Open the SSD and SIM card door               
  • Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the bottom right corner of the SSD and SIM card door, located near the bottom right corner of the Surface.
  • Press firmly to open the door.

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the bottom right corner of the SSD and SIM card door, located near the bottom right corner of the Surface.

Press firmly to open the door.

Step 3

              Remove the SSD and SIM card door               
  • Lift the SSD and SIM card door and remove it from the Surface.
  • When reinstalling the door, first insert the end of the door with the small tab into the Surface just above the SSD, then lay the rest of the door down.

Lift the SSD and SIM card door and remove it from the Surface.

When reinstalling the door, first insert the end of the door with the small tab into the Surface just above the SSD, then lay the rest of the door down.

Step 4

              Remove the SSD screw               
  • Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 2.4 mm screw securing the SSD.

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 2.4 mm screw securing the SSD.

Step 5

              Remove the SSD               
  • Use your finger or a spudger to lift the SSD just enough that it clears the edges of its recess.
  • Don’t lift the SSD more than you have to—doing so may damage the SSD or its socket.
  • Gently pull the SSD straight out of its socket.
  • When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

Use your finger or a spudger to lift the SSD just enough that it clears the edges of its recess.

Don’t lift the SSD more than you have to—doing so may damage the SSD or its socket.

Gently pull the SSD straight out of its socket.

When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

Step 6

              Tape the screen               
  • Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.
  • If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
  • Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the Surface’s display until the whole face is covered.
  • This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
  • Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.

Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.

If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the Surface’s display until the whole face is covered.

This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.

Step 7

              Apply a suction cup to the screen               
  • Wear safety glasses during the screen removal procedure in case the glass shatters while you’re working.
  • There is a significant chance that you may break the unreinforced and fragile display panel during this procedure. Be sure to work slowly and be extremely careful while slicing through the adhesive.
  • Place your tablet on your work surface so that the screen is facing up.
  • Apply a suction cup to the screen next to the right speaker grille.

Wear safety glasses during the screen removal procedure in case the glass shatters while you’re working.

There is a significant chance that you may break the unreinforced and fragile display panel during this procedure. Be sure to work slowly and be extremely careful while slicing through the adhesive.

Place your tablet on your work surface so that the screen is facing up.

Apply a suction cup to the screen next to the right speaker grille.

Step 8

              Secure the tablet               
  • Place your hand on the screen next to the suction cup to secure the Surface while you lift up the screen.

Place your hand on the screen next to the suction cup to secure the Surface while you lift up the screen.

Step 9

              Create a gap between the screen and frame               
  • Don’t insert the opening pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the right, bottom, and left edge.
  • Lift up on the suction cup to create a gap between the screen and the frame.
  • The gap only needs to be wide enough to slide in an opening pick.
  • Insert an opening pick about 2 mm into the gap. Leave the opening pick in the gap to prevent it from resealing.

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the right, bottom, and left edge.

Lift up on the suction cup to create a gap between the screen and the frame.

The gap only needs to be wide enough to slide in an opening pick.

Insert an opening pick about 2 mm into the gap. Leave the opening pick in the gap to prevent it from resealing.

Step 10

              Cut through the screen adhesive               
  • Insert a second opening pick into the gap between the screen and the frame.
  • Slide the pick down the right edge of the Surface to slice through the adhesive under the screen.
  • Leave this opening pick in the right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a second opening pick into the gap between the screen and the frame.

Slide the pick down the right edge of the Surface to slice through the adhesive under the screen.

Leave this opening pick in the right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 11

  • Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the screen adhesive on the bottom edge or you may damage delicate components on the screen.
  • Insert a third opening pick into the bottom right corner and slide it around the corner toward the bottom edge.

Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the screen adhesive on the bottom edge or you may damage delicate components on the screen.

Insert a third opening pick into the bottom right corner and slide it around the corner toward the bottom edge.

Step 12

  • Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.
  • Leave this pick in the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Leave this pick in the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 13

  • Insert a fourth opening pick into the bottom left corner and slide it around the corner toward the left edge.
  • Slide the pick along the left edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.
  • Leave this pick in the left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a fourth opening pick into the bottom left corner and slide it around the corner toward the left edge.

Slide the pick along the left edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Leave this pick in the left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 14

  • Don’t insert the opening pick more than 10 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the top edge. Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm near the speaker grille.
  • Insert a fifth opening pick into the top left corner and slide it around the corner toward the top edge.
  • Slide the pick along the top edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 10 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the top edge. Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm near the speaker grille.

Insert a fifth opening pick into the top left corner and slide it around the corner toward the top edge.

Slide the pick along the top edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Step 15

              Open the Surface               
  • Do not remove the screen yet. It is still connected to the motherboard by the display cable. Keep the screen as close as possible to the Surface’s frame to avoid straining the display cable.
  • Avoid hitting the battery with the screen during this procedure. A punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.
  • Lift up the top edge of the screen so that it is at a 30° angle with the frame.
  • If you encounter any resistance, stop and check that all the adhesive is separated. Use an opening pick to cut through any remaining adhesive.
  • Rotate the screen so that its bottom edge is in the middle of the frame. The screen should be perpendicular to the frame.
  • Rotate the screen 90° so that it is facing down. Place the screen on the frame.

Do not remove the screen yet. It is still connected to the motherboard by the display cable. Keep the screen as close as possible to the Surface’s frame to avoid straining the display cable.

Avoid hitting the battery with the screen during this procedure. A punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.

Lift up the top edge of the screen so that it is at a 30° angle with the frame.

If you encounter any resistance, stop and check that all the adhesive is separated. Use an opening pick to cut through any remaining adhesive.

Rotate the screen so that its bottom edge is in the middle of the frame. The screen should be perpendicular to the frame.

Rotate the screen 90° so that it is facing down. Place the screen on the frame.

Step 16

              Remove the display cable shield               
  • Insert a tine of a pair of pointed tweezers under the bottom right corner of the display cable shield (where the display cable is oriented down).
  • Lift up the corner to detach it from the screen.

Insert a tine of a pair of pointed tweezers under the bottom right corner of the display cable shield (where the display cable is oriented down).

Lift up the corner to detach it from the screen.

Step 17

  • Repeat the previous step for the bottom right corner.

Repeat the previous step for the bottom right corner.

Step 18

  • Remove the display cable shield from the screen.
  • If the display cable shield isn’t completely detached from the screen, pry up additional areas around the edges of the shield.

Remove the display cable shield from the screen.

If the display cable shield isn’t completely detached from the screen, pry up additional areas around the edges of the shield.

Step 19

              Disconnect the screen               
  • Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the right side of the display cable press connector.
  • Lift up the right side of the press connector to detach it from the display cable socket on the screen.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the right side of the display cable press connector.

Lift up the right side of the press connector to detach it from the display cable socket on the screen.

Step 20

  • Repeat the previous step on the left side of the display cable connector to fully disconnect it from the screen.
  • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Repeat the previous step on the left side of the display cable connector to fully disconnect it from the screen.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 21

              Remove the screen               
  • Remove the screen from the frame.

Remove the screen from the frame.

Step 22

              Speaker grille information               
  • The left and right speaker grilles may be attached to the Surface’s frame or the screen.
  • If you are going to replace a speaker grille that is attached to the frame, follow these steps to remove it:
  • Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the grille.
  • Remove the speaker grille.
  • Repeat for the other speaker grille.

The left and right speaker grilles may be attached to the Surface’s frame or the screen.

If you are going to replace a speaker grille that is attached to the frame, follow these steps to remove it:

Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the grille.

Remove the speaker grille.

Repeat for the other speaker grille.

Step 23

  • If you are going to replace or transfer a speaker grille that is attached to the screen, follow these steps to remove it:
  • Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the grille.
  • Remove the speaker grille.
  • Repeat for the other speaker grille.

If you are going to replace or transfer a speaker grille that is attached to the screen, follow these steps to remove it:

Step 24

              Screen adhesive information               
  • If you are going to replace the screen adhesive, follow these steps:
  • Apply a few drops of high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol to the adhesive.
  • Use a cotton swab or the flat end of a spudger to scrape away the adhesive.
  • Use a lint-free cloth or coffee filter to wipe away any remaining adhesive.
  • Allow the surface to dry completely before applying replacement adhesive.
  • Apply new adhesive strips or pre-cut adhesive to the frame where the old screen adhesive was located.

If you are going to replace the screen adhesive, follow these steps:

Apply a few drops of high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol to the adhesive.

Use a cotton swab or the flat end of a spudger to scrape away the adhesive.

Use a lint-free cloth or coffee filter to wipe away any remaining adhesive.

Allow the surface to dry completely before applying replacement adhesive.

Apply new adhesive strips or pre-cut adhesive to the frame where the old screen adhesive was located.

Step 25

              Remove the heat sink sticker               
  • If you are going to reinstall this sticker during reassembly, try to keep it as intact as possible.
  • Lift up the edge of the heat sink sticker closest to the bottom edge of the Surface.

If you are going to reinstall this sticker during reassembly, try to keep it as intact as possible.

Lift up the edge of the heat sink sticker closest to the bottom edge of the Surface.

Step 26

  • Lift up the center of the sticker.

Lift up the center of the sticker.

Step 27

  • Lift up one side of the sticker attached to the heat sink.
  • Repeat for the other side. The sticker should now be fully detached.
  • Remove the sticker.

Lift up one side of the sticker attached to the heat sink.

Repeat for the other side. The sticker should now be fully detached.

Remove the sticker.

Step 28

              Remove the screw stickers               
  • If you are going to reinstall these stickers during reassembly, try to keep them as intact as possible. These stickers can tear easily during removal.
  • Use an opening tool to lift up the edge of one of the small black stickers covering the four screws in the center of the heat sink.
  • You only need to lift the edge enough to grip it with tweezers.

If you are going to reinstall these stickers during reassembly, try to keep them as intact as possible. These stickers can tear easily during removal.

Use an opening tool to lift up the edge of one of the small black stickers covering the four screws in the center of the heat sink.

You only need to lift the edge enough to grip it with tweezers.

Step 29

  • Use a pair of blunt tweezers to remove the sticker covering the heat sink screw.
  • Repeat this process for the other three stickers.

Use a pair of blunt tweezers to remove the sticker covering the heat sink screw.

Repeat this process for the other three stickers.

Step 30

              Remove the heat sink screws               
  • Remove the 14 screws securing the heat sink:
  • Eight 2.2 mm T3 Torx screws
  • One 2.0 mm T3 Torx screw
  • One 3.2 mm T3 Torx screw
  • Four 2.5 mm T6 screws

Remove the 14 screws securing the heat sink:

Eight 2.2 mm T3 Torx screws

One 2.0 mm T3 Torx screw

One 3.2 mm T3 Torx screw

Four 2.5 mm T6 screws

Step 31

              Remove the heat sink               
  • The heat sink is adhered to the CPU with thermal paste.
  • Insert an opening pick about 2 mm under the heat sink at its bottom edge directly to the left of the display cable.
  • The opening pick should be between the heat sink and the frame surrounding the motherboard.
  • Slide the opening pick to the left toward the heat pipe to detach the heat sink from the CPU.

The heat sink is adhered to the CPU with thermal paste.

Insert an opening pick about 2 mm under the heat sink at its bottom edge directly to the left of the display cable.

The opening pick should be between the heat sink and the frame surrounding the motherboard.

Slide the opening pick to the left toward the heat pipe to detach the heat sink from the CPU.

Step 32

  • Swing the bottom edge of the heat sink up so that it is at about a 10° angle with the frame.

Swing the bottom edge of the heat sink up so that it is at about a 10° angle with the frame.

Step 33

  • Rotate the heat sink about 10° clockwise so that it can be removed from the foam adhesive strip covering the top left screw hole.
  • Remove the heat sink from the Surface.
  • During reassembly, slide the heat sink’s top left screw hole under the foam adhesive strip.
  • Before reinstalling your heat sink, make sure to properly clean the heat sink and CPU, and apply new thermal paste.

Rotate the heat sink about 10° clockwise so that it can be removed from the foam adhesive strip covering the top left screw hole.

Remove the heat sink from the Surface.

During reassembly, slide the heat sink’s top left screw hole under the foam adhesive strip.

Before reinstalling your heat sink, make sure to properly clean the heat sink and CPU, and apply new thermal paste.

Step 34

              Disconnect the right speaker               
  • Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the right speaker’s press connector from its socket.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the right speaker’s press connector from its socket.

Step 35

              Detach the right speaker's cable               
  • Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the right speaker’s cable and detach it from the frame.

Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the right speaker’s cable and detach it from the frame.

Step 36

              Lift up the foam adhesive               
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift up the foam adhesive covering the right speaker’s top right screw.

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift up the foam adhesive covering the right speaker’s top right screw.

Step 37

              Remove the right speaker screws               
  • Remove the two screws securing the right speaker:
  • One 2.2 mm T3 Torx screw
  • One 2.9 mm T6 Torx screw

Remove the two screws securing the right speaker:

One 2.2 mm T3 Torx screw

One 2.9 mm T6 Torx screw

Step 38

              Remove the right speaker               
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the cable side of the right speaker enough to grab it with your fingers.
  • Remove the right speaker from the frame.

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the cable side of the right speaker enough to grab it with your fingers.

Remove the right speaker from the frame.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Microsoft Surface Pro X Answers community for help.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

Author

                    Kyle Smith                     

Member since: 02/01/2021

34,300 Reputation

                                      123 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       32







                                                        +29 more badges