[martinblank64]

Hey guys, I'm having an intermittent issue with the volume rocker on my Surface RT, and I'd like to see if anybody else has this issue.

What happens is that sometimes when I turn down the volume, after I release the rocker button, the volume level that shows up in the upper left of the screen continues to decease by itself, until it hits zero, and then remains there as though the button was still being held down, until I press the rocker again. The volume does not show up as muted when this happens, but manually set to zero.

I've noticed that this happens with the highest frequency when I hold the volume down button just long enough to decrease the volume by around 20 (e.g., from 100 down to 80). This does not happen all the time or even half the time, I'd say maybe 20 to 30% of the time when I decrease the volume. It is so weird because it is as though the button is "stuck" being held down, but it does not seem to ever physically stick. Every time I release it, it pops back up with a satisfying tactile feeling and audible "click" sound.

Can you guys play around with your volume rocker and see if you can reproduce this behavior? I recommend trying it 10 to 15 times.

[pedenske]

Can't say this has happened to myself. Only volume problem I have is the random muting.

[The1Weapon]

I don't think I can forcibly reproduce it, but it just happened to me about 8 minutes ago for the first time. I was wondering what happened.

[RedLine78]

I wasn't able to reproduce on my Surface RT.

[KoukiFC3S]

I've had this happen multiple times on my Surface, both with increasing and decreasing the volume.

[johnbash612]

Yes! I've had this happen multiple times! And now I have a delay when I try to adjust the volume with touch. The weird thing is I don't remember it happening before the update, only after.

[johnbash612]

I can't reproduce it at will but it definitely happens, pretty often too. At least once a day when I actually use the volume rocker.

[longcipher]

I can reproduce it every time. Already posted about it too.

[johnbash612]

Yes! happens to me all the time too, although I can't do it on command, but it happens at least once a day whenever I adjust volume.

[martinblank64]

Darn. Well now that a bunch of people have noticed this issue and it's not just a freak defect on my unit, l've gone ahead and voted in the poll as well. This is unfortunate to see, as the issue seems fairly widespread and it definitely seems like a hardware problem because some people have it worse than others, versus a software problem that can be patched :(

[ezcats]

Yup..this does look like a hardware problem...I personally dont have the issue on mine, but my friends surface has it and he just exchanged it in the store. (even after 14 days).

[johnbash612]

two comments
1. sorry for the ridiculous amount of replies I replied to this thread, my comments never showed up so I assumed they never went through, oops!

2. How certain are you guys that this is a hardware issue? I might end up going to the Microsoft store tomorrow to get this taken care of. I'd rather be certain that this is a hardware issue rather than simply software but i'll take it in and see what they say I guess. I'd rather do it tomorrow than wait for black Friday to happen, I doubt i'll get any attention past that. I'm having the issue currently as I type, the volume attribute is on my screen, and whenever I try to make it go away or bring the volume up, it simply decreases back down to zero.

[johnbash612]

Thought I would link this, but as a summary, it seems to be the touchpad that is at fault, and you can exchange it, personally I will just take it to the Microsoft store today to see what i can get:

sound keeps muting - Microsoft Community

[johnbash612]

Hey guys, went to the Microsoft store and exchanged for a red touch cover, also got to keep my old touch cover. So far I have not been able to replicate the issue. I'll try to keep you updated if it keeps happening. I also tried a typecover in store and the volume rocker issue happened almost instantly. The service people there said if I keep having the issue I should come back in and they'll replace the surface for me, so if you have a store near you head there soon. I asked the guy if anyone else was having the issue and he said no, maybe people don't know its an issue or deal with it through the online replacement rather than the store. Either way I had a good experience, hopefully the issue has stopped. It wasn't the most annoying thing in the world but worth getting a free touchcover to fix it amirite?

[martinblank64]

I am pretty sure the muting issue associated with the touch/type cover is a separate issue. I don't have either one and experience this issue. The sound does not "mute", it literally moves down to zero.

[johnbash612]

So, it scrolls down to zero and gets stuck, right? That's what happens to mine. So you have neither the type nor the touch and it still happens to you?

[martinblank64]

So, it scrolls down to zero and gets stuck, right? That's what happens to mine. So you have neither the type nor the touch and it still happens to you?

Correct. I literally see the bar moving down to zero. Once it hits zero, it just sits there, as if the button is being held down. If I touch the volume bar (on the screen, not the rocker) with my finger, and try to move it up, it keeps moving back down to zero by itself. Pressing the volume rocker makes it go away. I have just the tablet, none of the extra accessories.

[johnbash612]

Hmmm, maybe it is a hardware issue then. That kinda sucks. I'm gonna wait a bit until they produce more surfaces then get it exchanged if it continues.

[martinblank64]

Hmmm, maybe it is a hardware issue then. That kinda sucks. I'm gonna wait a bit until they produce more surfaces then get it exchanged if it continues.

That is my plan too. I really love the Surface. This is literally my only complaint. Other than a sparse app offering, but that can't be helped right now. All I really want is a dropbox app anyway.

[johnbash612]

That is my plan too. I really love the Surface. This is literally my only complaint. Other than a sparse app offering, but that can't be helped right now. All I really want is a dropbox app anyway.

Is dropbox accessible through their website on the surface?

[martinblank64]

Is dropbox accessible through their website on the surface?

Yes it is, I'd much prefer the app though.

[Eric Hon]

hey all, I don't have any problems with my volume rocker as described, I would think it's a hardware issue. The only thing I've noticed today is that when I connect/disconnect my earplugs, the volume changes settings (lower volume when earplugs are plugged in). Not sure if this is a defect or a built in feature, but it's actually a good thing. Other than that, haven't experienced volume going straight down on its on will. and if it makes a difference to know, I have had my touch cover connected all day.

[johnbash612]

That is a built in feature indeed, so that you aren't blasted in the ears at full volume :)

[dickys]

I recorded a video on what this issue looks like when the problem happens:

[johnbash612]

I recorded a video on what this issue looks like when the problem happens:

Nice! Caught in the act. Does your surface do that every time you use the volume rocker? Mine does it sporadically, I'm sure you can get an exchange if you can reproduce your video in front of a ms rep in store.