Repair company iFixit, in partnership with Microsoft, is releasing a number of tools needed to repair recent Surface devices. iFixit provides the tools to independent repairers who are part of the iFixit Pro program.
For now, there are three tools designed by Microsoft and made and sold by iFixit. For the Surface Pro 7+, Pro 8 and Pro X, there is a Surface Display Debonding Tool and a Display Bonding Frame. The former is necessary to remove the screen from the Surface tablets without damaging other components. The latter is precisely intended to fix the screen back in the right place.
In addition, iFixit makes the Surface Battery Cover for the Surface Laptop 3, Laptop 4, Laptop Go, Laptop SE and Laptop Studio. This is a battery cover that should be used when the devices are open to prevent accidental contact with the motherboard or other components.
Consumers cannot buy the tools. iFixit offers them through its iFixit Pro network. Independent repairers can register for this. According to iFixit, the tools are also offered to Microsoft Authorized Service Providers, Microsoft Experience Centers, and Microsoft enterprise customers.
IFixit calls Microsoft’s move to make the tools available to independent repairers a “good step in the right direction.” However, according to the repair company, Microsoft still has a long way to go when it comes to repairability. In 2017, iFixit gave the first Surface Laptop a repair score of 0 on a scale of 10. With newer models, Microsoft has made some repairs and replacing the SSD easier, for example. The Surface Laptop 3 received a score of 5 out of 10 for repairability in 2019.
iFixit-made Surface Display Debonding Tool