Turning off Smart charging has dissappeared

Discharge the Surface below 20%, then connect it to power several hours before departure; Surface Smart Charging should automatically pause and permit charging to 100% even when the Charge to 100% control is missing.^1^

Immediate workaround

1. Disconnect the charger and use the Surface until the battery falls below 20%.
2. Reconnect its normal Surface power supply.
3. Leave it connected and awake or in normal standby long enough to charge fully.
4. Check the taskbar battery indicator:
   • A heart at 80% indicates Smart Charging is still active.
   • If charging continues beyond 80%, the automatic pause has taken effect.^2^
5. Do this well before the flight. Microsoft specifically recommends checking the Surface app and beginning the full charge several hours before the battery is needed.^1^

This is not a permanent switch: Smart Charging turns itself on again when the device determines it is needed.

Why the button may remain absent

Microsoft documents the manual route as Surface app → Battery & charging → Smart charging → Charge to 100%, but qualifies it with “if your Surface device can pause smart charging.” It also states that management options vary by Surface model.^1^

Both Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 6 for Business support Battery Smart Charging, but that does not establish that the manual override must always appear in every app/firmware configuration.^3^ Missing controls have also been reported by other Surface users.^4^

Since repair, reset, reinstall, and repeated restarts have already failed, repeating those app-level actions is unlikely to add anything.

If it still stops at 80%

Because this is an organization-managed device, ask IT to install all applicable Windows, Surface driver, and firmware updates. Microsoft notes that managed Surface updates are typically deployed by the organization.^3^

Give IT the exact model shown in the Surface app or Windows device information—the next package differs between Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 6 for Business. The supported update process is:

1. Keep the Surface connected to power with at least 40% charge.
2. Install applicable updates through Windows Update or the model-specific Surface driver/firmware package.
3. Restart after installation.^5^

If company policy blocks Windows Update or firmware installation, IT must perform this step. The available Surface ADMX policies documented by Microsoft cover diagnostic data and integrated privacy-screen settings, not a Smart Charging user-control policy, so the missing button should not be attributed to organizational policy without device-management evidence.^6^

Do not change Battery Limit unless charging stops at 50%

Battery Limit in Surface UEFI is a separate kiosk-oriented feature and limits charging to 50%, not 80%.^7^ It is therefore not the likely issue when the battery stops at 80%. On a managed work device, do not alter UEFI settings without IT authorization.

If the below-20% cycle and current firmware still do not allow charging above 80%, this needs escalation through your IT department to Surface support as a missing Smart Charging override/control issue. Include:

• Exact Surface model
• Windows version
• Surface app version
• Current firmware version
• Screenshot showing the missing Battery & charging or Charge to 100% control
• Confirmation that charging stops at 80% with the heart icon even after discharge below 20%

References

1. Smart charging on Surface | Microsoft Support
2. Surface battery won’t charge or Surface won’t run on battery | Microsoft Support
3. Caring for your Surface battery | Microsoft Support
4. Smart Charging option disappeared from Surface app - Microsoft Q&A
5. Download the drivers and firmware for Surface | Microsoft Support
6. Surface policy management (ADMX) overview
7. Surface Battery Limit setting