How to fix Surface Pro 4 slow wireless connectivity

If your Surface Pro 4 is suffering from slow Wi-Fi connectivity, then use this workaround to boost network speeds.

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By (@Pureinfotech) , Windows How-To Expert and IT Specialist with 21 years of experience.
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Surface Pro 4 with blue Type Cover

Wireless networks can sometimes have unpredictable connectivity issues, as there are a lot of factors that can affect the signal strength. There could be an issue with your router, the environment surrounding your devices, antenna problems, drivers and another type of software, or wireless adapter. However, if you have a Surface Pro 4 and you’re noticing slow wireless connectivity, you probably have stumbled upon a known issue that results on slow Wi-Fi network connectivity with specific access points.

This issue first appeared in the Microsoft forums, where a Surface Pro 4 owner explained that during a Speedtest.net test the internet connection jumped from 17mbits and it then dropped down to less than 2mbits. User JymMuller also detailed that he has a Comcast Wi-Fi dual-band modem with speeds up to 150mbits.

On a reply, Joe a Microsoft employee revealed that is a known issue on Surface Pro 4 tablets where owners will notice slow throughput with specific access points. “The issue is specific to MAC layer aggregation (AMSDU over AMPDU) and only impacts a small subset of access points. We are working on a fix for an upcoming update. Until the fix is available, please update the registry key setting to work around this issue.”

Joe recommends to never roll back your Surface Pro 4 wireless adapter to a previous version. The tablet includes a new driver technology called WDI for Windows 10 and non-WDI drivers won’t work correctly.

As such, if you have a Surface Pro 4 and you’re experiencing slow wireless connectivity, you can try the following workaround.

Important: Please note that modifying the Registry can cause problems to your system. It is assumed that you know what you are doing and that you have created a full backup of your PC before following these instructions. You’ve been warned!

Boost Surface Pro 4 Wi-Fi connectivity

  1. The first thing you have to do is to open the registry as an administrator, simply type regedit in the taskbar search box, and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\mrvlpcie8897

  3. Find the item labeled “TXAMSDU”. Double tap and modify the value from 1 to 0.

  4. Restart your Windows 10 PC to complete the workaround.

If everything works as expected, your slow connectivity should be resolved and you should now see an improved wireless connection.

Of course, this isn’t a permanent solution, but we hope Microsoft releases an updated set of the driver through a firmware update soon to permanently fix the slow Wi-Fi issue on Surface Pro 4 tablet and possible Surface Book laptops.

Are you having any wireless issues with your Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book? Let us know in the comments below.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of (est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.

Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.

Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.

You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].