PSA | Microsoft actually sells replacement rubber feet for the Surface Laptop 3 and its predecessors

Microsoft did a great job of making the Surface Laptop 3 more repairable than its predecessors, having finally provided access to the inside of the device without needing to destroy its Alcantara keyboard deck. With the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft holds the keyboard deck in place using magnets, as iFixit's teardown shows. The Surface Laptop series continues to have atrocious upgradability, mind you, but at least the SSD is replaceable.

However, upgrading an SSD on a Surface Laptop 3 is not necessarily as easy at it is on a Surface Pro X though, where a small cover is all that keeps people from accessing its M.2 2230 drive. To do so on Microsoft's laptop, one must remove four Torx Plus hidden beneath rubber feet. Sadly, these rubber feet do not stand up well to force and break easily. Microsoft does not offer any obvious way of ordering replacements either, and apparently had advised some people that they would need a new device.

Thankfully, Microsoft does sell replacement feet for the Surface Laptop 3, although it could do a better job of informing people that it does. You must have your Surface Laptop 3 registered to a Microsoft Account for these steps to work too, but all you need is a serial number for this. This is how we managed to source replacement feet for our Surface Laptop 3, courtesy of Janette_Z on Microsoft answers: 

• Head to Microsoft account | Devices
• Select your Surface Laptop 3
• Select Start Service Online
• Select Accessory | Misc
• Describe that you need replacement feet
• Choose from the colour you need
• Select your address
• Pay

In our experience, Microsoft charged £4.80 for replacement feet, but our device was outside of warranty. Hence, your mileage may vary if you purchased Microsoft Complete or have a device that remains in warranty. That price included postage too though, and Microsoft dispatched them within three hours. Additionally, while the order acknowledgement estimated that it would take Microsoft 7-9 working days to deliver the feet, they arrived within 24 hours.

Purchase the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 on Amazon