Surface Duo's May 2023 firmware update is here, but it's freezing phones (Update)

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You shouldn't install the latest firmware update for the Surface Duo until we find out more information.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 in hand
(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft recently released the May 2023 firmware update for Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2.
  • According to users on Reddit and Twitter, the update causes several issues, including devices randomly restarting and failing to boot correctly.
  • We have reached out to Microsoft regarding the issues to see how widespread they are.

Update 5/31/23 at 3:30 PM ET: Microsoft has responded to our request for comment with the following statement: "Microsoft is aware and is looking into it. For additional information please refer to our Microsoft’s Q&A community page: Surface Duo 2 - permanent reboots after Update may 30 2023 - Microsoft Community"

Microsoft shipped the May 2023 firmware update for Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 in May, albeit on the last day of this month. That's an improvement over the release of the April 2023 security update that did not become available until May. Unfortunately for Surface Duo owners, there appear to be issues with the foldable's most recent update.

According to reports on Reddit and Twitter (1, 2, 3), the update includes a bug that can cause the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 to restart randomly. The device then suggests a factory reset. People have had mixed results working around the bug. Some have been able to use their Surface Duo by restarting it once or multiple times.

It's difficult to determine the extent of an issue like this with the information we have available. Three posts on the internet aren't a large sample size, even if some of those threads include several people that have run into the issue.

I've reached out to Microsoft about the issues. We'll update this post if we receive any information.

Windows Central take

I have to assume that anyone who still has a Surface Duo is an enthusiast. But even those who are most passionate about the Duo lineup appear to be losing faith in it. That's not surprising, as Microsoft seemingly abandoned the Duo. The device hasn't received a major update since October 2022 and even firmware and security updates ship late or with issues.

"Constantly random reboot with the try again message. It just happened while reading on Reddit. I just want to make it to the end of June, hello Pixel Fold. I'm really disappointed with Microsoft," said jlira65 on Reddit.

My guess is that's a common sentiment among those who have held onto the Duo this long.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden follows development of the Surface Duo closely and explained why the family of devices is in trouble. Microsoft has reportedly made major shifts to its plans for the Duo, including scrapping a dual-screen Duo coming out in 2023. Instead, the company will focus on a single-screen foldable that may come out in 2024.

Many members of the Surface Duo OS team were shifted to a different Android project as well.

Microsoft doesn't have plans to ship Android 13 to the Surface Duo, based on info as of late 2022. The company will reportedly focus on Android 14 instead, though plans are subject to change.

We'll have to see if Microsoft can recover the reputation of the Duo and show improved support for an extended period of time.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • GraniteStateColin
    Yeah, sad. I'll wait for more info before updating. But for me, there is still no phone close to being as useful as the Duo. The other foldable phones (including Pixel) fundamentally don't work for me, because they don't fold open or support Tent mode. I know, they slap on an external screen as a bastardization of the Duo's elegant ability to fold all the way open, but it's no substitute and still misses tent mode or the ability to fold it around your hand to use in landscape mode (most stable way to game on a single screen phone).

    I recognize I'm in a vanishing minority in my passion for the Duo, but my reasons remain valid for me personally. I really hope that someone (even if it's not MS) comes out with a phone that provides the key features that have come to matter most to me still unique to the Duo: automatic multitasking, wide form-factor displays (Pixel Fold may hit this one where Galaxy Fold does not) and ability to fold open. If that could be done with a single foldable screen (folding full 360 degrees), that would be even better than the Duo's 2 screen approach, but until then, I prefer 2 screens to 1 screen that only folds up to 180 degrees.
    Reply
  • Jez Corden
    GraniteStateColin said:
    Yeah, sad. I'll wait for more info before updating. But for me, there is still no phone close to being as useful as the Duo. The other foldable phones (including Pixel) fundamentally don't work for me, because they don't fold open or support Tent mode. I know, they slap on an external screen as a bastardization of the Duo's elegant ability to fold all the way open, but it's no substitute and still misses tent mode or the ability to fold it around your hand to use in landscape mode (most stable way to game on a single screen phone).

    I recognize I'm in a vanishing minority in my passion for the Duo, but my reasons remain valid for me personally. I really hope that someone (even if it's not MS) comes out with a phone that provides the key features that have come to matter most to me still unique to the Duo: automatic multitasking, wide form-factor displays (Pixel Fold may hit this one where Galaxy Fold does not) and ability to fold open. If that could be done with a single foldable screen (folding full 360 degrees), that would be even better than the Duo's 2 screen approach, but until then, I prefer 2 screens to 1 screen that only folds up to 180 degrees.
    i really liked the duo. i have a duo 2 but a lot of features i take for granted in Samsung's One UI were just missing. also i hate microsoft's half-arsed support of the Duo 2. xbox game pass was completely broken on the Duo when I first got it, which is absurd. if microsoft doesn't care, why should i? kinda thing. i just really want them to care.
    Reply
  • Ed Du
    i wanted to really enjoy the duo. I still felt that even with android 12L it was way better then it was on android 10, but still flawed. Hopefully 14 comes to the duo 1 as a last update
    Reply
  • Simon Gregory
    Definitely holding back on this update then on my SD2. Tbh I get reboots happening about once every two days on the previous 12L firmwares anyway, does anybody else?

    Also anybody else find the camera app still to be very unresponsive? (I use the double click side button to launch).

    It sometimes doesn't engage the rear facing camera, locks up and / or in many cases doesn't even save (or somehow loses) the photo you've taken!
    Reply
  • GraniteStateColin
    Jez Corden said:
    i really liked the duo. i have a duo 2 but a lot of features i take for granted in Samsung's One UI were just missing. also i hate microsoft's half-arsed support of the Duo 2. xbox game pass was completely broken on the Duo when I first got it, which is absurd. if microsoft doesn't care, why should i? kinda thing. i just really want them to care.
    I do agree with all of those criticisms. Those matter less to me than the things the Duo and Duo 2 do that no other phone can do, but yeah, the MS support model seems like the biggest weak point for the Duo 2. For the Duo 1 (at least for me), it was that terrible camera. :)

    Purely on form factor, I think the original Duo, without the camera bump, is the greatest pocketable electronic device I've ever held. But overall I much prefer the Duo 2 over the Duo 1 for the better performance and VASTLY BETTER camera.
    Reply