How to Turn on a Microsoft Surface Pro + Troubleshooting Steps

Have you already heard about Microsoft Surface devices? They are a series of touchscreen-based devices widely used as tablets. As it presents a hybrid variant of computers, tons of users across the globe have bought and currently enjoy using these devices. 

But sometimes, the devices malfunction and won’t turn on. For example, the Microsoft Surface device may only display a black screen. And sometimes, nothing shows up when the power button is pressed. 

As always, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you all the solutions for the “How to turn on Surface Pro” dilemma. So sit back and relax; let us walk you through the troubleshooting steps. 

How to Turn On Surface Pro

1. Press the Power button until the Surface Pro logo appears on your screen.
2. If there is no response, connect the charging cable, and leave it connected for a while. 
3. Also, ensure that you disconnect any pen drives, SD cards, monitors, or other accessories.
4. After 15-20 minutes, press and hold the power button again. 
5. If there is still no response, follow the troubleshooting steps listed below.

How to Turn on a Microsoft Surface Device

It can be really frustrating when your device refuses to power on. But we are here to solve the problem once and for all. Refer to the below solutions so you can enjoy your Microsoft device as you used to. 

Also Read: Our Review of the Microsoft Surface Go 3 and Surface Pro 7

Is the Device Overheating?

Microsoft Surface devices are usually designed to operate at temperatures from 0° to 35° Celsius (32 to 95F). Not following this strict threshold can cause serious malfunctions. 

To avoid data loss caused by freezing or overheating, the device will shut down. Therefore, ensure that your device is not subjected to drastic temperatures. 

Additionally, running games or apps that consume excessive CPU resources or RAM can overheat it. Another common reason for overheating is a malfunctioning charger. This is why you should only use the original charger that came with your device. 

And if your room is too warm, consider a fan or AC. Alternatively, switch on the heater if it’s freezing. Also, never position the device in the vicinity of the heater. 

Use the Bend Tactic 

Many users have reported that the device came alive with this useful technique. But don’t let the name fool you, as the bend technique can resolve a loose display cable and loose connections. 

Are you interested in trying this trick? Follow these steps:

1. Apply subtle pressure on the edges of the screen using your fingers. 
2. Put the screen down on a flat surface.
3. Now, apply pressure on the part close to the back camera using your thumbs. 
4. Now try powering on your Surface device.

Remember that you must be gentle with the pressure. Otherwise, you can damage the screen. 

Charge it 

As you already know, your Microsoft Surface device is useless without a charged battery. And a draining battery is a common cause for your Surface Pro tablet refusing to power on. Your tablet can consume higher battery power, depending on which apps or programs you use. 

If you have a notorious habit of using a Microsoft Surface device for a long time without charging it, you will soon wonder, “how to turn on Surface Pro?” Moreover, this habit will make the battery lose its edge over time. 

So, insert the original charger and press the power button to switch on the device. A prolonged charging session is needed if the battery is totally dead. In this case, just leave the device charging overnight and switch it on in the morning.

Furthermore, it is possible that the charging cable is damaged. Ensure that your charger is working properly. Try to get your hands on another charger if yours is faulty. 

Also Read: Which tablet is better for you, the Surface Pro or iPad Pro?

Remove All External Accessories and Devices 

External accessories and devices linked to the Microsoft Surface device could interfere and prevent it from turning on. For example, users commonly attach a mouse, USB drive, keyboard, external HDD, monitor, or other peripherals to tablets.

Disconnect these additional devices or accessories and then switch on the device as you normally do. If the culprit is one of those connected add-ons, this solution will definitely work magic. 

Erasing the USB add-ons is straightforward, but it is intimidating to remove the keyboard. However, only a few users are aware of a separate detach key. This tool is primarily for removing the keyboard. Just press it, and the keyboard will be detached. 

But if it does not work, you can refer to the manual, which is a bit complicated. For this purpose, try watching a YouTube video tutorial, such as the one below:

Use a Keyboard Shortcut 

This is another helpful tool suggested by Microsoft to wake up your device. So how do you turn on a Microsoft Surface by using the keyboard shortcut? 

If there is a keyboard attached to the device, follow these instructions:

1. Press Windows and Ctrl.
2. Tap on Shift and B keys at the same time.

Remember to enter these correctly. Are you in tablet mode? Press the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously, three times in a row. 

Restart

Are you wondering how to turn on Surface Pro from sleep if it does not respond? Consider a soft restart, which is a practical fix. But if it does not work, try a forced restart based on the device model. 

Follow these instructions for a soft restart before considering the model-based force restart:

1. Press the Power button for 10 seconds and let it go. 
2. Now, tap on the Power button. 

Do you own Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, or Surface Book? Then follow these steps:

1. Press and hold down the Power button for 30 seconds. Let it go afterward.
2. Press and hold down the Power button and Volume Up simultaneously for 15 seconds. Let both of them go. 
3. Your screen will showcase the logo in the above step. Keep holding the buttons. 
4. After you let go of the buttons, wait 10 seconds before pressing the Power button to switch it on. 

This is a 2-button shutdown procedure. 

Resolve the Boot Errors 

Oftentimes, the device might switch on but show errors immediately. For instance, the error code 0xc0000221. The screen might say blue screen of death. Based on the boot error, search for the solution on Microsoft’s website. 

Replace or Fix It 

Have you tried all the solutions to turn on the Surface Pro but are still stuck with the same problem? This translates to device failure. Visit the official Microsoft store or a repair center to fix it.

If you have not exceeded the warranty period, try to request a replacement. But only do so if you have not attempted to fix it yourself. Disassembling and fixing the device on your own violates the warranty.

Microsoft Surface Won’t Turn On – Troubleshooting Tips

Update Windows 

It is critical to use your device on the latest Windows version. Bugs or corrupted system files can prevent the device from switching on. 

Here is how to update Windows:

1. Press the I Key and Windows simultaneously to launch the Settings menu.
2. Choose Windows Update, found in the left section.
3. On the right side, tap on the Check for updates button. In case there are any available updates, they will show up there.

Download and install the update.

Edit the Sleep Settings 

Is Sleep mode on? This will make the battery drain with time. The device continually connects to Wi-Fi in this mode and consumes battery juice. Therefore, reconfigure the sleep settings so that it never enters that mode unless you want to. 

The instructions are as follows:

1. In the Control Panel, go to Hardware and Sound.
2. Navigate to Power Options.
3. Tap on Change when the computer sleeps on the left side.
4. Put the computer to sleep and Turn off the display to Never.
5. Confirm Save Changes and exit the Control Panel.

That’s it.

Reinstall the Display Drivers 

If the display driver is corrupted, your device will switch on but with a black screen. Try to reinstall the display drivers to ensure smooth operation in the future. 

Here are the steps:

1. Press the power button and repeatedly hit the F8 key on your keyboard to enter Safe Mode.
2. Once you’re on your desktop, punch Windows + R to launch the Run dialog box. 
3. In the text, submit devmgmt.msc to launch the Device Manager.
4. Find the Display adapters menu and double-click to expand.
5. Right-click on the graphic driver and choose the Uninstall device in the context menu. 
6. Confirm Uninstall on the pop-up.
7. Now restart your Surface device.

Finally, a fresh copy of the driver will be installed. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Would you like to know more about the topic? We’ve answered some FAQs for additional guidance. 

Where is the power button on the Surface pro?

You can find it at the top edge and on the left side of the volume key. 

How do I force a Surface Pro to power?

1. Press and hold down the Power button to shut down the device and restart it. Keep pressing it until the Windows logo appears. This will take 20 seconds. Let go of the button.
2. When the device restarts, run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit to ensure that the device is updated and operating optimally. 

That’s all. 

Conclusion

We’ve included all the ways to turn on your unresponsive Microsoft Surface device. We hope you gained sufficient knowledge through our guide and finally got the answers to “How to turn on Surface Pro?” 

Which one of the fixes mentioned above worked in your favor? Don’t forget to mention this in the comments below. Thanks for reading!