How To Draw A Dock

How to fix frequent Surface Dock issues

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer. She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies -- AI and DNA computing in... Read more

Updated: Sep 16, 2019

Posted: July 2017

XINSTALL BY CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD FILE

The Surface Dock is an interesting device that allows you to turn your tablet into a PC.

It's equipped with two high-definition video ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports, and an audio output. In other words, you have all the connections you need.

Unfortunately, using the Surface Dock is not always an easy task. Sometimes, the device malfunctions, forcing users to unplug peripherals and then plug them back in.

However, this simple troubleshooting method doesn't always work and additional troubleshooting methods are required.

Surface Dock troubleshooting guide

You can use the following troubleshooting methods for Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Pro 3.

Solution 1 — Update your Surface Dock

Download the Surface Updater tool and launch it to install the latest Surface Dock updates. You can download the tool from Microsoft's website.

Solution 2 — Update your computer

Make sure you have the latest Windows and Surface updates installed on your PC. To install the latest OS updates available, go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates.

If you can't open the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

Having trouble updating your Windows? Check out this guide that will help you solve them in no time.

Solution 3 — Fix keyboard and mouse issues

Turn on your Surface device first, and wait until the login screen appears.
Connect the Surface Dock to the device > your keyboard/mouse should respond now.

Your keyboard/mouse is not detected in Windows 10? Check out this guide and fix the problem in no time.

Solution 4 — Clear your display cache to fix display issues

If you're having problems with your external monitor connected to your Surface Dock, try clearing your display cache:

Disconnect your Surface from the Surface Dock.
Download the Surface Dock registry file and open it.
Select and run surface dock registry.reg.
Click Yes to allow changes to your Surface > click OK.
Restart your Surface > reconnect it to the Surface Dock > test your external display.

Solution 5 —Reset the dock and monitor

If you still can't use your external monitor, try resetting it together with the dock:

Remove the Surface Connector from your Surface > plug it in again.
Unplug your Surface Dock from the power outlet > plug it in again.
Unplug your monitor from the power outlet > plug it back in.

Solution 6 — Reset power if your Surface won't charge

Check your power supply: all the cords should be securely connected and the LED indicator lit. Plug something else into the power outlet to check that it's working properly.
Remove the connector, turn it over 180 degrees, and plug it in again.
Disconnect any accessories that draw power from your Surface Dock or Surface.
Unplug your Surface Dock from the power outlet and plug it back in.

Solution 7 — Here's how to fix audio issues on the Surface Dock

Check your audio connections: your speaker's cables should be securely connected to the audio jacks.
Make sure that your audio device is enabled.
Type 'Manage audio devices' in the Search box and select the first result.
Right-click the devices available in the list > select Show Disabled Devices.
If your audio device is disabled, right-click it > select Enable.
Switch to a different audio device to see whether audio works using a different device.

Windows 10 can't find audio devices? Follow the steps from this guide to fix the issue with ease.

We hope that the solutions listed above helped you fix the Surface Dock issues that you encountered. As always, if you've come across other workarounds, you can list the troubleshooting steps in the comments section below.