Microsoft Surface Black Screen: Why and How to Fix It

Quick Answer

Microsoft Surface black screen issues usually occur due to battery problems, display driver errors, firmware glitches, Windows update conflicts, or hardware faults.

To fix it, first charge the device, disconnect accessories, and try the display reset shortcut. If these fail, force a restart, run Startup Repair, and uninstall a recent update or driver in Safe Mode.

Common Symptoms of Microsoft Surface Black Screen

Microsoft Surface black screen issues do not always look the same. Common symptoms include:

• Screen is black, but the keyboard lights up.
• The screen emits a faint dark gray glow in a dark room.
• Surface shows a black screen with a cursor.
• Screen flickers and then turns black.
• The Surface logo appears, then the screen turns black before reaching the login screen.
• Screen says dark, but the device makes sounds.

Identifying the symptom helps narrow down the cause and choose the correct fix.

Why Is My Microsoft Surface Screen Black?

Several software and hardware issues can cause the Microsoft Surface black screen of death issue.

How to Fix Surface Black Screen Issues

We can never promise 100% success but these methods are effective in many instances. Try them one by one to fix the black screen issue.

Fix 1. Disconnect All Accessories

This is the first thing you can do to check if connected peripheral devices may be blocking your Microsoft Surface from turning on as normal.

Disconnect any devices that have been plugged into your Surface, including a mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, Surface Dock, etc. Then, power on the Microsoft Surface to see if the black screen disappears. If yes, chances are that one of the accessories is the issue. You can connect them to the Surface one by one to check which one is at fault. If this won’t work, try the other ways below.

Fix 2. Charge the Device Properly

If you are using a device for a while without plugging in, the battery may run out of power. As a result, Microsoft Surface black screen appears.

Use the power cord that came with your Surface to charge your device. Next, turn on your Microsoft Surface laptop to see if the issue is solved.

If the Surface does not show any charging indication, check the power connection and try a compatible charger or power source.

Let the Surface charge for at least 15 minutes before trying to turn it on again.

Fix 3. Reset the Display Driver with a Keyboard Shortcut

Your Surface may go to sleep and refuses to wake up, so you meet the issue of Microsoft Surface screen black but keyboard lights up. Don’t worry and you can do something about it.

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If a keyboard is connected to your Microsoft Surface, press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B at the same time. But if you use it in tablet mode, quickly and simultaneously press the Volume up and Volume down buttons three times. If you are lucky enough, you can hear a short beep and the system will refresh the screen after a few seconds.

If this cannot fix Microsoft Surface Pro black screen, try the next solutions.

Fix 4. Do a Forced Reset

This is a very effective way to fix Microsoft Surface black screen of death. See how to do a forced reset for Surface Pro:

1. Press and hold the Power
2. Keep holding it for about 20 seconds until the Surface shuts down and restarts.
3. Release the Power button when you see the Windows logo.

These instructions apply to modern Surface models, including:

• Surface Pro (5th Gen) and later
• Surface Book 2 and later
• All modes of Surface Pro X, Surface Laptop, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Laptop Go, Surface Go, and Surface Studio

If you use earlier Surface models such as Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2/3/4, Surface Book, Surface 2/3, and Surface RT, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Volume-up and Power buttons for about 15 seconds, then release both.
2. Wait 10 seconds.
3. Press and release the Power button to turn on your Surface.

Fix 5. Test the Surface with an External Monitor

Connecting the Surface to an external monitor helps determine whether the issue is related to the screen itself. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Connect your Surface to an external monitor or TV.

Step 2. Press Win + P to open the Project menu.

Step 3. Keep pressing P (while holding the Windows key) to cycle through the options:

• Duplicate
• Extend

Step 4. If the external monitor works, there may be an issue with the display driver or LCD. If it doesn’t work, it could indicate a system or hardware problem.

Fix 6. Start Surface in Safe Mode

If the screen remains black, try booting into Safe Mode to resolve the issue. If it doesn’t work, the issue may be related to hardware.

Step 1. Force shutdown the device by pressing the Power button.

Step 2. Repeat this 2-3 times to access recovery mode.

Step 3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 4. Press F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 5. Uninstall the recently installed driver or app.

Fix 7. Run Startup Repair

Sometimes this method can help resolve Microsoft Surface black screen.

Follow these steps:

Step 1. Enter the recovery environment

Step 2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.

Step 3. Allow Windows to scan and repair startup problems.

Fix 8. Reset Your Surface via USB Recovery Image

Use this method if the above methods fail. A Surface reset can remove apps and settings, and even delete your personal files, even when you choose the option to keep them.

Back Up Your Surface Before Resetting

To prevent data loss, run professional backup software like MiniTool ShadowMaker. It includes Media Builder to create a bootable USB drive for PC backup and restore when the device fails to start.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1. Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and activate it.

Step 2. Navigate to Tools > Media Builder to make bootable media.

Step 3. Boot the Surface from that drive and open this backup software in the recovery environment.

Step 4. Go to SOURCE and DESTINATION to choose the backup files and target drive.

Step 5. Click Back Up Now.

Surface Resetting

To reset your laptop when meeting Microsoft Surface Pro black screen, you need to use a recovery drive for this work. What if you don’t have such a drive? See the following instructions:

Step 1. Visit the page of Surface Recovery Image Download.

Step 2. Choose a Surface product and enter the serial number, then click Continue.

Step 3. Download a recovery image and save it to a safe location.

Step 4. Insert your USB flash drive to a PC and extract all the contents from the download recovery image to this USB drive to get a recovery drive.

Step 5. Shut down your Surface and connect the recovery drive to it.

Step 6. Press and hold the Volume-down (-) button and press the Power button.

Step 7. Release the Volume-down button when you see the Surface logo.

Step 8. Surface can start the recovery software on the USB recovery drive. Choose the language and keyboard layout to go on.

Step 9. Choose Troubleshoot > Recover from a drive. Then, finish the resetting process by following the on-screen wizards.

“After trying all these fixes, Microsoft Surface black screen should be removed. You can share them on Twitter to let more persons know if someone also runs into this issue.”Click to Tweet

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How to Prevent Surface Black Screen Issues

You can reduce the chance of future black screen problems by following several maintenance practices:

• Keep Windows and firmware updated
• Avoid sudden shutdowns
• Monitor battery health
• Disconnect unnecessary accessories
• Create scheduled backups regularly

Microsoft Surface Black Screen FAQ

Bottom Line

That concludes our guide on fixing the Microsoft Surface black screen issue. If your device is experiencing this problem, try the solutions outlined above. To avoid data loss, back up your important files.

If you have questions or feedback regarding MiniTool software, please email us at [email protected]. Did you find another way to fix a Surface Pro stuck on a black screen with a logo or cursor? Let us know in the comments below! Thank you.