Surface Dock

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Connect the output port of the first external display to the DisplayPort input port of the other external display. If you have problems connecting your Surface to a TV, monitor, or projector, try these solutions to identify the issue.

Using a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable, connect the Mini DisplayPort on your Surface to the DisplayPort input on the first monitor. If only one of your monitors has an output port, connect your Surface to that monitor first. When you connect your Surface to a TV or monitor, your Surface tries to set the best resolution based on the connector and the resolution of your TV or monitor. Unplug the Surface from its power supply and remove any attached accessories from your Surface. If you're using a Type Cover, open it so it lies flat. Press the Windows logo key + P on your keyboard, or select the action center on the taskbar, and select Project.HDMI connections can also transmit audio signals. We also recommend you use Microsoft’s USB-C adapters on the devices equipped with the USB-C port. For more info, see Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories. Use this port to connect to your external monitor. Depending on your monitor's video output ports, you may need a display adapter (sold separately).

Follow the monitor manufacturer’s instructions to set both external displays to use DisplayPort 1.2 as an input source. For example, this might be called Multi-Stream Transport (MST), which allows the first display to pass the signal along to the second external display. When you use two external displays, you may be able to achieve a higher refresh or screen resolution on one display by lowering the refresh or screen resolution used on the other. Note: Common video input settings include VGA, DVI, AUX, DisplayPort, HDMI, Line in, Input, and Source. Most external screens have an on-screen menu that adjusts the DisplayPort version used by the monitor. Adjusting this setting may produce better results.If your monitor doesn’t support DisplayPort, we recommend using HDMI. Otherwise, use DVI or VGA. The adapters listed in the table have been tested for compatibility and can help solve video issues. For other options, see Officially licensed third-party accessories.

Use the cable that came with your monitor or verify that the cable supports video. Always do this with Surface devices with USB-C ports.Our team of expert reviewers have tested a massive range of home and office tech, from the best standing desks to the best monitors for video editing. Move what's on the screen across your Surface display and onto the TV or monitor screen. When you have displays extended, you can drag and move items between the two screens and select a different resolution for your second screen (to learn more about screen resolutions, go to Solution 6).

Using a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable, connect the Mini DisplayPort on your Surface to the DisplayPort input on the first external display. If only one of your external displays has an output port, connect your Surface to that external display first. Most external displays have an on-screen menu that adjusts the port version used by the display. Adjusting this setting may produce better results.If using an HDMI video cable, make sure it's rated version 2.0, or, if using DisplayPort cable, it's rated 1.2, and is no more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. Longer cables can affect video quality. Transfer large files to an external drive, connect a USB printer or headset, charge accessories, and more. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve the issue. On your Surface, select Start > Power > Restart . If there's an update available, it might say Update and restart . Turn the TV or other display off and on, then try connecting them again. If your monitor supports DisplayPort, we recommend that you use a Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort cable that’s no more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. DisplayPort will allow you to use the highest supported resolution and refresh rate with your Surface. When you use two external displays, you may be able to achieve a higher refresh or display resolution on one display by lowering the refresh or display resolution used on the other. Solution 8: Try the adapter on a different external display