Now again, you may find yourself running into the Microsoft Surface black screen issue. And it can manifest in a variety of ways - maybe your Surface doesn't seem to turn on, or it turns on then gets stuck on a black screen, or it turns on, then turns right back off again.
Whatever variation of this issue you are experiencing, it results in you having a very expensive paperweight, as your Surface won't be much use until you get it back up and running.
The good news though, is there are a few possible solutions which will work in many instances. We'll run you through your options, to hopefully get things working again.
Alternatively, you may be suffering from the opposite problem of Windows 11 not sleeping.
How To Fix The Microsoft Surface Black Screen Issue
As we mentioned in the intro, there are a few different ways that the black screen issue tends to make its presence felt. And as a result, there are several different potential fixes that may work, as suggested by Microsoft.
While we can never promise 100% success (we aren't a politician) these are known to be effective in many instances. So give them a shot, and see how you get on.
Disconnect Accessories
Your first option is to see whether any connected peripheral devices might be preventing your Surface from turning on properly.
- Start by disconnecting any devices that you have plugged into your Surface. This includes things like the Surface Dock, or even the Type Cover. Once everything is unplugged, try switching on your device. If it comes on, then it suggests that one of your accessories may be the issue. You can try plugging them in one by one to narrow down which one may be at fault.
- If this doesn't work, try plugging in your Surface using the power cord that came with your Surface. Leave it to charge for fifteen minutes before trying to turn it on.
If you try plugging it in, and the power light flashes or doesn't come on, it may indicate an issue with the battery. Microsoft has further troubleshooting advice for that issue here.
Wake It Up Using Keyboard and Tablet Shortcuts
Your next option is to try using shortcuts to try and wake it up.
- Connect your Surface to a keyboard and press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B.
- Or, if you're using it in table mode, you need to quickly press the volume up and volume down buttons simultaneously three times.
Do a Forced Reset
If you've made it this far without getting rid of the black screen, your next option is to force your device to shut down. To do this:
- Press and hold down the power button for about 20 seconds, until your Surface shuts down, and you see the Windows logo screen. When this screen appears, you can release the button.
Assuming it does then switch itself on, Microsoft recommends that you use the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit to check for any underlying issues.
If, however, you've made it this far and still aren't getting past the black screen, then you may need to consider repair or replacement. Microsoft can help with this, as well. You can get full instructions here on how to do this.
You'll need to make sure your device is already registered with Microsoft. And once you've signed in, you'll be able to find out whether or not your device is under warranty or not. If it's under warranty, then you may be able to have your Surface repaired or replaced for free. If it's out of warranty, expect to pay for it.
Bear in mind as well, that any data on your device will almost certainly be wiped as part of the repair process. So ideally, you'll already have anything important backed up.