Troubleshooting multiple monitors on a Surface Dock 2 (Surface Pro 7)

This is a common issue.  It is almost like the docking station doesn't have a stable power connection/conductivity to actually handle the dual monitors.  It goes along fine for a while and then starts flashing to black a ton.  It seems like an old tv that's bulb is burning out.

Hi All,

I have just found a resolution to my issue (same as your issues)..

I manage IT at a school.

We have about 100 SP6 and 200 SP7.

All have a dock1. My last school had 1500 SP 4,5,6 (only a few docks). Had a fair bit of experience with issues with Docks and monitors.

The main cause (Microsoft told me this - not advertised anywhere) was a little known fact that you need an 'active' cable. On sale on their website for $65+. The Surface/docks1 do not translate the digital signal to HDMI but rely on the cables to do it. Odd, as some cables worked that were not active. Some don't.

I just bought five more SP7 (i7 + 16Gb RAM as the i5 + 8Gb do not cut it - awful performance issues when using TEAMS or ZOOM with any other program). The new docks are Dock2. I was hoping that the 199w power supply would have solved all the issues. They have not.

Issues:

• one monitor not displaying but still detected
• having to power cycle the dock every time I re-docked the device
• third monitor not working when plugged into the Surface
• fuzzy static on main monitor when turned on for the first time
• keyboard not getting power through USB - needing to replug it or powercycle dock2

Two weeks later, I am now on my third dock2, 6th cable and third SP7 (the first two were imaged using SCCM. This one is OOTB).

Awful experience with multiple monitors so far.

On each device I have updated to the latest version of Windows 10  2004.

This morning on my latest OOTB model (left at 1909) I installed the following (all the other models had it):

And after a number of reboots and updates to 1909 Win10, I am cautiously stating that all is good. I have three monitors and when I undock-redock, all works. No shimmering of monitor or fuzziness.

If I open the lid to try and get four monitors, the far left portrait one connected to the SP7 turns off.

Touch wood. 

Perhaps the SP7 drivers in our SCCM image were causing the issue (but they had the latest Firmware included).

The OOTB model did not work well at first but after I installed updates work well.

I'm now going to update to 2004 and see if that is the issue. Will post if bad results. Perhaps that was the issue with the other two SP7s.

Good luck.

Same issue here.  Surface Dock 2 will not allow 2 external monitors to be used simultaneously.  What is the purpose of 2 USB-C ports that claim to be for external displays?  False claims for a pretty expensive dock.  If it's a power problem, then there is a flaw in the power supply that needs to be corrected.  Consumers should be given replacements or an alternative.

OK...

So if you have read through this thread you know that Dock 2 does not support 2 monitors connected via the two rear USB C of the Dock 2.

For a long time, I could not get anything to work for my Surface laptop 2 but I have now figured out a simple jack hack to get two monitors working with my set-up.  I need to do this every time my computer restarts in this specific order.  Extremely annoying

• but otherwise, I am a Microsoft product fan.  I hope this can help others who are using dual monitors until Microsoft recognizes and fixes the problem.

Simple Jack Hack for Surface Laptop 2, Dock 2, and Dual Monitor Setup

If I want my dual monitors to work, I have to do this every time my computer restarts:

1. Disconnect Laptop from all monitor connections (disconnect USB C from laptop and docking station)
2. Open Laptop
3. Connect Monitor 1 Directly to USB C on Laptop - Wait for the image on Monitor 1 to appear
4. Close Laptop
5. Reconnect Laptop to Dock 2 that is connected to Monitor 2 by USB C

This is the only way I can use dual monitors with my Surface Laptop 2 and Dock 2 to work.

This has kept me going with my set-up working from home. I hope Microsoft finally recognizes and fixes this issue soon!

Stay well all!

Hi Crest

• The monitors are the same model (QG241Y).
• There are two HDMI ports on each monitor, I have tried plugging the cords into each of the different ones.
• Yes, it usually says no signal. Bizarrely though, *occasionally* it will work - but then the screen just turns off again. The Surface still recognises that it's there though. Often one screen might be on and the other off. There is only once I've been able to get them to both turn on at the same time, together with the Surface, but when I turned the Surface off it didn't work again when I turned it back on.
• Yes, I have updated the firmware for both the Dock 2 (1.0, published 8 June 2020) and the Surface (2004).
• Yes, I have cleared the display cache.
• Yes, I have uninstalled and reinstalled the monitor drivers.

Currently, the left hand monitor is working, but if I restart the tablet, the right one might turn on and the left one not.