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

Hi Crest_Z,

I have similar issues as DJG_84,   Surface Pro 7 and Suface Dock2.   I have two exact same HP Monitors using the HDMI to USB-C connectors in my home office.  In my work office, i pugged in the same Surface Pro7 with the 1st Gen Dock, and they work fine with the mini-display ports.     I've also ran the exact same troubleshooting step as DJG_84.   It worked after i updated the firmware, once.   After I try to wake the surface after Sleep, only 1 external monitor would work.  the other just has a dark screen.  I"ve tried to reboot, and same thing happened..  Is dual external monitors via USB-C a known issue with Suface Dock2?

I had this exact issue with the Surface Dock 2 and the SP7. Only one monitor would work. If I tried two monitors, I would get power charging/usb warnings and both monitors would flicker/fail.

I reverted back to the original surface dock with my SP7 and voila! no issues but disappointed that the new dock doesn't work.

Have you tried genuine Microsoft Displayport-USBC adapters? Are your cables ACTIVE or PASSIVE?

Firmware updated the SP7?

Win10 Updates all good?

The issue I found with 300 Surface pro 6, 7 7+ and DOCK1 and DOCK2 was
a) the cable must be ACTIVE and

b) in many cases only a genuine MS adapter worked.

Frustrated with Surface dock issues too. They need to include TWO USBC-HDMI or DISPLAYPORT adapters with each Dock. That would solve a lot of the hate.

Confirming this issue. We recently purchased a bulk order of surface dock 2's and i'd say about 50% of them have experienced this issue. This morning I have a new employee starting. His setup is a surface pro 7 , dock 2 and dual monitors. Running usb c - display port. Verified both cables and monitors are good by plugging them individually directly to the USB C port on the Surface. As soon as we go back to the dual monitor dock setup, only one monitor works but both are seen in display settings. Updated drivers, firmware etc and still same issue persists. Oh and we also tried swapping to another dock 2 we had in stock. issue still existed. Microsoft please fix your product.

I've never heard of whether people were connecting their surface docks to their surface devices as pictured in the the picture the wrong way. I work in I.T. and while most lay people will sway by doing the right thing when I.T. asks them, most of them time they will lie when you ask them out of laziness whether they are doing the right thing.

I know that you have to have the right connecters, active display port-1 or 2 for the Surface book 1 or 2, but I have still not seen a published problem on this particular problem as if people have stated whether their Surface Book one or two actual docking connector, connected to their surface device is facing in the right direction.

Considering the post that I have posted before with the directly related DisplayPort and HDMI cables that are required for the full connected display resolution, there are limitations considering that you don't have the right cables, but their are also limitations if you don't have the right monitor hardware specs!

I know the Surface book docking stations one or two, have shown the same connection orientation to the surface device no matter what picture you look at, but the only direction, and I've experimented with the right active display cables HDMI or DisplayPort, that the Surface dock connecter will only work, if you have the right cables and dock, is if your surface dock connector cable is facing downward on your surface device. Meaning that the main surface docking cable is facing towards the keyboard or your lap. Regardless of the Microsoft pictures that everyone see's, minus having the right HDMI or DisplayPort Cable versions, the Surface dock will not display consistently on both monitors unless the surface dock connector to surface device (laptop, Surface Pro, Surface laptop) is facing downwards toward you keyboard or lap. Not to mention, Microsoft surface docks one or two will only display on three external monitors. That's the monitor limitation, only three monitors. So, if you have three actual external monitors, including your surface device, then you will have to turn of the display of your actual surface device's monitor for the display to actually stretch across two or more display's. Two display's @4k 60Hz or 30 Hz, can't remember. I want to say two 4K 30Hz monitors at one time unless the surface dock 2 has changed that.

I had the same issue with my Surface Laptop 4, Surface Dock 2 and 2 Dell 27 inch monitors (S2721NX) that kept intermittently going blank showing hdmi signal not detected. My connection was monitor hdmi to usb-c adapter to Surface Dock 2 display port for each monitor. I spoke with a best buy guy Greg who recommended going hdmi to hdmi in a dock, no adapters, no dongles and something about passive cables. This is what I ended up getting and after installing the software I am back up and running. I returned all my cables and adapters. Going to return the Surface dock 2 next. What a pain but at least it's resolved.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/j5create-usb-type-c-triple-display-docking-station/6357396.p?skuId=6357396