New Surface Dock Does Not Work via mini displayport to HDMI & DVI

Anonymous
2015-10-27T17:18:04+00:00

The specific device I am referring to, is the new Surface Dock for Surface Pro 3/4 and Surface Book. I have described the issue here on Reddit, and a number of others are also experiencing the same problem. Basically, the new dock doesn't work when the monitor is connected using mini displayport to HDMI. The monitor is detected correctly and the correct resolution is set, but the screen remains black. In my case, I randomly get some image on the monitor, but it's compressed to one side of the screen and garbled. The mini displayport to HDMI adapter works properly when connected directly to the Surface, so the adapter itself is fine. If I instead connect the mini displayport to VGA adapter to the dock, the monitor displays correctly. I have tried using a straight mini displayport to DVI cable and the issue remains. Additionally, I have connected a Surface Pro 3 to the dock and experience the same issue.

So to summarize, the dock does not function correctly when using a mini displayport to HDMI adapter to connect the monitor, but does work with a mini displayport to VGA adapter. This problem is repeatable using both a Surface Book and Surface Pro 3.

Surface | Accessories | Surface Dock

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2015-10-29T17:45:57+00:00

I purchased an active mDP to HDMI adapter from Amazon (Plugable is the brand) and so far the external monitor is working correctly through the dock.

Moderator Edit (11/3/2015):  If you are using a passive MDP to DVI adapter and experiencing difficulties, you may need to switch to using an active adapter.

If you switched from a passive to active adapter and continue to experience difficulties using Surface Dock to display to external monitors please consider making some changes to your cabling: different lengths, different quality, different adapters, etc.  If adjusting your cabling fails to resolve please consider sharing the following:

  1. Make and model of external displays
  2. Make/model of adapters if present
  3. Make/model of cables

For more troubleshooting info and steps to confirm your Dock is updated, please view our Troubleshoot Surface Dock article.

Thank you,

Josh

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Anonymous
2017-05-22T09:18:50+00:00

Hi,

 We suggest that you contact our Surface Answer Desk team for further assistance or visit the nearest Microsoft Store if you are in the US. In case you're offshore, contact our Global Customer Service team.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-24T09:40:04+00:00

    If the problem we are ALL having is with the Intel GPU video driver, would that explain why some folks have a second monitor work instantly when direct connected to a Surface Book, but not work at all when connected through the Surface Dock?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-24T07:23:27+00:00

    I totally agree.... and I have tried lots of other suggested solutions including changing cables and adapters...

    **MY HONEST OPINION is that we are ALL barking up the wrong tree....**I am convinced this is a Intel GPU  video driver problem.... my observations are: there does not seem to be a consistently synchronise with the initial docking connection ... I fiddle around with power up sequences of the attached screen ( I only have one additional monitor) on  my Surface Book and I often get BLACK video breaks at the initial connection and then it settles down and works... and once working it LOCKS the connection and I have no further problems. Its a pain... but I can live with it!

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-23T12:34:43+00:00

    The adapters I was using to attach my 4K & other 2nd monitor were purchased from the MS store.  So if it's the type of adapter that's causing the problems, MS should be selling the ones that work on the Surface machines.  I also purchased several other brands of Display port to HDMI adapters and none would drive 2 additional monitors at the same time (with 4 k resolution) using the surface dock.

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