Surface Pro 4 Type Cover Stopped Working

Anonymous
2017-09-20T12:40:04+00:00

The type cover on my Surface Pro 4 suddenly stopped working.  There are several similar issues on this forum, but none quite fit what I am experiencing.

I tried cleaning the contacts, doing the 2-button reset, using system refresh, and finally I "restored" windows from a USB drive.  And then it worked again! Until the next day, when the type cover no longer worked.  

So, I tried 2-button reset again, didn't help.  I did a little more research, looked at the device manager and noticed only the HID keyboard driver showed up.  I saw online that upgrading Windows 10 to version 1703 seemed to fix things for some folks experiencing this issue, so I tried that, and it worked again! Until the next day.  I tried 2-button reset again, didn't help. So I tried downloading the latest firmware and drivers from Microsoft; no help. I ran the SFC utility, it didn't find any issues.  I created a new USB restore drive, and restored from it, but that didn't help this time!  I have not tried restoring from my "old" USB restore drive, because I think that may be a temporary fix, but wouldn't help permanently. I have taken the type cover off and  put it back on, giggled it like crazy, etc, but I really don't think this is a hardware problem.

So, as a final step, I am going to re-image my machine.  In the meantime, any suggestions?  I'd be willing to buy a new type cover if I thought it would help (my type cover is a #QC7-00001). I'm tired of spending 3 hours a day trying to get my keyboard to work!

Moved from: Surface / Surface Pro 4 / Install, update, and repair

Surface | Accessories | Surface Type Cover

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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Barb Bowman 80,810 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2017-10-02T17:05:46+00:00

Ruth,

My contact gave me the following for you to try (this is only for non US typecovers for  SP4). Please let me know if you try these and results either way:

Workaround #1

  1. Power+volume up to boot into UEFI settings.
  2. Choose Devices.
  3. Toggle Type Cover Port off and then on.

Workaround #2

  1. Check Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and ensure that Filter Keys is disabled.
  2. Check BIOS and make sure Type Cover is enabled in Devices.
  3. In Device Manager, click on the View menu > Show Hidden.
  4. Under HID (Human Interface Devices), scroll down and find Surface Pro 4 Typecover Integration > right-click - Uninstall. (chose option to delete driver/software.)
  5. In Device Manager, under Keyboard, if you do not see the type cover, no need to do anything else. I; if you do see it, right-click, uninstall (check to remove software).
  6. Shut down (hold shift for a clean shutdown).
  7. Hold power and volume up for 30 seconds. The device will flash to EFI and back until it eventually powers off fully.
  8. Power on the device. Now the keyboard should work, and all the drivers should be re-installed that we removed earlier.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-04T05:22:30+00:00

    Thanks for the update.

    You may want to download and install the latest Firmware and drivers for Surface from this link and see if it helps.

    If the issue still persists, we suggest that you send your device for repair or you may drop by the nearest Microsoft Store to have it assessed and be received should a repair be advised.

    Keep us in the loop for the result.

    Regards.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-03T04:43:09+00:00

    Sadly, I am back to this type cover state after the windows 2017-12 cumulative update for windows 10 version 1709 for x64 (kb4054517). The boot to UEFI solution that worked for me before no longer works after this update. Did anyone else experience this issue? Or found a solution? Microsoft updates is killing my wife's surface...

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-19T10:27:48+00:00

    The ironic thing is that I feel my Windows runs better on my Mac than it ever did on the Surface. The only real difference is the loss of the touch screen, but the touchpad is greatly superior. I just use an iPad now for anything I need to do artwork on and it's a good mix for me. It stinks because I really wanted to give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt, but they are really, really, really lacking in customer service these days.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-12-19T10:19:19+00:00

    I never found a solution.  I ended up sending my Surface back for service due to other issues (battery), and the one they sent back works fine.

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