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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

62 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Barb Bowman 80,810 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-10-07T10:13:12+00:00

    Ruth,

    I keep pinging my internal contact. Every day.

    I don't have any other suggestions other than exchanging your device (and they will charge you if you are out of warranty unless you are in the US and go to a Microsoft Store and plead with a store manager).

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-10-07T10:03:16+00:00

    Hello Barb,  workaround #1 did not work/made no difference. 

    for workaround #2:  step 2 "check BIOS", for this I did booted into UEFI settings and checked the type cover port is on like workround #1.  In steps 4 and 5, there is no driver called typecover integration, either hidden or visible, in either Human Interface Devices or Keyboards, so there is nothing to uninstall etc.  I then did steps 6 through 8 but obviously they made no difference.    

    Thank you for continuing to help myself and others, Ruth.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-10-07T09:59:10+00:00

    Hello Barb,  workaround #1 did not work/made no difference. 

    for workaround #2:  step 2 "check BIOS", for this I did booted into UEFI settings and checked the type cover port is on like workround #1.  In steps 4 and 5, there is no driver called typecover integration, either hidden or visible, in either Human Interface Devices or Keyboards, so there is nothing to uninstall etc.  I then did steps 6 through 8 but obviously they made no difference.    

    Thank you for continuing to help myself and others, Ruth.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Barb Bowman 80,810 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-10-06T13:43:06+00:00

    I've reported that the fix only worked temporarily. I don't have any other

    suggestions other than exchanging your device (and they will charge you if you

    are out of warranty unless you are in the US and go to a Microsoft Store and

    plead with a store manager).

    >>Do you have any other suggestions of how to fix this problem?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments