Surface Pro 3 dock not detecting external monitor

Anonymous
2014-08-13T15:12:33+00:00

I have a new surface pro 3 and I purchased two docking stations. 1 for the office and one for home. Neither docking stations allows the pro3 to detect a monitor that is plugged into it.   I can plug the monitor directly into the pro3 and it detects if fine both at home and at the office.   I can tell you that its a serious interruption professionally, and personally and does not bode well for MS's desires to serve the business community.   What I need is a solution.

Surface | Accessories | Surface Dock

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Anonymous
2015-10-25T14:03:15+00:00

I have a new surface pro 3 and I purchased two docking stations. 1 for the office and one for home. Neither docking stations allows the pro3 to detect a monitor that is plugged into it.   I can plug the monitor directly into the pro3 and it detects if fine both at home and at the office.   I can tell you that its a serious interruption professionally, and personally and does not bode well for MS's desires to serve the business community.   What I need is a solution.

hey guys

I had exact same issue and I did this and the issue magically solved!!

a two button restart:

  • Power off the Surface Pro
  • Hold Volume Up and the Power button for 10 seconds
  • Release buttons
  • Wait 5-10 seconds
  • Power on the Surface

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Anonymous
2014-08-13T23:38:43+00:00

Hi will-eman,

Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Community! Sorry to know that your Docking Stations are not detecting your external displays. I can certainly understand why this is an inconvenience, especially when, as you mention, it is used in a business environment and for professional purposes. I’d like to help and hopefully provide the best possible solution!

Please try the following:

  • With the Surface and external display connected to the Docking Station, unplug the Docking Station from the power outlet, leave it unplugged for 30 seconds to a minute, then plug it back and see if the displays are recognized.
  • Please make sure all and latest Windows updates are installed. If so, verify all updates were taken while the Docking Station was connected to the Surface.
  • When you connect the external monitor, do you have any other devices connected to the Docking Station as well? And if so, have you tried removing all devices and connecting the external monitor only?
  • Have you tried connecting other external displays to the docking Station? Are ALL displays or devices not recognized?
  • Have you tried the what Ed Bott - MVP suggests?

 Additionally, please read the following support article:

We hope this information works! Please keep us posted!

We are always here to help!

Best Wishes,

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-18T02:40:22+00:00

    same issue ... a few days ago sp3 no longer detects 3rd monitor connected to docking station.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-22T21:37:55+00:00

    I have the exact same issue.  From day one dual monitor support worked on my SP 3.  Then sometime in October 2015, my Surface Pro 3 stopped working with dual monitors.  When both monitors are plugged in, my SP3 only detects one monitor.  If I unplug the monitor plugged into the docking station mini display port, the 1st monitor plugged into the mini Display port on the Surface will start working.  Then if I plug the 2nd monitor back into the docking station, the 1st monitor will stop working and the 2nd monitor will start working again.  Both monitors are using mini-display port to hdmi adapters.  I tried the 2 finger reset and tried reinstalling the display drivers, but it does not fix the issue. 

    Does anyone know which MS update broke the dual monitor support, and can it be uninstalled?

    Has anyone tried resetting the SP 3 back to factory settings?

    Does it fix the issue? 

    I don't want to wipe the SP 3 unless it solves the problem because I have a ton of programs installed.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-23T16:04:17+00:00

    Come on Microsoft there is clearly something in one of the October updates.  Why else would so many people have an issue starting around the same time?    I have two docking stations one at home/one at work. Both have two monitory connected, one through display port one via USB adapter.  All moitors are different models. I have been using these two setups since about january 2015.

    My setup worked fine until sometime in october, now the display port monitor only works if connected directly to the surface.

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