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

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 No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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,

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

191 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-24T16:18:53+00:00

    Same problem. My old dock works fine for video (tho there seems to be a USB problem).  My new dock, this is my second try at a new dock will not project.

    Symptoms:

    1. The old dock:

    1)displays video properly,

    1. indicates / shows two monitors in Display Settings and Identifies them. HOWEVER, selecting Detect Displays shows an error that no other displays are detected.

    2. The New Dock:

    1. My external monitor indicates "No Signal" -- However, my surface displays in Extended Mode per settings -- If my external monitor is the Main Display, then when i pull up things like the Display Settings the app will not show (ostensibly because it is "displaying" on the other monitor)
    2. Plugging my HDMI directly into my Surface allows the monitor to work correctly.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-24T17:07:58+00:00

    I found a solution that worked for me...  But have to say, MS, I am frustrated and angry that this isn't solved right out of the box, nor did the fix from MS show up on this thread... or at least the first 4 or more pages of complaints and frustrations. 

    Windows and Device updates didn't work, firmware updates didn't work.... etc. etc. 

    The solution for me was to download and run the "Surface Dock Updater" ... Really?  We had a dedicated Surface Dock Updater available? Why wasn't the Surface Dock Updater and link not listed as a resolution on this thread?????

    Resolution Information Source -- YouTube, definitely NOT MS sourced: 

    1)   "How to Update the Surface Dock" -- actual link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCS3IQrERRc

    Resolution Software Download --

    1. Surface Tools For IT download -- actual link https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=46703
    2. Note: After selecting Download, you may select only the Surface_Dock_Updater option so that you do not have to download all of the tools

    After spending hours on troubleshooting, and even sending a dock back, I finally gave up on MS help, and tried YouTube.  Sure enough,  i found my answer in under 3mins on YouTube and had my resolution in under 10 mins.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-06T20:47:39+00:00

    Hi, 

    Both my partner and I have the surface pro. I have the surface pro 4 and he has the surface pro 3. We have one dock at home and another at the office each connected to two external monitors. Normally we just dock our individual surfaces when we are working. My surface pro 4 is working perfect with both docs and projects on all monitors however his Surface pro 3 is only recognizing one of the external monitors with both docks. Both docks are updated and since they seem to be working with my computer I know the problem is coming from his surface pro 3. I have done all the updates for his computer and it just won't display. How can I fix this?

    Thank you!

    Stephanie

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments