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
    2018-03-06T21:12:09+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  

    I had the same problem with Surface Pro 3.  I talked with Surface support, and I searched a long time, and even returned one dock for a new one. No joy.

    Then found the Surface_Dock_Updater.  I finally found a set of "Surface Tools for IT

    Steps I took:

    Link:  Surface_Dock_Updater_v2.12.136.0.msi

    1.  Go to the Surface Tools for IT downloader page

    1. Select "Download" and a popup will appear with 6 tool options, and the 5th will be the Surface_Dock_Updater_v2.12.136.0.msi
    2. Check the box for the updater, and select "Next" at the bottom of the window.  The windows downloader will begin.

    Good Luck

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-19T18:30:14+00:00

    Same with me. I've been able to test the following configurations with the dock:

    Mini displayport-to-displayport adapter to displayport cable - monitor receives no signal, Surface Pro 3 display flickers constantly and is unusable.

    Mini displayport-to-DVI adapter to DVI cable- monitor receives no signal, Surface Pro 3 display remains on. Windows recognizes the monitor in the display properties. Monitor continues to receive no signal through any of the dual monitor configurations.

    Mini displayport-to-VGA adapter to VGA cable - monitor receives signal properly. Monitor accepts up to 1920x1080 resolution.

    All adapter and cable configurations work when plugged directly into the Surface mini displayport.

    The monitor I use is a HP Compaq LA2405x, which has a maximum resolution of 1920x1200.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-15T22:54:00+00:00

    I'm having a similar problem outputting to an external monitor from my new dock that arrived today.  I can connect my monitor (Samsung 28" 4k monitor, model U28D590D) directly to my SP3 and it works (although it won't detect the proper resolution.  It maxes out at 2560 x 1440 for some reason).  If I try to connect it through the dock, it doesn't connect at all.  I have all the updates that came out this week.  I have tried connecting through the devices charm (win+p) as well as through the screen resolution window.  Nothing works.  I'm starting to regret buying a 4k monitor and selling all my other ones because the SP3 seems to have some serious issues with them. 

    As a side note, I have a desktop computer that works flawlessly with the monitor (also using displayport), sho there is nothing wrong on that end.

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