Surface dock 2 not connecting to monitors using usb-c cables

Anonymous
2020-07-15T13:06:07+00:00

I purchased two new surface dock2 to connect our surface pro 7 to our widescreen monitors using usb-c cables. Neither of the monitors would connect through the usb-c ports.

One monitor is an LG 38WK95C. The other is a Dell ultrasharp U3818DW. The LG monitor previously worked connecting to a macbook pro through the usb-c port.

To be clear, I first connected the surface dock 2 to one of the surface pro 7 devices and connected the Dell to the surface dock 2 through the usb-c. A messages was displayed to the effect that the monitor should be connected through a displayport. The monitor never showed up in windows, although you would get the sound like a monitor was recognized and the displayport message. Using the "detect monitor" feature came back with "no monitor detected".

I then connected the LG to the other surface pro 7 device through the surface dock 2. The exact same behavior occurred.

Windows update showed no updates available. I then manually updated the firmware on one of the surface pro 7 devices. Still no joy.

Surface | Accessories | Surface Dock

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-10-28T07:45:21+00:00

    I have a Surface Laptop 4 and just bought the Surface Dock 2. And to be honest this has been a game changer for me. With these two items I have finally found my true calling in life. For all those struggling here I will soon be starting a certification program called 'how to configure your surface / dock / monitor combination and still not figure it out'. First 100 sign ups will also get a free cable or converter or adapter considering the number I've cables I've amassed during this period.

    Honestly Microsoft - If you keep ignoring the community I'm going to move back to Apple. I honestly fell in love with your products several years ago and converted my entire family to the surface series (3 surface books, 2 surface laptops). The Surface Docks are an integral part of your offering and even more so after the pandemic with increasing users working from home. Please make this truly 'plug and play', not plug & pay & pay-some-more & maybe-play.

    Sorry for the rant for those facing the same problem :(.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-10-16T21:36:31+00:00

    I was able to resolve the issue only by buying a Type C to HDMI adapter & HDMI cables. All other efforts are a waste. Latest firmware/(Win + Ctrl + Shift + B) . The only other alternative there is a to buy a ACTIVE TYPE C to HDMI cable. The passive TYPE C to HDMI cables will never work from surface dock2.

    Hello Javian,

    What brand adapter and cables did you buy ?

    Thanks

    Mary

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-09-11T22:59:26+00:00

    My dock worked at first, although almost never on the first try. I always had to start up the Surface Pro 7 and then plug and unplug the Surface Dock 2 a few times to get it to work. Not impressive, but okay (not okay at the price, but...). But now it just stopped recognizing the screen at all. It doesn't matter how often I plug and unplug. But if I connect it directly to the Surface Pro 7, it works. So the problem is with the Surface Dock 2. What would you suggest in this case?

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-09-11T22:47:24+00:00

    My dock worked at first, although almost never on the first try. I always had to start up the Surface Pro 7 and then plug and unplug the Surface Dock 2 a few times to get it to work. Not impressive, but okay (not okay at the price, but...). But now it just stopped recognizing the screen at all. It doesn't matter how often I plug and unplug. But if I connect it directly to the Surface Pro 7, it works. So the problem is with the Surface Dock 2. What would you suggest in this case?

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-08-20T07:10:35+00:00

    Hi,

    Had similar issues, I connected Surface pro 7 to Surface dock 2 through to 2 x AOC QHD 32 inch monitors I used 2 x usb - C to HDMI cables. I could get the monitors to turn on and function by plugging and unplugging the cables in a specific order. This was of course frustrating and not ideal given the cost of the set up. The problem was fixed when i ditched the usb c to HDMI cables and put the HDMI FEMALE to usb C MALE adapter in place for both monitors and connected to the monitors with the HDMI cable that they came with. Now it works perfectly I can unplug the dock and plug it into any surface and both monitors come on as they should.

    Hope this helps

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