Surface Laptop Studio power key malfunction

Question

Surface Laptop Studio power key malfunction

Emily 0

I spilt warm herbal tea on my 2023 Surface Laptop Studio, over the keys on the right-hand side of the keyboard (where the power key is). Some of the keys began to malfunction, and I switched the laptop off. It had updates to install, but rather than 'update and restart' I chose 'update and shut down'. Then I left it upside down overnight. The next day when I tried to turn the laptop on, it wouldn't work. When I plugged it in, the Studio turned on, completed its updates, and shut down again.

The laptop itself is working, but because of the spillage on the keyboard, the power key is affected and I can't get the laptop back on. If I had chosen 'restart' instead of 'shut down', I'd still have access to the Studio, albeit with a malfunctioning keyboard. I don't have alternative modes of powering on enabled in the BIOS (only now having learnt about them!). Is there any option for powering on manually?

If not, is the only alternative to replace the keyboard?

My biggest concern is my data. If I can't get the Studio on, is there any way to get my data back?

Thank you very much.

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2 answers

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Answer 1

If the power key on your Surface Laptop Studio is malfunctioning due to liquid damage, and you cannot power it on using the key, the options for manually powering it on are limited. Unfortunately, if you do not have alternative modes of powering on enabled in the BIOS, there are no straightforward manual methods to turn on the device without the power key.

In this case, replacing the keyboard may be necessary to restore functionality to the power key. However, before proceeding with a keyboard replacement, you might want to consider the following:

External Keyboard: If you have access to an external USB keyboard, you could try connecting it to the laptop. Some laptops allow powering on via an external keyboard, but this can vary by model.
Data Recovery: If you are unable to power on the device and are concerned about your data, you could consider removing the SSD (if you are comfortable doing so) and using an external SSD enclosure to access your data from another computer. This would require following specific disassembly instructions for your device.

If you are not comfortable performing these actions, it may be best to seek professional assistance to avoid further damage to your device.

References:

Answer 2

Barb Bowman 80,805 MVP Volunteer Moderator

There is no external keyboard that will power on your Surface. The SSD can be removed, recommend by a professional who has the tools and can use the official guides to do this. You will need the bitlocker key (hopefully stored in your Microsoft account) to access that data on the drive.

If you are in the USA, you may want to bring your Surface to Microsoft's Authorized Partner https://www.ubreakifix.com/store-locator

Emily 0 Reputation points

2026-02-13T22:42:30.1566667+00:00

Thanks so much for this. Would you recommend the SSD option rather than replacing the keyboard? Will replacing the keyboard be able to fix the problem with the power button?

Thank you very much.
Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-13T22:50:33.7466667+00:00

I can’t diagnose without “hands on”, which is why I recommended ubreakifix. There could be other internal damage. Wish I could offer more help, but this is a situation that requires physical examination of your Surface. Do you have the bitlocker key? You can’t access the data on the SSD without it.
Emily 0 Reputation points

2026-02-14T22:13:06.0466667+00:00

Thank you very much - this is very helpful. Yes, I have the bitlocker key. I'm not in the US, though (the UK). Last question, is the SSD definitely not soldered onto the MS Surface Laptop Studio (first gen, not Studio 2) - ie it's removable and it doesn't need specialists to recover it, but can be done by a competent technician? I'm trying to decide between the recovery approach and the replace-the-keyboard approach. Cost is also a factor. I'm leaning towards keyboard-replacement as it might salvage the laptop too, but the priority is still the data. In any case, thank you so much for your assistance. Thank you very much again :)
Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-14T22:24:06.79+00:00

There are ASP’s outside the US https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/authorized-service-providers. Some have walk in service. That is your best option for this situation. I just can’t comment on what the outcome might be with a different technician Don’t know if there is additional internal damage.
Emily 0 Reputation points

2026-02-14T22:28:27.87+00:00

Thank you very much.