Surface Dock 2 Monitors Not Working: Fix

Fix things in no time with our expert solutions

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Key notes

  • Surface Dock 2 is a critical accessory that allows your Surface device to connect to several devices, including monitors, keyboards, mice, and Ethernet.
  • Many users reported issues with Surface Dock 2, and surprisingly things worked out when they switched to another generation of the device.
  • Updating the firmware and using a USB-C to HDMI adapter, amongst other solutions, fixed things when Surface Dock 2 was not detecting monitors. 
fix things when surface dock is not detecting monitors

The Surface Dock 2 is an interesting device that allows you to connect a range of devices to the Surface device through the various ports on it. But for many users, Surface Dock was not detecting monitors.

Sometimes, the device malfunctions, forcing users to unplug peripherals and then plug them back in. It’s easy to fix and shouldn’t take much time. So, let’s head straight to it.

What can I do if monitors are not working with Surface Dock 2?

Before we head to the solutions, here are a few quick things you can try:

  • Make sure the connections are in order. Disconnect the cable and reconnect them properly, just to be sure.
  • Disconnect all the cables from the dock, including the power supply, let it sit idle for a couple of minutes, and then try connecting the monitor.
  • Verify whether the issue lies with the monitor itself by connecting it directly to the Surface device.
  • Replace the cable with one from a reputed and reliable brand.
  • Update the OS.

If none of these work, the solutions listed next surely would.

1. Update your Surface Dock

  1. Visit Microsoft’s official website, and click on the Download button.download tool
  2. Now, select the files with FwUpdate mentioned in the name, and click on Next to proceed.update file to fix surface dock not detecting monitors
  3. Once downloaded, run the MSI file to complete the installation process.install

That’s it! This is one of the quickest ways to fix things when Surface Dock 2 is not detecting monitors. And it has worked for many. So, we recommend you give it a try, and in case things don’t work out, head to the next solution.

2. Change the refresh rate

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, and click on Display on the right in the System tab.display
  2. Scroll down to the bottom and click on Advanced settings.advanced display
  3. Now, choose another refresh rate from the dropdown menu.change to fix surface dock not detecting monitors

If Surface Dock 2 is still not detecting monitors, head to the next solution.

3. Update the drivers

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.device manager
  2. Double-click on the Display adapters entry, right-click on the graphics adapter, and then choose Update driver.update driver to fix surface dock not detecting monitors
  3. Now, select Search automatically for drivers and wait for Windows to install the best one.search automatically for drivers

In some cases, issues with the graphics drivers are often responsible for Surface Dock 2 not detecting monitors. Usually, it’s running an outdated version that triggers the problem. And updating the driver should fix things.

If Windows can’t find a better version, you can always manually update the driver. Another rather easy option is to use a reliable driver updater tool, which will automatically install the best available drivers.

In case nothing so far has worked, we recommend you purchase a new USB-C to HDMI adapter and use it to connect the monitor to Surface Dock 2.

Remember, issues with Surface Dock 2 are well known, and a lot of users have been experiencing it for quite some time now. The solutions we listed have worked for many such users and might also do for you.

Also, before you go, find out what to do if your Surface device is overheating.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

More about the topics: docking station, Microsoft Surface