Fix: Surface Pro 4 Won't Turn On [Step-by-Step Guide]

Despite being an excellent device, the Surface Pro 4 is not free from issues. After a massive battery drain issue that was connected to the irregular sleep mode, users are reporting that their Surface Pro 4 device won’t turn on.

While this issue might look scary, there might still be some way to salvage your PC. In this guide, we will show you the possible ways to fix this issue for good.

But before showing how to fix this issue, below are some of the variations of this issue reported by users:

• Surface Pro 4 black screen of death: The most common problem with Surface Pro 4 is the black screen of death. You can recognize this problem by the black screen and the inability to turn on your tablet.
• Surface Pro 4 not charging, holding a charge: According to users, sometimes your device won’t be able to charge at all. This isn’t a common problem, but several users reported that their device isn’t holding a charge. This issue is usually related to your battery, so you might want to replace it.
• Unable to turn Surface Pro 4 on after update, charging, shutdown – Users reported this problem in several instances. Sometimes this problem can occur after a firmware update, but many users reported this issue after charging or shutting down their devices.
• Surface Pro 4 not starting, not waking up, not turning on – Many users reported that their tablet isn’t starting at all. According to users, the tablet is unable to wake up or to turn on.
• Surface Pro 4 not working, not booting: If you’re having this problem, you sometimes won’t be able to boot your Surface Pro 4. In the worst-case scenario, your tablet might not work at all.

What to do if I can’t turn Surface Pro 4 on?

1. Perform a two-button reset

1. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
   
2. After the Surface turns off, press and hold the volume-up button and the power button simultaneously for at least 15 seconds (The screen may flash the Surface logo before 15 seconds, but don’t release the buttons).
3. After you release the buttons, wait for 10 seconds.
4. Press and release the power button again, and your Surface will be turned on again.

Although it’s not confirmed, the sleep mode error on Surface Pro 4 might cause it not to turn on. So, performing a hard reset should clear up the error quickly.

Another thing you can do is to hold the power button for 20 seconds to one minute till the logo screen appears. This is known to fix many issues on Surface Pro 4

2. Disconnect the power cable and let the battery drain

If you can’t turn Surface Pro 4 on, you might be able to fix the problem simply by draining its battery. Several users reported that they fixed the problem by disconnecting it from the power adapter and letting the battery drain.

This process can take a couple of hours, so it might be best to leave your Surface Pro 4 for 24 hours or more in order to drain the battery completely.

Once the battery is completely drained, you can connect your tablet to the power adapter and check if the issue is resolved.

3. Use the keyboard shortcut

If you can’t turn Surface Pro 4 on, you might want to try using the Windows key + P shortcut. According to users, your device might be running but with a different Project mode.

Users reported that this issue occurs with the keyboard attached, and to fix it, the keyboard shortcut is the surest bet.

4. Disconnect all peripherals

Another quick way to fix this issue is to disconnect all peripherals connected to your tablet.

If you can’t turn Surface Pro 4 on, you need to disconnect your power adapter, keyboard, and other devices connected to it.

After that, press and hold the Power button for a minute or two. Release it for 30 seconds, and press and hold it again for 5-10 seconds. After doing that, your tablet will turn on, and everything will start working.

5. Connect your device to a different power outlet

If your Surface Pro 4 that won’t turn on is connected to a power outlet with other devices, it is advised that you try another outlet with no other device.

This is because the power supplied to it might be unstable, leading to problems. So, you need to move it to a different outlet.

Also, it is important to note that you should only plug your Surface Pro 4 with the power accessories that came with it. This is because using another power cord might not supply the needed amount of power.

Hence, if your power accessories are faulty, you should order an original replacement from Microsoft.

6. Wake up your Surface with hotkeys

Sometimes this problem can occur after putting your Surface Pro to sleep. If you can’t turn Surface Pro 4 on, you can try waking it up by pressing certain hotkeys.

To do that, press the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B button on your keyboard. If you’re using the device in tablet mode, simultaneously press both Volume up and Volume down buttons three times quickly.

This should wake up your tablet, and everything will start working again.

Read more about this topic

• Discord Error Parsing: Fix it With 5 Steps
• Error no More Items 259 (0x103): Fix it With 4 Steps
• Windows 10X 18941: the Windows 10 that almost looked like Windows 11

7. Charge your battery

If you can’t turn Surface Pro 4 on, your battery may be drained. Charge your battery for 30 minutes or more, and then try to turn it on again.

If your battery fails to charge after about 15 minutes, then it might be faulty.

This isn’t a universal solution, but it might be helpful, so feel free to try it.

8. Put your laptop in a cold room

While this looks a weird way to fix this issue, some users actually found it useful. This solution is especially useful if your device is overheating.

To do this, simply put your tablet in a cold room for 30 minutes. After cooling off your tablet, put it back in your room and wait for another 30 minutes. Now try to turn your tablet back on again.

With this, we can conclude this detailed article on the Surface Pro 4 not turning on issue. Hopefully, you were able to solve the problem by following the steps in this guide.

If your Surface Pro 4 screen is dimming, check our detailed guide to fix that issue too quickly.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.