Having trouble with your Surface? If you've tried basic troubleshooting options, you may need to restore or reset your Surface. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Note: You can find similar help information for Surface Duo.

Your Surface isn't working well, and it's been a while since you installed anything new: Reset your Surface

Before you reset your device and reinstall Windows, you can choose to keep your files or remove them. If you can't sign in to Windows, try retrieving your password before performing a reset. To learn more, see When you can't sign in to your Microsoft account.

Here’s how to reset your Surface:

Your browser does not support video. Install Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash Player, or Internet Explorer 9.
  1. Select Start Settings  > System  > Recovery.

    Open Recovery

  2. Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC and choose an option:

    • Keep my files—Reinstalls Windows 11 but keeps your personal files and any apps that came with your PC. This option removes changes you made to settings, as well as apps and drivers you installed.

      Note: We recommend trying this option first unless you’re donating, recycling, or selling your Surface.

    • Remove everything—Reinstalls Windows 11 and any apps that came with your PC. This option removes personal files, changes you made to settings, and apps and drivers you installed.

      Note: If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your Surface, or send it in for replacement, use this option and choose to fully clean the drive. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.

  3. Select Cloud download or Local reinstall. We recommend using Cloud download. Make sure your Surface is connected to the internet. 

You can also get to the reset option by restarting your Surface from the sign-in screen. Here’s how:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key  L. If you need to, dismiss the lock screen.

  2. Hold the Shift key down while you select Power  > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.

  3. After your Surface restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

You want to reinstall your previous operating system: Go back to your previous version of Windows

If you recently upgraded to Windows 11 and it isn’t working for you, try going back. In most cases, you'll have 10 days to go back. This will keep your personal files, but it'll remove apps and drivers installed since upgrading, as well as any changes you made to settings.

Here’s how to go back to your previous version of Windows on your Surface:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > System  > Recovery.

  2. Next to Go back, select Go back. If you don't see this section, too much time has elapsed since you upgraded, and you can no longer go back.

Windows won't start, and you have a recovery drive to reinstall Windows 

For more info about using a recovery drive to reinstall Windows, see Creating and using a Surface USB recovery drive.

You may need your BitLocker Key to reinstall Windows with a recovery drive. For more info about BitLocker keys, see Find my BitLocker recovery key.

More troubleshooting options

Having trouble with your Surface? If you've tried basic troubleshooting options, you may need to restore or reset your Surface. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Note: You can find similar help information for Surface Duo.

Your Surface isn't working well, and it's been a while since you installed anything new: Reset your Surface

Before you reset your device and reinstall Windows, you can choose to keep your files or remove them. If you can't sign in to Windows, try retrieving your password before performing a reset. To learn more, see When you can't sign in to your Microsoft account.

Here’s how to reset your Surface:

Your browser does not support video. Install Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash Player, or Internet Explorer 9.
  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Update & Security  > Recovery .Open Recovery

  2. Under Reset this PC, select Get started and choose an option:

    • Keep my files—Reinstalls Windows 10 but keeps your personal files and any apps that came with your PC. This option removes changes you made to settings, as well as apps and drivers you installed.

      Note: We recommend trying this option first unless you’re donating, recycling, or selling your Surface.

    • Remove everything—Reinstalls Windows 10 and any apps that came with your PC. This option removes personal files, changes you made to settings, and apps and drivers you installed.

      Note: If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your Surface, or send it in for replacement, use this option and choose to fully clean the drive. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.

  3. Select Cloud download or Local reinstall. We recommend using Cloud download. Make sure your Surface is connected to the internet. 

You can also get to the reset option by restarting your Surface from the sign-in screen. Here’s how:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key + L. If you need to, dismiss the lock screen.

  2. Hold the Shift key down while you select Power  > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.

  3. After your Surface restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

You want to reinstall your previous operating system: Go back to your previous version of Windows

If you recently upgraded to a newer version of Windows and it isn’t working for you, try going back. This will keep your personal files, but it'll remove apps and drivers installed since upgrading, as well as any changes you made to settings.

Here’s how to go back to your previous version of Windows on your Surface:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Update & Security  > Recovery .

  2. Under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10, select Get started. If you don't see this section, too much time has elapsed since you upgraded, and you can no longer go back.

Windows won't start, and you have a recovery drive to reinstall Windows 

For more info about using a recovery drive to reinstall Windows, see Creating and using a Surface USB recovery drive.

You may need your BitLocker Key to reinstall Windows with a recovery drive. For more info about BitLocker keys, see Find my BitLocker recovery key.

More troubleshooting options

Note: You can find similar help information for Surface RT or Surface 2.

If you're having trouble with your Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro 3, or Surface 3, you may be able to restore, refresh, or reset it to solve the problem.

Should you restore, refresh, or reset your Surface?

If your Surface isn't running as quickly or reliably as it used to, try one of these recovery options. The following table can help you decide which one to use.

Problem

Try this

Your Surface isn't working well, and you recently installed an app, driver, or update.

Restore from a system restore point

Your Surface isn’t working well, and it’s been a while since you installed anything new. Or, you tried a restore and it didn’t solve your problem.

Refresh or reset your Surface

Your Surface won't start, and you've created a recovery drive.

Use a recovery drive to reinstall Windows

Restore from a system restore point

This option takes your Surface back to an earlier point in time, called a system restore point. Restore points are generated when you install a new app, driver, or Windows update and when you create a restore point manually. Restoring won’t affect your personal files, but it will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was made. To get started, do the following:

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Search. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and select Search.)

  2. In the search box, enter recovery, and in the search results, select Recovery.

  3. Select Open System Restore > Next.

  4. Choose the restore point related to the problematic app, driver, or update and select Next > Finish.

Not seeing any restore points?

If you’re not seeing any restore points, try a reset to solve your problem.

To check if system protection is turned on:

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Search. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and select Search.)

  2. In the search box, enter recovery, and in the search results, select Recovery.

  3. Select Configure System Restore > Configure.

  4. Make sure Turn on system protection is selected.

Can’t boot into Windows?

If you can’t boot into Windows, you may be able to perform a system restore in the Windows Recovery Environment. Here’s how:

  1. Boot your Surface using a USB recovery drive. Insert a bootable USB drive into the USB port on your Surface, then press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button. For more info, see Boot Surface from a USB device. If you don’t have a USB recovery drive, see Download a recovery image for your Surface.

    Note: The USB recovery drive must be formatted to FAT32 (not NTFS) to work correctly.

  2. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.

  3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.

  4. Select System Restore, select the target operating system, and select Next.

  5. Choose a restore point.

  6. Select Next > Finish.

  7. When asked if you want to continue, select Yes.

After running system restore, you should be able to boot into Windows.

Refresh your Surface

Refreshing your Surface reinstalls Windows and keeps your personal files, settings, apps that came installed on your Surface, and apps you installed from the Store. You’ll need to reinstall desktop apps. Here’s how to refresh your Surface:

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and select Settings.)

  2. Select Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Recovery.

  3. Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, select Get started.

  4. Select Next, make sure your Surface is plugged in, and select Refresh.

After refreshing your Surface, you’ll need to reinstall desktop apps such as Microsoft Office, as well as the latest Windows updates.

Reset your Surface

Resetting your Surface lets you choose whether to remove just your files or fully clean the drive, and then Windows will be reinstalled. Here’s how:

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and select Settings.)

  2. Select Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Recovery.

  3. Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, select Get Started.

  4. Select Next, and choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.

    The option to clean the drive is more secure, but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should choose to clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.

  5. Select Reset.

Use a recovery drive to reinstall Windows

For more info about creating and using a recovery drive to reinstall Windows, see Creating and using USB recovery drive.

If you created a recovery drive on another Windows device:

  1. Make sure your Surface is shut down and plugged in.

  2. Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.

  3. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.

  4. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.

  5. Connect the recovery drive and turn on your Surface.

  6. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC and choose the reset option that's best for you.

Notes: 

  • If you chose not to copy the recovery partition when creating your recovery drive on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you won't be able to use it to reinstall Windows.

  • If you chose not to back up system files when you created your recovery drive on another Windows device, you won’t be able to use it to reinstall Windows.

More troubleshooting options

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.