Troubleshoot Touch Cover or Type Cover

If your Touch Cover or Type Cover isn’t detected when you connect it, it stops working, or if the keys or trackpad don’t work consistently, try the following:

• Before you begin
• Solution 1: Check the Touch Cover or Type Cover connection
• Solution 2: Check your settings
• Solution 3: Install the latest updates
• Solution 4: Restart Surface

Note  If your Touch Cover or Type Cover is torn, has a problem with the magnets, or is otherwise physically in need of repair or replacement, contact the Surface Online Service Center.

1. Disconnect any video adapters and any USB devices (such as printers, keyboards, or mice) from your Surface.
2. Make sure the magnetic connectors on Surface and on the Type Cover or Touch Cover are clean and free of damage. With the electrical cord unplugged from the wall outlet, clean the connectors on the Touch Cover or Type Cover with a soft cloth and a small amount of rubbing alcohol. For more info, see Clean and care for Surface.
3. Plug the electrical cord in to a working outlet, and connect the power supply to Surface.
4. Put Surface on a firm, flat surface, such as a table, with the kickstand out and the Touch Cover or Type Cover attached to Surface in typing position.
5. Try using the trackpad or try typing an email in the Mail app.
   If you’re still having a problem, try Solution 1.

1. Detach the Touch Cover or Type Cover from Surface.
2. Reattach the cover, making sure that all of the magnetic connectors are making contact with the bottom edge of Surface.
   
   Note  The cover should click into place. You should not see any gaps or be able to see any metal at the connection points. You may need to detach and reattach the cover a few times until you are sure that you have a good connection between Surface and the cover.
   
   
   
3. Put Surface down on a firm, flat surface and try using the trackpad or try typing again. If things still aren’t working right, go to Solution 2.

If the keyboard keys aren’t working

Make sure filter keys aren't turned on in your Ease of Access settings:

1. From the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap or click the Search charm. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.)
2. Tap or click Settings, and then enter filter in the search box.
3. Tap or click Ignore repeated keystrokes using filter keys in the search results on the left side of the screen.
4. Uncheck the Turn on Filter Keys box, and then tap or click OK.

If the keyboard keys are working, but the trackpad isn’t

If you installed the Trackpad Settings app, make sure the trackpad is turned on. Here’s how:

1. From the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap or click the Search charm. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.)
2. Enter trackpad settings in the search box, and tap or click Apps.
3. Tap or click the Trackpad Settings app in the results on the left side of the screen.
4. If the trackpad is turned off, tap or click the Trackpad button to turn the trackpad on.

If you're not sure whether you have the Trackpad Settings app installed:

1. From the Start screen, tap or click Store, and then swipe down from the top edge (or right click).
2. Tap or click Your apps, and choose Apps installed on … your Surface from the drop-down menu. If the Trackpad Settings app is installed, it will appear in your list of installed apps.

If you’re still having the problem, go to Solution 3.

In many cases, installing the latest Surface and Windows updates fixes problems with the Surface keyboard. For info on how to install updates, see Install Surface and Windows updates.

Note  Make sure that the Touch Cover or Type Cover is attached to Surface before you begin installing updates.

If the trackpad or the keyboard still isn’t working right after installing the latest updates, go to Solution 4.

Sometimes, simply restarting Surface will fix problems with the keyboard:

• From the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap or click the Settings charm. Tap or click Power, and then tap or click Restart.

• Open the Settings charm, tap or click Power, and then tap or click Shut down. Next, press and release the power button to turn Surface on again.

If restarting or shutting down Surface doesn't fix the problem, your Touch Cover or Type Cover needs service. Request service at the Surface Online Service Center.