Get started with Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2

There's much to explore with Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2. Once you’ve set up your Surface (choosing your default Windows settings, creating an account and so on), here are some basics to help you get started:

• Touch, keyboard, mouse and pen
• Getting around
• All about apps
• On, off, sleep, restart
• Make it yours
• Go online and browse the web
• Download the User Guide
• Help + Tips app

With Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2, you can easily switch between touch, keyboard, mouse and pen.

• Touch. Many users find touch interaction to be direct and intuitive. For example, drag your finger across the screen to scroll. For info on using touch, see Touch, swipe, and beyond.
• Keyboard. You have several options for using a keyboard with Surface. You can use any of the Surface Covers designed especially for Surface. You can also use a full-size USB or Bluetooth® keyboard. (Keyboards and Covers sold separately.)
• Mouse. You can use the touchpad on the keyboard covers, or connect a USB or Bluetooth mouse.
• Pen. Take notes, draw and mark up documents using the Pro Pen that’s included with Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2.

The Start screen is your home base, and you can customise it so it’s just the way you want it. Each tile on Start is connected to a person, app, website, playlist, or whatever else is important to you. Tap a tile to open it.

No matter where you are in Windows, you can always come back to the Start screen. Here’s how:

• Touch. Press the Windows logo button on Surface, or swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap Start.
• Keyboard. Press the Windows logo key .
• Mouse or touchpad. Move the pointer into the lower-left corner. When Start appears, click in the corner.

To find out how to add tiles, rearrange them, and resize them, see Personalise the Start screen.

Swipe in from the edge

When you swipe in from the different edges of the screen different things happen.

Right edge: Charms
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen to see the charms. They’re always available—just swipe in to see them.

Charms help you do things like search, share, print, and change settings. What you can do with the charms changes depending on if you're on the Start screen or using an app, so start exploring. Learn more about the charms

Top or bottom edge: App commands
Swipe up from the bottom or down from the top edge of the screen to see commands related to what you’re doing.
For example, if you’re in an app you’ll see commands for that app.

Left edge: Switch apps
Swipe in from the left edge of the screen to switch between open apps. For more info, see the Switch between open apps.

Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 come with many built-in apps—you'll see tiles for them on your Start screen after you sign in to your Surface. Here are some of the apps:

SkyDrive
Store your files in the cloud and access them from anywhere

Mail
Get email from your accounts—including Yahoo! and Outlook—all in one place.

Calendar
Bring your calendars together in one place.

People
Stay connected and start conversations with contacts from your email accounts, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Photos
See and share your photos and home videos in one place.

Camera
Take photos, panoramas or shoot video using either the cameras on your Surface.

Music
Explore, download and listen to the latest songs and share your playlists.

Video
Watch movies and TV shows as well as your videos.

Games
Find and install a variety of games by using the built-in Xbox Games app.

Skype
Use Skype to call or IM friends and family.

There are lots more apps in the Windows Store. To see what’s in the Store, tap or click the Store tile on your Start screen. For more info, see All about apps. Some apps might not be available in your country or region.

For info on how to install apps, see Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2: Install and uninstall apps. Also, be sure to see these topics: Start and find apps on Surface and Snap apps (using more than one app at a time).

You can also run programs you’ve been using with earlier versions of Windows. For more info, see Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2: Install and uninstall apps.

Here’s what you need to know:

If you don’t use your Surface for a while, the screen may dim or Surface Pro may go to sleep to help preserve battery life. If you want to change the display and sleep settings, you need to edit your power plan. For more info, see Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 battery and power.

• Add your stuff. You can easily copy or move music, pictures, videos, and documents to your Surface. For info on how to do this, see Move files to your Surface.
• Access network files and devices. You can access files and printers that are shared on a network. For info about this, see Share files and folders on a network.
• Customise Start. Your Start screen can reflect who you are and what you care about. For info about this, see Start screen.
• Choose colours and pictures. For info on changing your background, colours and account picture see Personalise your PC.
• Create multiple accounts. You can share your Surface, with each person having their own account. This way they can personalise Windows as they’d like and your files and settings stay private. For info about this, see Create a user account.
• Use parental controls. Family Safety is an integrated part of Windows, so it's easier than ever to keep track of when and how your kids use Surface. For info about this, see Set up Family Safety.

Connect a printer, a mouse, speakers, or a second screen

Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 are compatible with devices that are certified for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

• USB. Surface has a full-size USB 3.0 port, so you can connect a printer, music player, a mouse, or even an external hard drive. For info about this, see Connect a mouse, printer, and more.
• Bluetooth. Surface also supports Bluetooth devices like phones, speakers, headsets, mice and keyboards. For more info, see Add a Bluetooth device.
• Connect to a TV, monitor or projector. You can share a presentation or video by connecting Surface Pro to a second screen. For more info, see Connect Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2 to a TV, monitor or projector.

Whether you're working, playing games, listening to music or catching up with friends, you'll want to be online and connected.

Here’s how to get online:

Step 1:	Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Settings.
Step 2:	Tap or click the wireless network icon .
Step 3:	Tap or click your network, and then tap or click Connect.
Step 4:	Now browse the web by doing either of the following: From the Start screen, tap or click Internet Explorer. From the Start screen, tap or click Desktop, and then tap or click the Internet Explorer icon on the taskbar (this starts Internet Explorer for the desktop).

For more info, see Browse the web with Internet Explorer.

Want to learn more? Download the User Guide for your Surface.

Once downloaded, you can open or print the guide using the built-in Reader app.

From your start screen, tap or click on the Help + Tips app to learn more about Windows.