How to reset a Microsoft Surface

💡 Need to know

• Not all Surface resets erase your files—A restart, force restart, and some reset options can fix problems without deleting personal data.
• Start with the least drastic option—A force restart is often enough to fix a frozen or unresponsive Surface.
• Factory resets remove apps and settings—Back up important files before choosing a full reset.
• Recovery USB drives are for bigger problems—They're usually only needed when Windows® won't load or the built-in recovery tools aren't working.

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Is your Microsoft Surface® screen frozen? Is your device running in slow motion? Or are you selling your Surface and worried about someone else accessing your personal information?

Resetting your Surface tablet or laptop can solve these problems—and others. We'll walk you through the different ways to reset your device, so you can decide which one is right for you.

At Asurion, we teach people how to take care of their favorite tech, whether you want to protect your tablet from the cold or need to decide between repairing or replacing your tablet. Here's our guide for how to perform both a soft and hard reset on your Microsoft Surface.

What's the difference between a soft and hard reset?

A soft reset (also known as a restart) means turning your device off, then turning it back on, which may fix a Microsoft Surface that's running slowly or having trouble loading apps.

A hard reset (also known as a factory reset) wipes all the data from your device and restores your laptop or tablet to its original settings. Completing a Microsoft Surface hard reset will wipe your personal information before you sell, donate, or recycle your device, and you can use it as a last resort to resolve certain issues, like when your Surface stops responding and a restart won't work.

How to restart your Microsoft Surface

If your Surface screen is frozen or slow to respond, try to restart your device by selecting Start > Power > Restart. Don't worry, you won't lose any data.

If this soft reset doesn't work, you'll need to force your device to shut down (which also won't delete any of your data) then restart your device.

How to force shut down and restart your Surface

Use this method if your Surface is frozen, the touchscreen isn't responding, or the screen is completely black but the device still seems to have power. In many cases, a force restart is enough to get things working again without affecting any of your data.

For newer Surface devices (Surface Pro 8–11, Surface Laptop Studio, and recent Surface Laptops):

1. Press and hold the Power button for about 20 seconds.
2. Ignore any logos or screen flashes that appear while you're holding it.
3. Once the screen goes completely black, release the button.
4. Wait about 10 seconds, then press the Power button again to turn the device back on.

For older Surface models (Surface Pro 4 and earlier, original Surface Book):

1. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons at the same time for at least 15 seconds.
2. The screen may flash during the process—keep holding both buttons.
3. Release the buttons, wait about 10 seconds, then press the Power button to restart the device.

How to factory reset your Microsoft Surface

If restarting your device didn't fix your issue or if you want to sell your Microsoft Surface and protect your personal information, you'll need to restore your device to its factory settings.

Before doing so, make sure you've backed up your Microsoft Surface so you don't lose any data. Also, be sure sure that your device is plugged into a power outlet.

How to factory reset your Surface in Windows 11 and 10

1. Connect your Surface to its wall outlet and open Settings (or press Windows Key + I).
2. The next step depends on your operating system:
   1. On Windows 11: Select System > Recovery.
   2. On Windows 10: Select Update & Security > Recovery.
3. Locate the Reset this PC row and click Reset PC (or Get Started).
4. Choose your structural cleanup style:
   1. Keep my files: Wipes out your installed applications and reverts systemic configuration preferences, but preserves your personal photos, documents, and downloads.
   2. Remove everything: Completely formats the internal solid-state storage drive, permanently scrubbing all user accounts, encryption logs, and personal files.
5. Choose your reinstallation method: Select Cloud download to pull a completely fresh, uncorrupted version of Windows straight from Microsoft's servers over your Wi-Fi connection.
6. Verify your parameters on the final dashboard summary card and click Reset.

How to factory reset your Surface from the sign-in screen in Windows 11 and 10

Use this method if you've forgotten your Surface login PIN or password and can't get past the lock screen.

Keep in mind that this process removes your apps, settings, and personal files, so only use it if you're locked out and don't have another way to access the device.

1. From the Windows login screen, select the Power icon in the bottom-right corner.
2. Press and hold the Shift key.
3. While holding Shift, select Restart.
4. Continue holding Shift until the Surface restarts and the recovery menu appears.
5. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
6. Select Reset this PC.
7. Choose Remove everything to completely erase the device and restore it to factory settings.
8. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the reset.

How to factory reset your Surface using a USB recovery drive

Use this method if your Surface is stuck in a startup loop, won't load Windows®, or can't access its built-in recovery tools. This process reinstalls a clean version of Windows and can help recover a Surface that won't boot normally due to severe software corruption or startup issues. Keep in mind that some recovery options may remove personal files and apps, so choose carefully if data recovery is a priority.

Before you begin, you'll need a USB recovery drive created on a separate working computer.

1. On a working computer, visit Microsoft's Surface Recovery Image page.
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account and enter your Surface serial number.
3. Download the recovery image for your specific Surface model.
4. Insert an empty 16GB or larger USB flash drive.
5. Format the drive to FAT32 if needed.
6. Search Windows for Recovery Drive and follow the prompts to create a recovery drive.
7. Copy the downloaded Surface recovery files to the USB drive.

Once the recovery drive is ready:

1. Make sure your Surface is powered off and connected to its charger.
2. Insert the USB recovery drive into the Surface.
3. Press and hold the Volume Down button.
4. While holding Volume Down, press and release the Power button.
5. Keep holding Volume Down until the Surface logo appears, then release it.
6. The Surface should boot from the USB recovery drive.
7. Select your language and keyboard preferences.
8. On the recovery screen, select Troubleshoot.
9. Choose Recover from a drive or Reset this PC and follow the on-screen instructions.

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FAQ

What's the difference between restarting and resetting a Surface?

A restart simply reboots the device. A reset can restore settings, reinstall Windows, or erase the device entirely depending on the option you choose.

Will resetting my Surface delete my files?

It depends on the reset type. Some reset options let you keep your personal files, while a full factory reset removes everything.

What should I do if my Surface won't turn on?

Try a force restart first, then check the charger and power connection. If Windows won't load, you may need to use Recovery Mode or a USB recovery drive.

When should I use Reset this PC?

Use it when you're experiencing persistent software problems, preparing to sell the device, or troubleshooting issues that haven't been fixed by simpler steps.

Can I reset a Surface without the password?

Yes. If you're locked out, you can reset the device through the Windows recovery environment, though some reset options will erase your data.