Surface RT won’t turn on

If your Surface won’t turn on, here are several steps you can take to pin-point the cause and fix the problem.

Step 1: Disconnect everything from Surface

First, disconnect or remove the following from your Surface:

• The 24-watt power supply
• Touch Cover or Type Cover
• The microSD card (if any)
• Any USB devices such as printers, keyboards, or mice
• Any video or audio cables or adapters connected to the HD video out port or to the headset jack

Step 2: Things to check first

Next, make a few preliminary checks:

• Is the electrical outlet you’re using to charge your Surface working properly?
  Test this by plugging something else into the outlet and see if it works.
• Are conditions right for recharging?
  It’s best to charge your battery near room temperature. Surface is designed to work between 32° and 95°Fahrenheit (0° and 35° Celsius).
• Are the magnetic charging connectors clean and free of damage?
  Check the connectors on both the power cable and on the charging port (on the side of Surface itself.) With the power supply unplugged from the outlet, clean the connectors with a soft cloth and a small amount of rubbing alcohol.

Step 3: Reconnect the power to Surface

Next, reconnect the power supply to Surface:

1. Plug the power supply into a working electrical outlet.
2. Hold the magnetic connector tip of the power cord with its metal parts toward the charging port on your Surface. It should click into place. Make sure the power cord’s cable clip isn’t in the way, and that the tip gets securely connected. It should sit in the charging port at the same angle as the side of Surface and not tilt to either side.
   
3. Look at the tip of the connector to see if the white LED is lit up.

If the LED:

Step 4: Try turning Surface on

With the power supply securely connected to Surface and the connector’s white LED lit:

1. Press and release the power button on your Surface.
2. If within a few seconds neither the Surface logo nor the low-battery warning displays on the touchscreen, press and hold the power button for more than five seconds, and then release it.
3. If Surface still doesn’t turn on, press and release the power button again.
4. If nothing appears on the touchscreen within a few seconds, or if the low-battery warning appears, allow Surface to charge for at least 5 minutes.
5. Then, press and release the power button on your Surface.

If your Surface: