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On a Surface Pro 7 or newer, use a USB-C cable to get the big screen experience
This guide explains the best and easiest ways to connect your Surface Pro device to one or more external displays using readily available connection options.
How to Connect a Monitor to a Surface Pro 7 & Newer
With the release of the Surface Pro 7, Microsoft replaced the Mini DisplayPort connector with USB-C. Although exact placement depends on the particular Surface Pro model, most feature the USB-C port on the right-hand side of the display.
Connect the cable and/or adapter to a compatible display and to your Surface Pro 7, 8, 9, or X.
Once you’ve plugged in your external display, it will be immediately detected by your Surface Pro and you can begin using the second display.
If your monitor didn’t come with a USB-C cable, make sure to buy a USB-C cable that also supports data transmission and not just charging.
How to Connect a Monitor to a Surface Pro 6 or Older
All Surface Pro devices up to and including the Surface Pro 6 use a Mini DisplayPort. The placement of your device’s Mini DisplayPort connector can vary depending on your generation of Surface, but it’s typically located on the right-hand side of the display when viewing from the front.
Plug the cable and/or adapter into your Surface Pro’s Mini DisplayPort port and the other end into the display.
Once you’ve plugged in your external display, your Surface Pro should immediately detect it, and you can begin using the second display. It will duplicate your standard Surface display by default, but you can also extend it.
TIP: If your monitor didn’t come with a Mini DisplayPort cable, make sure to get one that has the correct connector. In this case, the Mini part of the name is significant because there is also a regular DisplayPort size, and that won’t fit in the Surface Pro 6 (and older). There are also Mini DisplayPort to VGA and DVI cable and adapters available for older monitors that have DVI-D or VGA connectors.
How to Connect Multiple Monitors to a Surface Pro
Although you can drive multiple displays from a single USB-C output using daisy chaining, a much easier way is to use the Microsoft Surface Dock. It’s a small hub compatible with every Surface Pro since the Surface Pro 3, and gives your device a much wider range of more numerous ports, including USB-A ports and a pair of Mini DisplayPort outputs (or USB-C display ports on the Surface Dock 2 and the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock).
Plug the Surface Dock in to your Surface Pro’s Surface Connect port. Then, plug the Mini DisplayPort cables into the Surface Dock and the other end into your compatible displays. You can then use the additional display(s) as duplicates of your existing screen.
