Several users have reported recently that they’re facing a ton of issues getting their Microsoft Surface Dock 2/3 to work with their dual monitor config.
Such issues include one or both monitors not coming back from sleep or startup, display flickering, connectivity/linking problems, and more.
A few users have even reported glitches like display blackouts and fuzzy/blurry screens. This happens especially when increasing refresh rates of 4K monitors anywhere above 30Hz.
So yeah, there’s plenty going on here. But what could be the exact cause behind it all? Some [1, 2, 3] have stated that the issues only began for them following a Windows update that purportedly went live in March.
Also, in case you’re wondering what setup is being used, it’s mostly Microsoft USB-C to HDMI adapters. But there are also some with DisplayPort to HDMI passive adapters implementation for docks that are not Type-C.
Moreover, users have reported that they’ve already tried basic workarounds like updating firmware, trying a different Dock, switching monitors and cables, and updating Windows.
If you are one of the users facing this issue, then you might want to try the following workarounds:
- Update Surface Dock firmware and drivers: If you haven’t already, then the first thing you can try is updating your Surface Dock firmware to the latest version.
Workarounds for Microsoft Surface Dock display issues with dual monitors
You can download the latest stuff through this official resource site. And for installation instructions, head here.
Switching over to an active adapter: Some users have reported that making the switch from passive adapters to active adapters for dual displays fixed the issue for them.
Clear external display cache: A group of users shared that clearing the Windows external display cache helped solved the Microsoft Surface Dock display issues temporarily. You can do the same by following the below steps:
Switch to Mini-display to Mini-display:
Disable Hardware Graphics Accelerator on Office: One user reported that disabling Hardware Graphics Accelerator on Microsoft Office helped solved the display glitches for them.
To do so, click File > Options > Advanced and scroll down to display section. Check box to “Disable Hardware Graphics Accelerator” and click OK. Restart the Surface after.
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