To make sure your Surface looks and works great, clean the touchscreen and keyboard frequently, and keep your Surface covered when you’re not using it.
- Touchscreen care
- Cover and keyboard care
- Inking for long periods of time
- Long-term storage
- General device care
- Using disinfecting products on your Surface
- Battery health
- Power supply (PSU) cord care
Touchscreen care
Scratches, finger grease, dust, chemicals, and ultraviolet light can affect the performance of your touchscreen. Here are a few things you can do to help protect the screen:
- Clean frequently. The Surface touchscreen is coated to make it easier to clean. You don't need to rub hard to remove fingerprints or oily spots. To clean your screen, use a screen cleaning wipe or a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. When necessary, you can dampen the cloth with one of the following: water, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution 70% or less, or eyeglass cleaner. Never use glass cleaner or other chemical cleaners.
- Keep it out of the sun. Don't leave your Surface in direct sunlight for a long time. Ultraviolet light and excessive heat can damage the display.
- Keep it covered. Close the cover when you're taking your Surface with you, or if you're not using it.
Cover and keyboard care
Cleaning
Do this often to keep your Keyboard or Type Cover working at its best:
- To clean, gently wipe using a lint-free cloth dampened with a solution of mild soap and water (five parts water to one part mild soap, such as hand soap or dish soap). You may also use a dry melamine sponge or a coarse, dry paper towel to remove superficial oils or glossy residue.
- If the spine or magnetic connections of your cover get dirty or stained, clean using a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol. Debris or dirt cleaned from these areas may contain magnetic/metallic particles; be sure to remove any metal debris from the cloth that might be gathered when cleaning the magnetic connections before proceeding to other areas.
Alcantara® material care
Some Surface devices and accessories feature spill and absorption-resistant Alcantara® material.
- Regular care: Whenever needed, clean it using a screen-cleaning wipe or a white, lint-free cloth dampened with mild soap and water (five parts water to one part mild soap, such as hand soap or dish soap).
- Stain removal: If you spill something on the Alcantara material, try to clean it within 30 minutes to help prevent any stains from setting. Using swirling motions, gently clean with a white, lint-free cloth dampened with mild soap and water. Wipe dry using a clean, light-colored cloth.
Inking for long periods of time
When using your 2-in-1 device for inking or note-taking for long periods of time (such as the duration of a class or meeting), consider removing the Keyboard or Type Cover and setting it aside. Also consider fully closing the device kickstand and using the device while it’s lying flat against a stable surface. Reconnect the Keyboard or Type Cover as needed for keyboard/touchpad experiences.
For the best 2-in-1 experience, detach your Keyboard or Type Cover when you’re not using it.
Long-term storage
Avoid leaving your 2-in-1 device stored in an open or folded-back state. Instead, detach your Keyboard or Type Cover or ensure that your Keyboard or Type Cover and device are closed, as you would close a laptop.
General device care
Avoid fidgeting with the device kickstand, pen, or spine/hinge area of the Keyboard or Type Cover so you don’t damage them.
Avoid exposure to repeated impacts.
- Minimize exposure to drops or heavy shock events when transporting in bags. To further reduce risk, transport the device with an additional layer of protection: Cover it with a protective sleeve, or put it inside the bag’s laptop compartment.
- Avoid slamming the device onto the Keyboard or Type Cover when packing it away. Instead, lift the cover up toward the screen.
Avoid applying excess pressure on the device.
- Support the kickstand when you're writing on the screen and the kickstand is in a fully open position.
- For laptops, don't apply pressure on the screen beyond the maximum opening angle, and don’t slam the lid closed when packing it away.
- Avoid putting a heavy load on the devices, such as stacking multiple devices on top of each other.
Prevent exposure to water, including rain.
- Take steps to avoid liquid damage.
For device protection, consider using certified Designed for Surface cases. It's OK to use protective covers that have their own kickstands.
Using disinfectant products on your Surface
You can clean and apply disinfectants to your Surface using a solution with up to 70% isopropyl alcohol. Lightly dampen a soft, lint-free cloth and gently wipe the outside of your device. For tips on cleaning the screen, go to the Touchscreen care section above.
Important
While products like isopropyl alcohol are commonly used to clean surfaces, Microsoft doesn’t test or confirm how effective specific disinfectants are against germs or viruses (including COVID-19). Check with your local public health authority for the best guidance on this topic.
Caution
- Don't use disinfectant wipes on any Surface touchscreen. For more info about how to clean the touchscreen, see the Touchscreen care section above.
- Don't use any disinfecting products that contain chlorine/chloride, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide on a Surface device.
- Don't get liquid or moisture into any openings of a Surface device.
- Don't spray aerosol directly onto a Surface device.
- Unplug your Surface before wiping your Surface.
- Avoid excessive wiping, which might cause damage.
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution (70% or less) may be used on the following Surface devices:
- Surface Laptop Studio
- Surface Laptop Go
- Surface Laptop ^^
- Surface Laptop SE
- Surface Pro X
- Surface Pro
- Surface Duo
- Surface Studio
- Surface Hub
- Alcantara® material, including keyboard and trackpad (all colors)
- Surface Headphones
- Surface Earbuds
- Surface mice or keyboards
- Surface Sleeve
- Surface Pen
^^ Surface Laptops with Alcantara keyboards—please follow the guidance in the Alcantara Care section.
Battery health
All rechargeable batteries wear out eventually. Here's how to get the longest life from your battery:
- Avoid disabling battery smart charging.
- It’s recommended to not have your Surface plugged in all the time.
- If you’re using a charging cart to charge multiple devices at the same time, don’t exceed the overall charging capacity of the cart. If the devices become hot, discontinue use.
- Store your Surface in a cool, dry room when you're not using it.
- Discharge the battery to 80% if you’re planning to store the device over an extended period of time (for example, more than one month).
For more info about battery health, see Caring for your Surface battery.
For more info about charging, see How to charge Surface.
Power supply (PSU) cord care
Power cords, like any other metal wire or cable, can be weakened or damaged if repeatedly twisted or bent in the same spot. Here are a few things you can do to keep your power cord from being damaged:
Avoid twisting or pinching your power cord.
Don't wrap your power cord too tightly, especially around the power brick. Instead, wrap it using loose coils rather than tight angles.
Correct: Cord wrapped loosely
Incorrect: Cord wrapped too tightlyInspect your power cord regularly, especially where it joins the power brick.
Avoid pulling on the power cord when unplugging your Surface. Gently removing the connector from the charging connector can help prevent damage to your power cord.
Correct: Unplugging gently
Incorrect: Tugging on cord to unplugWhen transporting the PSU (either by hand or in a bag), it’s advised to unplug the AC power cord to avoid damage during accidental drops.
If you find any damage on any part of your Surface charger cords, stop using the cord and contact us for support options.
For more info about safely cleaning and caring for your Surface, go to Product safety warnings and instructions.