Create a recovery drive with a downloaded factory image

Follow these steps to create a recovery drive.

1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port. Use a USB 3.0 drive with a least 16 GB.

2. Do one of the following:

   • Windows 11:  Select Start, enter recovery drive, and select Create a recovery drive or Recovery Drive from the results. You may need to enter an admin password or confirm your choice.

   • Windows 10: In the search box on the taskbar, enter recovery drive, and select Create a recovery drive or Recovery Drive from the results. You may need to enter an admin password or confirm your choice.

3. In the User Account Control box, select Yes.

4. Make sure to clear the Back up system files to the recovery drive check box and then select Next.

5. Select your USB drive, and then select Next > Create. This may take a few minutes.

6. When the recovery drive ready, select Finish.

7. Open the recovery the recovery image .zip file that you previously downloaded by double-clicking it.

8. Select all the files from the recovery image folder, copy them to the USB recovery drive you created, and select Choose to replace the files in the destination.

9. Once the files have finished copying, select the Safely Remove hardware and Eject Media icon on the taskbar, and remove your USB.