Microsoft Surface - v2.0, Surface RT - v2.0 User Guide
Surface User Guide
With Windows RT 8.1 Software
Published: March 2014
Version 2.0
© 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
BlueTrack Technology, ClearType, Excel, Hotmail, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneDrive,
Windows, Xbox, and Xbox Live are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Surface, Skype, and Wedge are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
This document is provided “as-is.” Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may
change without notice.
© 2014 Microsoft Page ii
Contents
MEET SURFACE .................................................................................................................................................................1
ABOUT THIS GUIDE ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
SURFACE FEATURES ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
SET UP YOUR SURFACE ...................................................................................................................................................6
PLUG IN AND TURN ON ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
SETUP...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
THE BASICS .......................................................................................................................................................................8
UPDATE TO WINDOWS RT 8.1 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8
TOUCH, KEYBOARD, MOUSE, AND PEN ............................................................................................................................................................... 8
START SCREEN ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
OPEN APPS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
TOUCH: SWIPE, TAP, AND BEYOND ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
CHARMS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
LEARN MORE ABOUT WINDOWS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 12
LOCK SCREEN AND SIGNING IN .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13
GET STARTED ................................................................................................................................................................. 14
GET ONLINE ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
SET UP YOUR EMAIL ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
PEOPLE: ADD CONTACTS .................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
SKYPE (IM AND CALLS): ADD CONTACTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 15
ONEDRIVE: YOUR PERSONAL CLOUD ................................................................................................................................................................ 16
MAKE IT YOURS ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
GET TO KNOW SURFACE ............................................................................................................................................. 17
POWER STATES: ON, OFF, STANDBY, AND RESTART ........................................................................................................................................ 17
CHARGING ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
THE TOUCHSCREEN ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
TYPING COVERS (KEYBOARDS) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23
TOUCHPAD ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
SOUND FEATURES ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28
THE DESKTOP ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
USE APPS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 31
FIND AND OPEN APPS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
SWITCH BETWEEN OPEN APPS ............................................................................................................................................................................ 32
USE APPS TOGETHER (SIDE BY SIDE) .................................................................................................................................................................. 32
CLOSE AN APP ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
APP COMMANDS ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
APP SETTINGS AND HELP .................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
PROBLEMS WITH AN APP? .................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
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SEARCH, SHARE, AND SETTINGS ............................................................................................................................... 35
HOW TO SEARCH ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35
SHARE PHOTOS, LINKS, AND MORE ................................................................................................................................................................... 36
CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS .................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
ACCOUNTS AND SIGN IN ............................................................................................................................................ 39
WHAT TYPE OF ACCOUNT DO I HAVE? .............................................................................................................................................................. 39
CREATE ANOTHER ACCOUNT .............................................................................................................................................................................. 39
MANAGE ACCOUNTS .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
UNLOCK AND SIGN IN ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
SIGN OUT OR LOCK ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 41
CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ................................................................................................................................................................................ 41
ACCOUNT SECURITY ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 42
APPS AND GAMES FROM THE WINDOWS STORE .................................................................................................. 43
YOUR ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
GET APPS .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
DELETE AN APP .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
REINSTALL AN APP............................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
APP UPDATES ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
PERSONALIZE YOUR SURFACE ................................................................................................................................... 47
ADD YOUR ACCOUNTS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 47
PERSONALIZE THE START SCREEN ...................................................................................................................................................................... 47
CHANGE YOUR LOCK SCREEN ............................................................................................................................................................................. 48
NOTIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 48
ADD A LANGUAGE ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 49
DESKTOP BACKGROUND, COLORS, AND SOUNDS ............................................................................................................................................ 49
CONNECT DEVICES ....................................................................................................................................................... 50
CONNECT A USB MOUSE, PRINTER, AND MORE .............................................................................................................................................. 50
USE A MOUSE ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
USE A CAPACITIVE PEN ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 50
ADD A BLUETOOTH DEVICE ................................................................................................................................................................................ 50
ADD, REMOVE, AND MANAGE YOUR DEVICES AND PRINTERS ........................................................................................................................ 51
HOW DO I PRINT? ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
HOW DO I SCAN SOMETHING? .......................................................................................................................................................................... 52
CONNECT TO A TV, MONITOR, OR PROJECTOR ............................................................................................................................................... 52
STORAGE, FILES, AND BACKUP .................................................................................................................................. 55
HOW MUCH DISK SPACE DO I HAVE? ................................................................................................................................................................ 55
ADDITIONAL STORAGE OPTIONS........................................................................................................................................................................ 55
FILES AND FOLDERS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 56
ADD FILES TO SURFACE ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 56
BACK UP YOUR FILES USING FILE HISTORY ....................................................................................................................................................... 57
NETWORKING ............................................................................................................................................................... 58
CONNECT TO A WIRELESS NETWORK ................................................................................................................................................................. 58
DISCONNECT FROM A WIRELESS NETWORK ...................................................................................................................................................... 58
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CONNECT TO A WIRED NETWORK ...................................................................................................................................................................... 58
JOIN A HOMEGROUP ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 59
JOIN A WORKGROUP ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 59
GET TO FILES ON OTHER COMPUTERS ............................................................................................................................................................... 59
CONNECT TO A VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN) ..................................................................................................................................... 60
WORKPLACE JOIN ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 60
AIRPLANE MODE .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 60
TETHERING: USE YOUR PHONE’S DATA CONNECTION ..................................................................................................................................... 61
REMOTE DESKTOP: CONNECT TO ANOTHER PC .............................................................................................................................................. 61
BUILT-IN APPS .............................................................................................................................................................. 62
OFFICE 2013 RT ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
ONENOTE ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 63
INTERNET EXPLORER 11 ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 63
MAIL ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 66
PEOPLE ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 68
CALENDAR AND REMINDERS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 68
CAMERA ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
MUSIC .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 72
PHOTOS ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 74
VIDEO ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 75
SKYPE .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 76
ONEDRIVE ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 76
XBOX GAMES ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 78
MAPS .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 79
MORE BUILT-IN APPS .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 79
ADDITIONAL INFO YOU SHOULD KNOW ................................................................................................................. 81
KEEP SURFACE UP TO DATE ................................................................................................................................................................................ 81
HOW CAN I HELP PROTECT MY SURFACE FROM VIRUSES? .............................................................................................................................. 82
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 82
ACCESSIBILITY ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 82
SPEECH RECOGNITION ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 82
TAKE A SCREEN SHOT .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 82
BITLOCKER RECOVERY KEY .................................................................................................................................................................................. 83
REFRESH SURFACE ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
RESET SURFACE ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
ACCESSORIES ................................................................................................................................................................. 84
CARE AND CLEANING .................................................................................................................................................. 86
TOUCHSCREEN CARE ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 86
COVER CARE ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 86
BATTERY CARE ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 86
SAFETY AND WARRANTY ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 86
HELP, SERVICE, AND SUPPORT .................................................................................................................................. 87
SURFACE HELP ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 87
WINDOWS HELP .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 87
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APP HELP AND TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................................................................................................................. 87
THAT’S IT! ...................................................................................................................................................................... 87
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Meet Surface
Ultra-thin and light, Surface is the on-the-go tablet.
With Xbox Music and Video, games, and Internet Explorer, you’ll
never run out of ways to play.
And when it’s time to get work done, Surface comes with
Microsoft Office 2013 RT—Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
and OneNote apps.1
1
The Windows RT 8.1 update includes Outlook RT. There are some
differences between Office RT and other versions of Office. For more
info, see Office.com/OfficeRT.
About this guide
We hope this guide helps you get the most out of your Surface.
To jump to a topic (using the Reader app):
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen, tap More ( ) > Bookmarks.
To search for a topic:
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen, tap Find, type what you want to
find.
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Surface features
Finish
Made with VaporMg, Surface is precision crafted to be tough yet
elegant, without excessive bulk. The watch-like finish is incredibly
smooth and durable.
Touchscreen
The 10.6” touchscreen, with its 16:9 aspect ratio and ClearType HD display
(1377x768 pixels), is great for watching HD movies, browsing the web, and
using Office apps. Like a smartphone, you can browse the web or your email
using your fingers. See Touchscreen for more info.
Typing Covers
Add a unique keyboard that doubles as a protective cover (Typing Covers sold
separately). This way you’ll always have a keyboard with you. See Typing
Covers for more info.
Two cameras—front and back
Two 720p HD cameras that you can use for video calls or taking pictures. See
Camera for more info.
Two microphones
Built-in microphones come in handy when recording videos and calling
people. See Sound features for more info.
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Kickstand
Flip out the kickstand when you want to be productive or kick back and
have some fun.
Stereo speakers and headset jack
With the two stereo speakers and headset jack, you can listen to music,
podcasts, and audio books. See Sound features for more info.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Surface supports standard Wi-Fi protocols (802.11a/b/g/n) and
Bluetooth® 4.0. This means you can connect to a wireless network and
use Bluetooth devices such as mice, printers, and headsets.
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Ports
HD video out port
Share videos, photos, or presentations by connecting Surface to an HDTV,
monitor, or projector (adapters and cables sold separately). See Connect to
a TV, monitor, or projector for more info.
Full-size USB 2.0 port
Connect USB accessories—like a mouse, phone, or an Ethernet adapter.
See Connect devices for more info.
microSDXC card reader
Use the microSDXC card reader (behind the kickstand) for extra storage or
transferring files. See Storage, files, and backup for more info.
Charging port and 24-watt power supply
Connect the included power supply when your battery is low. See Charging
for more info.
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Software
Windows RT
Surface comes pre-installed with Windows RT—a Windows-based
operating system that's optimized for thin and light PCs. Windows RT runs
built-in apps and apps from the Windows Store. To learn more, see
Windows 8.1 RT: FAQ on Windows.com.
Office 2013 RT
Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and OneNote apps are pre-installed.
See Office 2013 RT for more info.
Apps
Surface has many built-in apps—check out the tiles for them on your Start
screen. And you can install more apps from the Windows Store.
Sensors
Surface has four sensors (an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, gyroscope,
and compass) that apps can use to do cool things.
CPU and RAM
NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with 2GB RAM.
Accessories
Surface accessories add to your Surface experience—check out the Accessories
section in this guide.
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Set up your Surface
Grab your Surface and let’s go!
Before you start… Make sure a wireless network is available and you have the network password (if the network
is secured).
Plug in and turn on
1. If you have a Typing Cover, bring it close to your Surface, so that it clicks into place (see picture).
2. Flip out the built-in kickstand on the back of Surface.
3. Plug the power cord into a wall outlet or power strip.
4. Connect the power connector to the charging port on Surface (either direction works).
The small light at the end of the connector means Surface is getting power.
5. Press and release the Power button (on the top right edge).
Surface turns on and setup begins.
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Setup
Setup runs the first time you turn on Surface. During setup you’ll choose a language, color scheme, and name for
your Surface. (You can change these things later.)
Two key things happen during setup:
Surface connects to your wireless network. If you don’t know your wireless password, see How to find
your wireless network password on Surface.com.
An account is created on Surface. For the best experience, we recommend using a Microsoft account.
You can use your existing Microsoft account, or setup can create one for you.
o What is a Microsoft account? A Microsoft account is an email address and password that you
use to sign in to Surface. If you’ve used Microsoft services in the past—like Xbox, Hotmail,
Outlook.com, OneDrive, Messenger, Skype, or Windows Phone—you already have a Microsoft
account (it's the email address you use to sign in). If you don’t have a Microsoft account, setup
can create one for you using any email address. To learn about the benefits of using a Microsoft
account, see All about accounts on Surface.com.
o More than one Microsoft account? If you have more than one Microsoft account, you’ll need
to choose one for your Surface. To figure out which Microsoft account to use, see Choose a
Microsoft account on Microsoft.com (English only).
To learn more about accounts, see the Accounts and sign in section in this guide.
Got kids? Give each child their own account, so they can enjoy Surface without changing your settings or getting
into your email. For more info, see Family Safety on Windows.com.
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The basics
There are a few things you need to know to get around your Surface.
Update to Windows RT 8.1
Important All of the info in this guide is for Windows RT 8.1.
Before you continue, make sure you have Windows RT 8.1. Here’s how:
1. From the Start screen, tap or click the Desktop tile.
2. Open the Settings charm (swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap Settings).
3. Tap or click PC info and see which version of Windows you have.
4. If you have Windows 8 RT, install the free Windows RT 8.1 update from the Windows Store—to find out
how, see Update to Windows 8.1 on Surface.com.
To see what’s new in Windows 8.1, see Windows 8.1 on Windows.com.
Touch, keyboard, mouse, and pen
With Surface, you can easily switch between using touch, a keyboard, mouse, or pen.
Touch. Like a smartphone, you can use your fingers on the touchscreen. For example, drag your finger
across the screen to scroll.
Keyboard. Click in a Typing Cover or use a full-size USB or Bluetooth keyboard.
Mouse. Use the Typing Cover touchpad, or connect a USB or Bluetooth mouse.
Pen. Take notes, draw, and mark up documents using a capacitive pen (sold separately).
Start screen
Start is the heart of your Surface—it’s where
you open apps, see what your friends are
doing, and get to your favorite websites.
The tiles on Start show info, such as new
email messages and the next appointment on
your calendar.
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To go to Start:
Switch between open apps
You can switch between open apps by swiping in from the left edge of
the screen. You can keep swiping, and each time you’ll switch to
another app.
More about this in the Use apps section.
App commands: Where are they?
Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen, or down from the top
edge.
Gesture
How to do it
What it does
Tap
Tap once on something.
Opens, selects, or activates whatever you
tap. Similar to clicking with a mouse.
Touch. Press below the touchscreen, or swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Start.
Keyboard. Press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
Mouse. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Open apps
Touch or mouse. Tap or click an app tile on the Start screen.
Keyboard. Go to Start and type an app name (such as Word or OneDrive).
You can see all your apps by swiping up from the center of the Start screen.
Touch: Swipe, tap, and beyond
Tap? Swipe? Here’s a glossary of touch gestures that you can use with Surface.
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Gesture
How to do it
What it does
Tap and hold
Press your finger down and hold for about
a second.
Shows options related to what you’re
doing (like right-clicking with a mouse).
Pinch or stretch
Touch the screen or an item with two or
more fingers, and then move the fingers
toward each other (pinch) or away from
each other (stretch).
Zooms in or out of a website, map, or
picture.
Rotate
Put two or more fingers on an item and
then turn your hand.
Rotates things that can be rotated.
Slide to scroll
Drag your finger on the screen.
Scrolls through what’s on the screen (like
scrolling with a mouse).
Slide to rearrange
Press and briefly drag an item in the
direction opposite to the way the page
scrolls, then move it wherever you want.
(For example, if the screen scrolls left or
right, drag the item up or down.) When
you've moved the item to the new
location, let it go.
Moves an item (like dragging with a
mouse).
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Gesture
How to do it
What it does
Swipe to select
Swipe an item with a short, quick
movement in the direction opposite to the
way the page scrolls. (For example, if the
screen scrolls left or right, swipe the item
up or down to select it.)
Selects an item, like an app tile or photo.
This often brings up app commands.
Swipe from edge
Starting on the edge, swipe in.
Right edge: Opens the charms
Left edge: Brings in open apps, snaps
apps, shows your recently opened apps, or
closes apps. See Use apps for more info.
Top or bottom edge: Shows commands
or closes an app.
Charms
No matter where you are, the charms help you do the things you do most often—like search, share, print, and
change settings. Here’s how to open the charms:
Touch. Swipe in from the right edge, and then tap the one you want.
Mouse. Move your pointer into the upper-right or lower-right corner, and then move it up or down and
click the one you want.
Typing Cover. Press a charm key from the top row.
Charm keys on Touch Cover
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Here's what you can do with the charms:
Search. You can use the Search charm ( +S) to finds things on Surface, OneDrive, in apps,
and on the web. For more info, see How to search in this guide.
Share. When you’re in an app, you can use the Share charm ( +H) to share files, photos, or
webpages. For more info, see Share photos, links, and more in this guide.
Start. The Start charm ( ) takes you to the Start screen. Or if you're already on Start, it takes
you to the last app you were using.
Devices. Use the Devices charm ( +K) to play, project, and print to devices. For more info, see
Connect devices in this guide.
Settings. Use the Setting charm ( +I) to change your Surface settings, or if you’re in an app,
you can get to settings for that app. For more info, see Change your settings in this guide.
Learn more about Windows
To learn more about getting around Windows RT 8.1, check out these resources:
Help and Tips: From the Start screen, tap or click Help+Tips. This app has info to
help you get up to speed on Windows.
Windows Basics and Tips: See the Getting started tutorials on Windows.com.
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Lock screen and signing in
With a Microsoft account, personal settings like your lock screen and Start screen can follow you to other
devices. Your favorite websites, browser history, and pinned sites on your Start screen move with you, as well.
If you don’t use Surface for a few minutes, the screen turns off and locks. When this happens, press a key (or
press and release the Power button), then swipe up on the touchscreen.
Next, sign in to your account by typing your password.
Now, let’s set up your email and other accounts.
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Get started
Now that you know the basics, let’s get online and add your accounts.
Get online
Here’s how to get online:
1. Open the Settings charm (swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings).
2. Tap or click the wireless network icon ( ).
3. Tap or click the network you want to connect to, and then tap or click Connect.
Set up your email
Now let’s set up your email. Outlook RT and Mail are both pre-installed, so you can add your email accounts to
either or both of these apps.
Outlook RT: Add your email accounts
You can add Outlook.com, Gmail, AOL, Yahoo!, and Exchange email accounts to Outlook (or any email account
that uses POP or IMAP). Here’s how:
1. Tap or click Outlook 2013 from the Start screen. Account setup starts the first time you start Outlook.
If the Auto Account Setup dialog doesn’t appear, tap or click File and then choose Add Account (just
above Account Settings).
2. Type your name, email address, and password, and then choose Next.
Outlook searches online to find your email server settings. If Outlook doesn’t find the settings, see Set up email
in Outlook on Office.com.
Mail: Add your email accounts
You can add Outlook.com, Gmail, AOL, Yahoo!, and Exchange email
accounts to the Mail app.
Note The Mail app doesn’t support accounts that use POP (Post Office
Protocol). If you have a POP email account, you can use Outlook RT (see
above) or see Using email accounts over POP on Windows.com.
Here’s how to add your email accounts:
1. Tap or click Mail from the Start screen.
2. Open the Settings charm, then tap or click Accounts > Add an account.
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3. Choose the type of account you want to add, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Most accounts can be added with only your user name and password. In some cases, you’ll be asked for
more details, which you can usually find on your email account provider’s website. (Repeat steps 1-3 for
each of your email accounts.)
After you add an email account…
Your contacts from Outlook.com and Exchange accounts are automatically added to the People app, and
your appointments appear in the Calendar app. For other accounts, see People: Add contacts below.
For info on how to sync Google email, contacts, and calendar, see How to sync Google services on
Windows.com.
Microsoft Exchange: To find out how to set up and troubleshoot a Microsoft Exchange account, see How to
configure an Exchange account.
People: Add contacts
The People app is your universal address book. See contacts from all of your address books in one place, and get
the latest updates from your friends. Also, sync contacts from the social networks you care about, like Facebook,
LinkedIn, and Twitter. Get in touch with someone by sending email, calling, or posting to social media directly
from the People app.
Here's how to add contacts from your accounts:
1. Tap or click People from the Start screen.
2. Open the Settings charm, tap or click Accounts > Add an account.
3. Choose the type of account you want to add and then follow the instructions.
For more info, see People in this guide.
Skype (IM and calls): Add contacts
With Skype calls and chat, you can stay in touch with anyone, on almost any device, for free. Once you’ve added
your friends, you can make Skype calls and send instant messages.
Here's how to get started using Skype:
1. On the Start screen, tap or click Skype.
2. Follow the instructions to sign in to Skype the first time. If you need help, see Skype on Surface on
Surface.com.
3. Add your contacts. To find out how, see Skype on Surface on Surface.com.
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OneDrive: Your personal cloud
OneDrive is online storage that comes with your Microsoft account. It’s like an extra hard drive that’s available
from any of the devices you use. When you save your documents, photos, and other files on OneDrive, they're
available from any web-connected device (for example, your phone or computer). OneDrive is also a great way to
share files with other people.
To learn more, see OneDrive in this guide.
Make it yours
You can make Surface reflect who you are and what you care about. You can rearrange the Start screen however
you like, and choose the colors and pictures that reflect your personal style. For info about this, see the
Personalize section in this guide.
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Get to know Surface
State
What to do
On
Press and release the Power button.
If nothing happens, Surface might need to be recharged. Connect the power supply
and then press the Power button again.
Wake
Do any of the following:
Press and release the Power button.
Open the Cover.
Press a key or the Windows logo on Surface.
Off (Shut down)
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Power > Shut down. You can also tap or
click the Power icon on the sign in screen (lower-right corner) to quickly shut down.
Standby
Close the Cover, press and release the Power button, or don’t use Surface for a few
minutes.
Restart
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Power > Restart.
Now that you’ve added your accounts, let’s go a little deeper.
Power states: On, off, standby, and restart
Here’s a quick overview of the Surface power states:
Turn on or wake
1. Do any of the following things:
On/Wake: Press and release the Power button.
Wake: Open the Cover.
Wake: Press a key or the Windows logo on Surface.
The lock screen appears with app notifications. For more info, see Notifications in this guide.
2. To unlock Surface, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or press a key.
3. Sign in to Surface. Need help? See the Accounts and sign in section in this guide.
Tip
You can set the amount of time before a password is needed to unlock your Surface. For more info, see
Choose when a password is required in this guide.
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Standby
If you don’t use Surface for a few minutes the screen turns off and locks, just like a smartphone. When this
happens, Surface goes into a standby mode called InstantGo. While Surface is in standby, it stays connected to
your wireless network. This way you can get app notifications (such as an incoming Skype call) and you can turn
on Surface in an instant.
Choose when the screen turns off
By default, the Surface screen turns off after a few minutes of inactivity. Here’s how to change this:
1. Open the Settings charm, then tap or click Change PC Settings > PC and devices > Power and sleep.
2. Under Sleep, choose when you want Surface to go to sleep (on battery and when plugged in).
Charging
Surface has an internal lithium-ion battery with up to 8 hours of
active-use battery life on a single charge.
At the end of your day or when the battery is low, use the
included 24-watt power supply to charge your Surface. Here’s
how:
1. Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet or power
strip.
2. Connect the power connector to the charging port on
Surface (either direction is good).
A light at the end of the connector when Surface is getting power.
How much battery charge is remaining?
You can see the battery status in a few places:
Charms. Lower-left corner after you open the
charms (see picture).
Lock screen. Lower-left corner of the lock screen.
Desktop taskbar. Battery status appears on the
desktop taskbar. Tap the battery icon to see the
percentage remaining.
When you see a low battery warning, plug your Surface into
an electrical outlet. If you don’t recharge the battery, Surface
will eventually save your work and shut down.
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Notes
It takes 2-3 hours to fully charge your Surface battery from an empty state.
Surface can’t be charged through the USB port. Instead, you need to use the included power supply or
the Surface Car Charger.
Advanced power settings
A power plan is a collection of settings that control how your Surface uses power. To find out how to customize
or create a power plan, see Power Plans: Frequently asked questions on Windows.com (Surface supports
InstantGo).
Charging accessories
There are a couple additional charging options that you can purchase separately (see Power Supply on
Surface.com for purchase info).
Car Charger with USB charging port
You can use the Car Charger to charge Surface and another USB device
(such as your phone), while you’re traveling in your car.
To charge Surface using the Car Charger:
1. Plug the Car Charger into the vehicle power port or cigarette
lighter in your car.
2. Connect the power connector to the charging port on Surface.
48W Power Supply with USB Charging Port
While this power supply doesn’t charge Surface any faster than the
included 24-watt power supply, you can charge a cell phone or other
USB device while you’re charging Surface. (The 48-watt power supply
is not available in all regions.)
The touchscreen
The multi-touch screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio—perfect for watching videos and optimized for multi-tasking with
side-by-side apps.
Like a smartphone, you can interact with Surface by touching the screen. To learn about using touch, see Touch:
Swipe, tap, and beyond in this guide.
Manually adjust screen brightness
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Screen, and then move the slider to adjust the brightness.
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Automatically adjust screen brightness
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC Settings > PC and devices > Power and sleep >
Adjust my screen brightness automatically.
Choose when the screen turns off
If you don’t use Surface for five minutes, the screen turns off. If you want to change this setting, see Choose
when the screen turns off in this guide.
Landscape or portrait
When you rotate Surface, the screen content
changes to the new orientation. This way you can
use landscape for webpages and Office apps, and
portrait for reading a book.
Lock the screen orientation
If you don’t want the screen content to rotate, you
can lock the screen orientation. Here’s how:
1. Rotate Surface the way you want it.
2. Open the Settings charm, and then tap or click Screen.
3. Tap the Screen rotation icon.
(If this doesn’t work, remove or fold back the Typing Cover and try the steps again.)
A lock appears on the Screen icon when screen rotation is locked.
Find more display settings
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC Settings > PC and devices > Display.
You can also use search to find more display settings. For info about this, see Search for a setting in this guide.
Copy and paste using touch
Here’s how to copy and paste text using touch:
1. Select text. Tap a word, then drag either circle to extend the text selection.
2. Copy. Press and hold the selection for a couple seconds, and then let go and tap Copy.
3. Paste. Move to where you want to paste the text. Press and hold a couple seconds, then let go and tap
Paste.
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On-screen keyboard
Surface has an on-screen, touch keyboard that appears when you need it.
Show the on-screen keyboard
1. Fold back the Cover or remove it.
2. Tap the screen in a place where text can be entered and the on-screen keyboard should appear.
If you're in the desktop, tap the keyboard icon on the desktop taskbar (lower-right corner) to open
the on-screen keyboard.
To manually open the on-screen keyboard (without tapping an area where you can type):
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Keyboard > Touch keyboard and handwriting panel.
On-screen keyboard on Surface
To close the on-screen keyboard: Tap an area where text can’t be typed or tap the keyboard button , and then
the close keyboard button .
Thumb keyboard and handwriting options
Thumb keyboard. The thumb keyboard makes it easy to type with your thumbs while holding
Surface in both hands.
Handwriting. The handwriting option lets you write with a capacitive pen or your finger.
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Suggestions and corrections
How do I?
What to do
Type numbers
Tap the &123 key or swipe up on a key in the first row. For example, swipe up
on the Q key to type the number 1.
Type diacritical marks
Press and hold a key such as O, then slide your finger to the accented character
that you want (for example, Ӧ).
Use keyboard shortcuts
Tap the Ctrl key and then another key (for example, Ctrl+C for Copy).
Turn Caps Lock on/off
Double-tap the Up Arrow key.
Change keyboard settings
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings > PC and devices >
Typing.
Turn key sounds on/off
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings > PC and devices >
Typing > Play key sounds as I type (under Touch Keyboard).
Add a language
See Add a language in this guide.
As you type on the on-screen keyboard, suggestions appear above the keyboard. For more info, see Suggestions
and corrections later in this guide.
Change on-screen keyboard settings
Open the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings > PC and devices > Typing > Touch keyboard.
Tips and tricks
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