With the Surface, the hard part is limiting to only ten tips. After paring down the list from 20, here are 10 essential tips 'n' tricks to get more out of your Surface.
About Surface Pro 4. Surface Pro 4 comes with a larger and sharper screen and is the well-crafted tablet to replace a laptop. It is powered by a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-6300U processor with 8GB LPDDR3 of RAM. Surface Pro 4 has a 256GB SSD of storage capacity. Connectivity options provided are 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. Surface pro 4 pen tips Do the Surface 4 pen tips work on the Surface 3 pro pen? This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot. The tips are for the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book but they can be applied on Surface 3, Surface Pro, Pro 2 or Pro 3. Restart your Surface Restarting your Surface could be a simple fix for. Surface Pro 4 Tips: Add Storage Using the MicroSD Card Slot If you need a lot of storage, but don't want to pay extra for it, consider buying a high-speed, high-capacity MicroSD card to stick into.
When lost, swipe in from the screen's left edge
When you finally close the app you've been using, the Start screen jumps in to fill the void.
But what were you working on before you went off track by tapping the link?
To find out, slide in your finger from the screen's left side. Your finger pulls your original app back onto the screen, bringing you full circle to where you were before the distraction.
Search for items by typing directly on the start screen
If you've attached any type of keyboard to your Surface, you have a special perk: To search for something, begin typing its name directly onto the Start screen. Windows automatically fetches the Charms bar, enters your search into the Search box, and begins listing matches.
Don't have a keyboard attached to your Surface? You can do the same thing by tapping the Search icon in the Start screen's upper-right corner. When the Search pane's Search box appears, tap inside the Search box to call up the onscreen keyboard. Then start typing your search term.
Select onscreen items within apps
The trick to selecting difficult items is to slide your finger across them in the opposite direction that they scroll.
Mail normally lets you scroll through e-mail by sliding your finger up or down the list. So, select a single piece of e-mail by sliding your finger left or right across it. This 'slide in the opposite direction' trick works when selecting many other seemingly difficult-to-select items.
Take screenshots
To take a snapshot of what you're seeing on the screen, hold down the Windows key below your Surface's screen and press the Volume Down button. The screen dims, and a screenshot appears in your Pictures library's Screenshots folder.
Taking screenshots comes in particularly handy when an error message pops up. You can e-mail the screenshot to a techie to deal with the error.
Stop the screen from rotating
You may not always want your screen to rotate — perhaps you're reading a book or browsing websites.
To keep the screen from rotating, open the Charms bar and tap on Settings. When the Settings pane appears, tap on the Screen icon near the bottom right.
When the brightness bar appears, look at the Rotation Lock icon atop the bar; tap that icon to toggle autorotation on and off.
Tweak your app's settings
Every app offers a way to fine-tune its behavior through the Charms bar's Settings area. When something about an app irks you, see whether you can change it: Fetch the Charms bar by sliding your finger in from the screen's right edge and tapping the Settings icon. If an app can be changed, the Settings pane offers a way.
Make a recovery drive
Creating a Recovery Drive isn't very difficult. If you have a flash drive, dedicate it as a Recovery Drive for your Surface. If your Surface won't start someday, that Recovery Drive just might be the only thing to bring it back to life.
The Surface RT and Surface 2 need a USB drive of at least 4GB; the Surface Pro and Pro 2 models need a USB drive of at least 8GB.
Find a lost start screen app
Can't find an app on your Start screen? Then check the All Apps area; from the Start screen, slide your screen upward until the All Apps area appears. Look for your app in the alphabetical list. When you spot it, launch it with a tap.
Or, if you want it on the Start screen, where it's easier to launch, hold your finger down on its icon. When the App bar appears along the bottom, choose Pin to Start.
Don't see Pin to Start? Then tap the App bar's Find on Start icon instead. The Start screen returns with the formerly missing app's tile highlighted with a white border.
Increase your Surface's storage space
The biggest challenge when moving from a desktop PC to a Surface is the amount of storage space. Most Surfaces offer from 32GB to 128GB of storage; the Surface Pro 2 offers up to 512GB.
The easiest, fastest, and best way to maximize storage on your Surface is to insert a microSDXC memory card into its memory slot.
Don't have a memory card? Then follow these steps to delete any unneeded files:
Run the desktop's Disk Cleanup program.
Type free up disk space into the Charms bar's Search box. Then tap the similarly named link that appears beneath the box. The Disk Cleanup program appears.
Tap the Clean Up System Files button near the window's bottom.
Select the boxes next to the items you want to delete.
Tap the OK button to delete the files.
When you delete the files, they're gone for good. Unlike most desktop files, you can't retrieve them.
Add your contact information to your Surface
If you've chosen a secure password for your Microsoft account, nobody can move past the Lock screen.
But if a Good Samaritan finds your Surface, how will the finder know how to return it to you?
For a quick-and-easy solution, grab a permanent magic marker and write your name and phone number on the back of your Surface. That not only ensures that the finder will see your contact information, but it will raise suspicions at the pawn shop.
If you want to preserve your Surface's resale value, though, there's another way:
Use the desktop's Paint program or another graphics editor to write your name and phone number onto the wallpaper you use for your Lock screen. That makes it easy to update if your phone number changes.
Then whoever finds your Surface will see your contact information every time your Surface turns on.
Surface Pro 4 Download
Whenever new technology launches consumers are never told every little thing that their new device does. Sure a lot of stuff can be found when you first boot up and you are sent through those first-time tutorials but let's be honest, we all skip those anyway. Well if you're the owner of a brand new Surface Book or Surface Pro 4 then I'm sure there are a few things about your tablet or laptop that you didn't know. The following are a few of the more well-hidden features that are on your Surface Book or Surface Pro 4 that you may not know about or you may not find without my help.
Customizable Pressure Sensitivity
Both of these devices have 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity that you can customize to your exact style. In order to do this, however, you will need a free app from the Microsoft store. Download and install the Surface app from the app store. Once you've done this, click the pen icon, which will allow you to turn up the sensitivity, turn it down, and test it out.
Replacing AAAA Batteries In Your Surface Pen
The newer Surface pen is a little different than the older models. In order to get it open to change out the batteries, you need to grab the shaft and then turn the end of it with the pocket clip counter-clockwise an eighth of an inch until you hear a click. This will allow you to swap out your old AAAA batteries for new ones when they die.
The Surface Pen's Secret Button
The only button that is clearly visible on the Surface pen is the eraser button though there is another button that you may not have noticed. At the very end of the plastic strip that is located above where your finger rests there is a hidden button that acts as a right mouse click when using the Surface pen, which is pretty darn cool.
Surface Pro 4 Is Compatible With Surface Pro 3 Dock
Some Microsoft stores will tell you that the Surface Pro 4 won't work with the older Surface Pro 3 dock though Microsoft itself has stated that this isn't the case. Microsoft is planning to make a spacer that will allow thinner Surface Pro 4 devices to work with the older dock with full functionality. The only problem is that the spacer is delayed though you can pre-order it now.
Fiddle With The UEFI
If you want to tinker with your device's UEFI to adjust the boot order or turn off the cameras then you can do so by shutting down the system. Once you've shut down press the increase volume button and hold it while pressing and then releasing the power button. Keep holding down the volume button and it will boot directly to the UEFI.
Load Any Linux OS
About Surface Pro 4. Surface Pro 4 comes with a larger and sharper screen and is the well-crafted tablet to replace a laptop. It is powered by a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-6300U processor with 8GB LPDDR3 of RAM. Surface Pro 4 has a 256GB SSD of storage capacity. Connectivity options provided are 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. Surface pro 4 pen tips Do the Surface 4 pen tips work on the Surface 3 pro pen? This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot. The tips are for the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book but they can be applied on Surface 3, Surface Pro, Pro 2 or Pro 3. Restart your Surface Restarting your Surface could be a simple fix for. Surface Pro 4 Tips: Add Storage Using the MicroSD Card Slot If you need a lot of storage, but don't want to pay extra for it, consider buying a high-speed, high-capacity MicroSD card to stick into.
When lost, swipe in from the screen's left edge
When you finally close the app you've been using, the Start screen jumps in to fill the void.
But what were you working on before you went off track by tapping the link?
To find out, slide in your finger from the screen's left side. Your finger pulls your original app back onto the screen, bringing you full circle to where you were before the distraction.
Search for items by typing directly on the start screen
If you've attached any type of keyboard to your Surface, you have a special perk: To search for something, begin typing its name directly onto the Start screen. Windows automatically fetches the Charms bar, enters your search into the Search box, and begins listing matches.
Don't have a keyboard attached to your Surface? You can do the same thing by tapping the Search icon in the Start screen's upper-right corner. When the Search pane's Search box appears, tap inside the Search box to call up the onscreen keyboard. Then start typing your search term.
Select onscreen items within apps
The trick to selecting difficult items is to slide your finger across them in the opposite direction that they scroll.
Mail normally lets you scroll through e-mail by sliding your finger up or down the list. So, select a single piece of e-mail by sliding your finger left or right across it. This 'slide in the opposite direction' trick works when selecting many other seemingly difficult-to-select items.
Take screenshots
To take a snapshot of what you're seeing on the screen, hold down the Windows key below your Surface's screen and press the Volume Down button. The screen dims, and a screenshot appears in your Pictures library's Screenshots folder.
Taking screenshots comes in particularly handy when an error message pops up. You can e-mail the screenshot to a techie to deal with the error.
Stop the screen from rotating
You may not always want your screen to rotate — perhaps you're reading a book or browsing websites.
To keep the screen from rotating, open the Charms bar and tap on Settings. When the Settings pane appears, tap on the Screen icon near the bottom right.
When the brightness bar appears, look at the Rotation Lock icon atop the bar; tap that icon to toggle autorotation on and off.
Tweak your app's settings
Every app offers a way to fine-tune its behavior through the Charms bar's Settings area. When something about an app irks you, see whether you can change it: Fetch the Charms bar by sliding your finger in from the screen's right edge and tapping the Settings icon. If an app can be changed, the Settings pane offers a way.
Make a recovery drive
Creating a Recovery Drive isn't very difficult. If you have a flash drive, dedicate it as a Recovery Drive for your Surface. If your Surface won't start someday, that Recovery Drive just might be the only thing to bring it back to life.
The Surface RT and Surface 2 need a USB drive of at least 4GB; the Surface Pro and Pro 2 models need a USB drive of at least 8GB.
Find a lost start screen app
Can't find an app on your Start screen? Then check the All Apps area; from the Start screen, slide your screen upward until the All Apps area appears. Look for your app in the alphabetical list. When you spot it, launch it with a tap.
Or, if you want it on the Start screen, where it's easier to launch, hold your finger down on its icon. When the App bar appears along the bottom, choose Pin to Start.
Don't see Pin to Start? Then tap the App bar's Find on Start icon instead. The Start screen returns with the formerly missing app's tile highlighted with a white border.
Increase your Surface's storage space
The biggest challenge when moving from a desktop PC to a Surface is the amount of storage space. Most Surfaces offer from 32GB to 128GB of storage; the Surface Pro 2 offers up to 512GB.
The easiest, fastest, and best way to maximize storage on your Surface is to insert a microSDXC memory card into its memory slot.
Don't have a memory card? Then follow these steps to delete any unneeded files:
Run the desktop's Disk Cleanup program.
Type free up disk space into the Charms bar's Search box. Then tap the similarly named link that appears beneath the box. The Disk Cleanup program appears.
Tap the Clean Up System Files button near the window's bottom.
Select the boxes next to the items you want to delete.
Tap the OK button to delete the files.
When you delete the files, they're gone for good. Unlike most desktop files, you can't retrieve them.
Add your contact information to your Surface
If you've chosen a secure password for your Microsoft account, nobody can move past the Lock screen.
But if a Good Samaritan finds your Surface, how will the finder know how to return it to you?
For a quick-and-easy solution, grab a permanent magic marker and write your name and phone number on the back of your Surface. That not only ensures that the finder will see your contact information, but it will raise suspicions at the pawn shop.
If you want to preserve your Surface's resale value, though, there's another way:
Use the desktop's Paint program or another graphics editor to write your name and phone number onto the wallpaper you use for your Lock screen. That makes it easy to update if your phone number changes.
Then whoever finds your Surface will see your contact information every time your Surface turns on.
Surface Pro 4 Download
Whenever new technology launches consumers are never told every little thing that their new device does. Sure a lot of stuff can be found when you first boot up and you are sent through those first-time tutorials but let's be honest, we all skip those anyway. Well if you're the owner of a brand new Surface Book or Surface Pro 4 then I'm sure there are a few things about your tablet or laptop that you didn't know. The following are a few of the more well-hidden features that are on your Surface Book or Surface Pro 4 that you may not know about or you may not find without my help.
Customizable Pressure Sensitivity
Both of these devices have 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity that you can customize to your exact style. In order to do this, however, you will need a free app from the Microsoft store. Download and install the Surface app from the app store. Once you've done this, click the pen icon, which will allow you to turn up the sensitivity, turn it down, and test it out.
Replacing AAAA Batteries In Your Surface Pen
The newer Surface pen is a little different than the older models. In order to get it open to change out the batteries, you need to grab the shaft and then turn the end of it with the pocket clip counter-clockwise an eighth of an inch until you hear a click. This will allow you to swap out your old AAAA batteries for new ones when they die.
The Surface Pen's Secret Button
The only button that is clearly visible on the Surface pen is the eraser button though there is another button that you may not have noticed. At the very end of the plastic strip that is located above where your finger rests there is a hidden button that acts as a right mouse click when using the Surface pen, which is pretty darn cool.
Surface Pro 4 Is Compatible With Surface Pro 3 Dock
Some Microsoft stores will tell you that the Surface Pro 4 won't work with the older Surface Pro 3 dock though Microsoft itself has stated that this isn't the case. Microsoft is planning to make a spacer that will allow thinner Surface Pro 4 devices to work with the older dock with full functionality. The only problem is that the spacer is delayed though you can pre-order it now.
Fiddle With The UEFI
If you want to tinker with your device's UEFI to adjust the boot order or turn off the cameras then you can do so by shutting down the system. Once you've shut down press the increase volume button and hold it while pressing and then releasing the power button. Keep holding down the volume button and it will boot directly to the UEFI.
Load Any Linux OS
If you are in the UEFI you can disable Secure Boot, which tells your Surface Book or Surface Pro 4 if it needs to check for a certificate from the operating system before booting. You can set this to 'Microsoft Only', 'Microsoft & 3rd Party CA', or 'None'. Switching to 'None' allows you to load any Linux OS of your choosing.
Just Use The Clipboard
If you want to you can disconnect your Surface Book and just carry around the clipboard part of it. There won't be any USB ports though you can charge the clipboard by plugging the Surface Connector into the bottom of the clipboard.
Trade Out Your Base
It is actually possible to swap the Clipboard section of a Surface Book that came without a GPU onto a base that came with one. This means that you can take your cheaper Core i5 model without a GPU and swap it with one of the Core i7 models, though whoever you swap with is definitely getting the raw end of that deal.
New Power Bricks
Apparently there are two different Surface power bricks that use the Surface Connector to charge. The Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Book without the GPU all use the same 30-watt brick for charging. The Surface Book with the GPU uses a 60-watt charger.
GeForce Experience Is A Possibility
The Surface Book with discrete GPU doesn't come with Nvidia's GeForce Experience though it does work just as well. Download the free GeForce Experience from Nvidia and it will be able to optimize games to run at their best based on Nvidia's testing and recommendations.
Switch Between Discrete GPU To IGP
With the Surface Book with discrete graphics, it automatically selects if it wants to run applications and games on the GPU or the integrated graphics. However, if you want to override that system and run a certain application on the GPU then all you have to do is go into the Surface Book's control panel, select Hardware and Sound, click Nvidia Control Panel, click Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings and you should see a drop-down list of programs. Select the app you want and set it from auto to either 'High-Performance Nvidia Processor' or 'Integrated Graphics'.
Surface Pro 4 Secrets Reviews
Conclusion
Surface Pro 4 Secrets Review
Well, there you have it! That's not a too shabby list of nifty little tricks that you may or may not have known about! Some of these are more just general observations and not things you can actually control though they are interesting things to know about your brand new Surface Book or Surface Pro 4!
Cheap Surface Pro 4
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