Refresh or reset Surface RT or Surface 2

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If you're having trouble with your Surface, you may be able to refresh or reset it and solve the problem.

Before you begin
Solution 1: Refresh your Surface RT or Surface 2
Solution 2: Reset your Surface RT or Surface 2

Before you begin

To perform a refresh or a reset, you’ll need to check a few things first.

Is your Surface touchscreen working?

If you're having problems with your Surface touchscreen, connect a keyboard, such as a Surface Typing Cover or USB keyboard, before trying these solutions.

Solution 1: Refresh your Surface RT or Surface 2

Refreshing your Surface reinstalls Windows and keeps your personal files, settings, apps that came installed on your Surface, and apps that you installed from Microsoft Store.

To refresh Surface RT or Surface 2

There are two ways to refresh Surface:

Refresh from within Windows: If Windows loads and you can sign in, you can perform the refresh from within Windows.
Refresh from USB recovery media: If Windows fails to start and you have USB recovery media available, you can perform the refresh by using your USB.

Refresh from within Windows

Plug in your Surface so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings > Change PC settings.
Select Update and recovery > Recovery.
Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, select Get started.
Select Next, make sure that your Surface is plugged in, and select Refresh.
Surface restarts, and the Surface logo appears during the refresh process (this can take several minutes).

Refresh from USB recovery media

Note: To learn how to create a USB recovery drive, see Create a USB recovery drive or Download a recovery image for your Surface.

Refresh your Surface from a USB recovery drive by following these steps:

Shut down your Surface and plug it in so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
Select Troubleshoot > Refresh your PC, and select the operating system you want to refresh.
On the Refresh your PC screen, select Next > Refresh.
Surface restarts and the Surface logo appears during the refresh process (this can take several minutes).

Solution 2: Reset your Surface RT or Surface 2

Warning: A reset returns Surface to its factory settings:

A reset reinstalls Windows and apps that came installed on your Surface.
All of your personal files will be deleted, and your settings will be reset. All apps that you installed will be removed. For info on backing up your files, see Back up your Windows PC.
After a reset, you’ll be able to set up your Surface as if it were brand new.

To reset Surface RT or Surface 2

There are three ways to reset Surface.

Reset from within Windows: If Windows loads and you can sign in, you can perform the reset from within Windows.
Reset from the Windows sign-in screen: If Windows sign-in fails, you can perform the reset from the Windows sign-in screen.
Reset from USB recovery media: If Windows fails to start, you can perform the reset by using USB recovery media if available.

Important: If you see the message Insert media: Some files are missing. Your Windows installation or recovery media will provide these files, you need to download a recovery image and reset from a USB recovery drive. For more info, see “Reset from USB recovery media” below.

Reset from within Windows

Plug in your Surface so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings > Change PC settings.
Select Update and recovery > Recovery.
Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, select Get started > Next.
Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive. The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
Select Reset. Surface restarts and the Surface logo appears during the reset process (this can take several minutes).

Reset from the Windows sign-in screen

Notes:

If you’ve lost your password, you may not have to reset your Surface. See I forgot my password before performing these reset steps.
If you don't have a keyboard connected to your Surface, you'll need to use the on-screen touch keyboard to do these reset steps. From the Windows sign-in screen, select Ease of access in the lower-left corner, and select On-Screen Keyboard.

Plug in your Surface so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
From the Windows sign-in screen, select Power in the lower-right corner of the sign-in screen.
Press and hold the Shift key. (If you're using the touch keyboard, select the Shift key.)
While the Shift key is still pressed or selected, select Restart. If you get the prompt Restart anyway, select Restart anyway. After your Surface restarts, the Choose an option screen will appear.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset your PC. Surface restarts and the Surface logo appears while Windows prepares to reset your Surface.
On the Reset your PC screen, select Next.
Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive. The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
Select Reset. Surface restarts and the Surface logo appears during the reset process (this can take several minutes).

Reset from USB recovery media

Note: To learn how to create a USB recovery drive, see Create a USB recovery drive or Download a recovery image for your Surface.

Reset your Surface from the USB recovery drive by following these steps:

Shut down your Surface and plug it in so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset your PC.
If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the screen.
Select the operating system you want to reset. This refers to the current operating system installed on your Surface.
Select Yes, repartition the drives. On the next page, select Next.
Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive. The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
Select Reset. Surface restarts and the Surface logo appears while the reset process continues (this can take several minutes).
Surface 2 only: After restart, your Surface may prompt you to clear the TPM (Trusted Platform Module). Press F12 or the volume-up button to clear the TPM.

After the reset

Here’s what to do after you’ve reset your Surface:

Complete the Surface setup steps, including selecting your region and language.
Sign in with the same Microsoft account you were using before so that things like the Windows apps you purchased will be available to reinstall. For more info, see All about accounts.
Check for important updates. See Install Surface and Windows updates.
Reinstall Windows apps:
1. Go to Start , and select Microsoft Store > Account > My apps.
2. Select the apps you want to install, and select Install.