Vertical red squiggly lines on Surface Pro

Colmenm 20 Reputation points
2025-07-25T14:21:09.9866667+00:00

My Surface Pro is only a year old and out of no where it is now displaying vertical red squiggly lines and feels very warm to the touch. I am able to see a clear screen on the external screen I connect it to, but if I try shutting down and holding the volume and shutdown button for a hard reboot, when the screen comes back up it’s still with the red lines so I can’t see anything to reboot. I’m thinking this is a hard drive issue or is it something else?

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
JANSHER LIWAG 8,950 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-07-25T15:52:28.4866667+00:00

Hi Colmenm,

Thank you for reaching out today. Welcome to Microsoft Community. We apologize to hear you're experiencing issues with your Surface Pro Display. I'll do everything I can to help resolve this quickly and smoothly for you. Thank your for sharing this prior troubleshooting steps that you test this on your external screen.

Possible reason why you get this problem is:

  1. Display Hardware Failure - possible physical damaged like crack or dents, bloated battery.
  2. Graphic Driver Corruption - outdated drivers.
  3. Damaged Display - Due to dropped or bumped

Please follow this steps to check further the issue of your issue.

Option 1: Test the screen in the UEFI of your Surface Pro

Step 1: Turn off your Surface and wait 10 seconds.

Step 2: Press and hold the volume up button on your Surface, and at the same time, press and release the power button. The logo screen will appear.

Step 3: Continue to hold the volume up button . Release the button when the UEFI screen appears.

Step 4: Check if your Surface Pro screen is getting the Vertical red squiggly lines.

if Vertical red squiggly lines did not appear on UEFI menu screen possible problem is Driver installed to the Surface Pro.

Option 2: Update the Display Driver (how to)

Step 1: Click Start > Search for Device Manager > open Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand Monitor section > right click on Surface Panel drivers > Uninstall Device >

Step 3: Same under Monitor uninstall NVIDIA Graphics Driver > once uninstallation is completed

Step 4: restart your Surface pro

Step 5: Once logged in click Start button

Step 6: Settings > Type Windows Updates > Check for Updates and install available updates.

Option 2: Reset your Surface Pro

Step 1: Click Start > Settings > System > Recovery

Step 2: Open Recovery > Reset This PC > Reset PC

Choose the ff:

>Keep my files (recommended)- Reinstall Windows 11 but 	keeps your personal files.

>Remove Everything - REinstall Windows 11 and removes personal files.

Step 3: Select Cloud Download. Make sure Surface Pro is connected to Internet.

If the Vertical red squiggly lines still appear on the UEFI menu screen or after Reset of your Surface Pro or Windows Update. The problem is with the Hardware and might need to request a service order.

go to:

https://account.microsoft.com/devices

log in using Microsoft account

go to Device > click next

follow the instruction to get service request

I hope this information helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Warm Regards,

Jansher | Microsoft Community Support

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Colmenm 20 Reputation points
    2025-07-25T17:38:10.9133333+00:00

    Thank you. Vertical red squiggly lines continue so may be a hard drive issue. I scheduled a service with UBreakifix - thank goodness I have Microsoft Complete coverage!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.