The keyboard "cover type" of my Surface Pro 8 doesn't connect anymore.

Question

I've tried every method to solve that problem, in vain. Everybody and MS can ses that it happens all the time with Surface Pro, and the solutions offered don't work. That is unacceptable for a device which costs the same price as an Ipad Pro. My colleagues have Ipad Pro, and they work perfectly. I entered UEFI, and nothing works either. A new keyboard cover is very expensive, and a repair by MS too. It's so disappointing to understand that Microsoft goes on selling a computer which stops working randomly, and of course after the end of the guarantee. If there is a pilot on board, please answer!

Sylvie Billard, a French customer (and I work in marketing)

Answer 1

Hey! Thanks for writing. I am Tin, and I am an independent advisor. I am so happy to offer you any needed assistance today. You definitely have a reason to become frustrated about this matter: the Type Cover issue for Surface Pro is well-known, and Microsoft has just poorly addressed it since then. A lot of users, especially with Surface Pro 7/8, report that their keyboard stops working randomly-sometimes for good-and common advice doesn't solve the problem (resetting, firmware reinstall, etc.)

You have made it through:

All standard fixes

UEFI (the keyboard doesn't work here either)

It's confirmed that it is not a mere software glitch.

That strongly suggests a hardware-level failure, either:

at the keyboard connector on the Surface itself, or

in the internal controller of the Type Cover.

Before making replacement decisions, there are a few more things to try:

1.) Take a real good look at the connector

Shine a flashlight at the keyboard connector pins on the Surface — any dust, corrosion, or bent pins?

Averagely wipe with isopropyl alcohol (90% +) using a microfiber cloth or a soft brush.

2.) The keyboard gets plugged/unplugged while in UEFI

Boot into UEFI (hold Volume Up while pressing Power).

To plug/unplug the keyboard several times in UFM — users have said it reconnects after several tries there, even though it failed in Windows.

3.) Use the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit (tested on another PC)

If it can connect, even momentarily:

Download Surface Diagnostic Toolkit

Run the program and test the cover port — it detects intermittent failures and firmware mismatches sometimes.

4.) The Surface UEFI Firmware Updater for offline updates

Now you can apply the latest firmware even if Windows cannot see the keyboard:

Download the Surface Pro 8 Drivers and Firmware package:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/detail...

Use the .msi installer to flash the latest firmware.

You can run this from a USB keyboard if the Type Cover doesn't work at all.

Could you please try out these steps and let me know if it works out? And, in case that any other error arises, I would love to have more information it.

Best regards,

Tin

Answer 2

Hi Tin,

Thank you for answering.
Unfortunately all the methods you suggested have not solved the problem. My IT friend used your list, but his conclusion is that apparently the keyboard is out of order. I bought the Surface Pro 8 two years and a half ago, so the guarranty has ended :-(
For a device I haven't used that much, and which had NO SHOCK at all, I am very disapointed.
I looked on Microsoft Store, a new keyboard costs 180 euros, and is out of stock currently. Luckily there is one on Amazon for 130 euros.
So I won't invest in a Surface Pro ever.
Thank you all the same Tin.

Have a nice week.

Sylvie (from France)