Is There a Way to Have the Surface Switch to an External Monitor When the Keyboard is Closed to the Display?

Question

Windows 8.1 Prod

Surface Pro 2

Surface Pro 2 Docking Station

Surface Type 2 Keyboard

KVM Switch

I have my docking station attached -- via a KVM -- to an external monitor.  I can manually switch between the internal display and the external monitor.  I would like to set up the Surface Pro so it switches between the internal display and the external monitor based on whether the keyboard is down or up -- that is whether the internal display is visible or it is covered by the keyboard.  The power options treat the keyboard the same as the lid of a laptop.

My Lenovo Thinkpad x201 running Windows 7 will and in a Thinkpad docking station will switch between the internal display and the external monitor based on the position of the lid.  Up and the internal display is used.  Down and the external monitor is used.  I have four computers share the KVM.  Being able to trigger a switch from the external monitor to the internal display by lifting the lid lets me see what is happening on the laptop while still having the KVM switched to another computer.

Is there someway to do the same thing using the Surface Type 2 keyboard as a "lid"?

Answer 1

Greetings Saberman,

I'll gladly put in the feature request on your behalf. Currently, the work around available, will be to do the following:

1. Swipe from the right
2. Touch Devices
3. Touch Project
4. Touch Second Screen Only

Answer 2

Hi saberman,

Thank you for reaching out to us with your question.

You can change what the cover does when closing it under power plans, however there is no option to switch to a monitor after closing, you can try searching for an app that would allow you to switch to an external monitor when the keyboard is closed to the display.

Best Regards

Answer 3

>there is no option to switch to a monitor after closing

The laptop also doesn't have an option.  It does it automatically once it knows there is an external monitor. 

>you can try searching for an app that would allow you to switch to an external monitor when the

>keyboard is closed to the display.

Not crazy about installing third party applications on the base machine.

Answer 4

Greetings Saberman,

Are you connected to only 1 monitor, or multiple monitors?

Answer 5

I have one external monitor connected via a KVM swith.