Surface Laptop 2 - Power On When Docked

Question

Is there a way to get the Surface Laptop 2 to automatically power-on when connected to the docking cable?

Right now, when I have to open it up and press the power button on the keyboard. I can then close the display and connect to the dock. If I just connect to the dock it won't wake-up.

When I had my Surface Book this didn't really matter because the power button was always exposed, the SL2 has the power on the keyboard.

Answer 1

Please use the Feedback Hub to file this design suggestion-- 

More info at Send feedback to Microsoft with Feedback Hub

Answer 2

Hi Nicolas Nowinski ,

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Just to make sure, does the Surface is on "power off" state or on sleep mode when you try to connect to the Surface dock?

Here's what we suggest:

• Hover your mouse pointer over the battery icon and right click. Select *Power Options.*Tap Choose what closing the lid does. Change the settings under On Battery and Plugged in. Choose the power settings that you like for your Surface. Select Save Changes. Also, kindly check this link for the overview of the power states for Surface.
• You can also create a Power Plan. Hover your mouse pointer over the battery icon and right click. Select *Power Options.*Select Create a power plan. Create a name for your plan and then tap Next. Under On battery and Plugged in, change the settings that you want your Surface to use. Select Create. If you want to change the settings of your power plan, tap Change plan settings on the right side.

Keep us posted of the outcome.

Answer 3

These don't solve the problem.

Eventually the machine hibernates. In my case after 6 hours (360 minutes.)

Then, when I connect it to the dock it does not come out of the hibernation state. If it is in sleep mode it will wake up, but that is besides the point.

On the Surface Pro and Surface Book this is not an issue as their power button is exposed. Most docks (i.e., Dell and Lenovo ThinkPad) have a power on button, so again not an issue.

The Surface Dock does not have a power button therefore there is no way to wake the Surface Laptop from hibernate mode after docking it, without opening the cover (which is not always convienent depending on desk configuration.)

The Surface Laptop firmware should support (and maybe it does and I don't know about it) to resume when docked.

Answer 4

Hi Nicolas Nowinski ,

Oh! I see. Thank you for the information. Let's proceed to the next step.

• Hover your mouse pointer over the battery icon and right click. Select Power Options. Choose Change when the computer sleeps. Tap on Change advanced power settings. Select Sleep and under Sleep, tap on Hibernate after. Change it to Never, both On Battery and Plugged In. Select Ok and then Apply.

Just a heads up, if this won't work, kindly contact Microsoft Surface Support for further resolution.

Please let us know of the outcome.

Answer 5

That's not a resolution, that's a work-around. This is taking away functionality, hibernate mode.

The issue is that there is no way to take the Surface Laptop out of hibernate mode without opening the cover because there is no external power button on the laptop or the dock.