So my Surface GO 3 laptop is stuck in a boot loop of just the windows logo flashing repeatedly.

Question

I have made a USB recovery drive properly and have tried every method out there for trying to open the UEFI menu. and cant

Answer 1

Hi Ken Sands,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand how frustrating it must be to be stuck in a boot loop, even after trying to boot with installation media. Just wondering, have you tried the steps suggested by Q&A Assist yet, and if so, what was the result? There are also a few other details I'd like to ask to better help with your issue:

1. Did you use the normal Windows recovery drive or the Surface GO 3 specific one?
2. Which steps did you try to open the UEFI menu? Was there error message/anything on-screen?

While waiting for more clarification, I have a few suggestions to add. You can check them out on top of the other solutions. Perform each step below in order (it can take some time):

1. Disconnect the charger and leave the Surface looping until the battery fully drains
2. After the device shuts off on its own, leave it there for at least 30 minutes
3. Make sure everything (mouse, keyboard, etc.) is disconnected.
4. Connect its original charger + plug to the wall outlet.
5. Immediately try Volume‑Up + Power to enter UEFI again.
6. If that doesn't work, turn off the Surface completely once more time.
7. Insert the official Surface recovery USB > hold Volume-Down and press Power.
8. Keep holding Volume‑Down until you either see spinning dots or the recovery screen.

If you identify this as a hardware failure, there would be further Windows troubleshooting steps applicable here. At that point, physical service or repair is required.

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Answer 2

Use the USB recovery drive to try to break the boot loop and repair or reset the device, and use the hardware key combo to reach UEFI if needed.

1. Force shutdown from the boot loop
   1. When the Windows or Surface logo appears and starts looping, press and hold the Power button for about 20 seconds until the device turns off completely.
   2. Wait 10 seconds.
2. Boot directly from the USB recovery drive
   1. With the Surface Go 3 turned off, insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
   2. Press and hold the Volume-down button.
   3. While holding Volume-down, press and release the Power button.
   4. Keep holding Volume-down until the Microsoft/Surface logo appears and spinning dots show under it, then release.
   5. Follow the on‑screen instructions to boot from the USB and run recovery options (Reset/Repair).
   This method boots from USB without needing to open UEFI first.
3. If USB boot does not start, configure boot order in UEFI
   1. Make sure the device is fully shut down (hold Power ~20 seconds).
   2. Press and hold the Volume‑up button.
   3. While holding Volume‑up, press and release the Power button.
   4. Keep holding Volume‑up until the UEFI screen appears.
   5. In UEFI, go to Boot configuration.
   6. Ensure Windows Boot Manager and Internal Storage are enabled, and to boot from USB move USB Storage to the top of the list or swipe left on USB Storage to boot from it immediately.
   7. Select Exit → Restart Now with the USB drive still inserted.
4. If Windows starts after recovery
   1. Install the latest Surface and Windows updates to help prevent future boot issues. See Download drivers and firmware for Surface.
5. If Windows still will not start from internal storage
   1. Use the USB recovery drive again and choose Reset to return the device to factory settings.
   2. If the device cannot boot even from USB or UEFI cannot be reached with the Volume‑up + Power method, hardware service is likely required; go to Device Service and Repair.

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References:

• Boot Surface from a USB device
• How to use Surface UEFI
• Creating and using a USB recovery drive for Surface
• Surface turns on and shows "Couldn't find a bootable operating system"
• Surface turns on but is stuck on a logo screen
• Surface turns on but is stuck on the Recovery screen
• Surface turns on but is stuck on a drive icon